Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Using the Recovery Catalog
A
recovery catalog
is an optional database schema consisting of tables and views, and RMAN uses it to store its
repository data. The control file of each target database always serves as the primary store for the repository, but you
may want to create a recovery catalog as secondary storage for the repository, thus providing redundancy for the
repository. For most small databases, you can get away with using just the control file to store the RMAN metadata.
However, the recovery catalog provides a larger storage capacity, thus enabling access to a longer history of backups,
and it is an ideal solution when dealing with a large number of databases. In addition, you can create and store RMAN
scripts in the recovery catalog. Any client that can connect to the recovery catalog and a target database can use these
stored scripts. We discuss how to create and use RMAN-stored scripts in Chapter 9.
Not
■
Even when you choose to use a recovery catalog, backup information will continue to be stored in the control
file as well by default.
The recovery catalog contains information about both RMAN backups and the target database. More specifically,
the recovery catalog contains the following:
•
RMAN configuration settings
•
RMAN-stored scripts that you create
•
Target database tablespace and data file information
•
Information pertaining to data file backup sets and backup pieces
•
Information pertaining to archived redo log backup sets and backup pieces
•
Information pertaining to data files and archived redo log copies
Ti
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A recovery catalog is mandatory in an Oracle Data Guard environment.
The recovery catalog isn't a default entity—you must create it manually. Since the recovery catalog instance is
a regular Oracle database like any other, you must also regularly back up this critical database. Sometimes you may
have to export and import or restore and recover the recovery catalog. The recipes in this chapter show you how to
create, use, merge, move, upgrade, and drop the recovery catalog. In addition, you'll also learn how to restrict access
to the central or base recovery catalog by creating
virtual private recovery catalogs.
