7/31/13Interview Questions & Answer on RMAN | Ashutosh Nautiyal Oracle DBA's

Blogorainstance.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/interview-questions-answer-on-rman/3/6
What are the Architectural components of RMAN?
1. RMAN Executables2. Sercer process3. Channels4. Target database5. Recovery catalog
database (optional)6. Media management Layer (optional)7. Backups, backup sets and backup
pieces
What are channels?
A channel is an RMAN server process started when there is a need to communicate with an I/O
device,such as a disk or a tape. A channel is what reads and writes RMAN backup files. It is
through theallocation of channels that you govern I/O characteristics:Type of I/O device being
read or written to, either a disk or an sbt_tapeNumber of processes simultaneously accessing an
I/O deviceMaximize size of files created on I/O devicesMaximize rate at which database files are
readMaximize number of files open at a time
Why is the catalog optional?
Because RMAN manages backup and recovery operations, it requires a place to store
necessaryinformation about the database. RMAN always stores this information in the target
database control file.You can also store RMAN metadata in a recovery catalog schema contained
in a separate database.The recovery catalog schema must be stored in a database other than
the target database.
What is a Backup set?
A logical grouping of backup files the backup pieces that are created when you issue an
RMANbackup command. A backup set is RMANs name for a collection of files associated with a
backup. Abackup set is composed of one or more backup pieces.
What are the benefits of using RMAN?
1. Incremental backups that only copy data blocks that have changed since the last backup.2.
Tablespaces are not put in backup mode, thus there is noextra redo log generation during
onlinebackups.3. Detection of corrupt blocks during backups.4. Parallelization of I/O operations.5.
Automatic logging of all backup and recovery operations.6. Built-in reporting and listing
commands.
What are the various reports available with RMAN
RMAN>list backup;RMAN> list archive;
In catalog database, if some of the blocks are corrupted due to system crash, How will
yourecover?
using RMAN BLOCK RECOVER command
How do you enable the autobackup for the controlfile using RMAN?
Issue command at RMAN prompt.RMAN> configure controlfile autobackup on; Also we can
configure controlfile backup format.RMAN> configure controlfile autobackup format for device
type disk to2> $HOME/BACKUP/RMAN/ F.bkp;
How do you identify what are the all the target databases that are being backed-up with RMAN

7/31/13Interview Questions & Answer on RMAN | Ashutosh Nautiyal Oracle DBA's

Blogorainstance.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/interview-questions-answer-on-rman/4/6
database?
You dont have any view to identify whether it is backed up or not. The only option is connect to
thetarget database and give list backup this will give you the backup information with date and
timing.
How do you identify the block corruption in RMAN database? How do you fix it?
Using v$block_corruption view you can find which blocks corrupted.RMAN> block recover datafile
<fileid> block <blockid>;Using the above statement You recover the corrupted blocks. First
check whether the block is corruptedor not by using this commandSQL>select file# block# from
v$database_block_corruption;file# block2 507the above block is corruptedconn to RmanTo
recover the block use this commandRMAN>blockrecover datafile 2 block 507;the above
command recover the block 507Now just verify it..Rman>blockrecover corruption list;
How do you clone the database using RMAN software? Give brief steps? When do you
usecrosscheck command?
Check whether backup pieces proxy copies or disk copies still exist.Two commands available in
RMAN to clone database:1) Duplicate2) Restore.
List some of the RMAN catalog view names which contain the catalog information?
RC_DATABASE_INCARNATION RC_BACKUP_COPY_DETAILSRC_BACKUP_CORRUPTIONRC_BACKUP-
DATAFILE_SUMMARY
How do you install the RMAN recovery catalog?
Steps to be followed:1) Create connection string at catalog database.2) At catalog database
create one new user or use existing user and give that user arecovery_catalog_owner privilege.3)
Login into RMAN with connection stringa) export ORACLE_SIDb) rman target catalog @connection
string4) rman> create catalog;

7/31/13Interview Questions & Answer on RMAN | Ashutosh Nautiyal Oracle DBA's

Blogorainstance.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/interview-questions-answer-on-rman/5/6
5) register database;
What is the difference between physical and logical backups?
In Oracle Logical Backup is which is taken using either Traditional Export/Import or Latest Data
Pump.Where as Physical backup is known when you take Physical O/s Database related Files as
Backup.
What is RAID? What is RAID0? What is RAID1? What is RAID 10?
RAID: It is a redundant array of independent diskRAID0: Concatenation and strippingRAID1:
Mirroring
How to enable Fast Incremental Backup to backup only those data blocks that have changed?
SQL> ALTER DATABASE enable BLOCK CHANGE TRACKING;
How do you set the flash recovery area?
SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET db_recovery_file_dest_size = 100G;SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET
db_recovery_file_dest = /u10/oradata/school;
What is auxiliary channel in RMAN? When do you need this?
An auxiliary channel is a link to auxiliary instance. If you do not have automatic channels
configured,then before issuing the DUPLICATE command, manually allocate at least one auxiliary
channel withinthe same RUN command.
How do you use the V$RECOVERY_FILE_DEST view to display information regarding
theflashrecovery area?
SQL> SELECT name, space_limit, space_used,space_reclaimable,
number_of_filesFROMv$recovery_file_dest;
How can you display warning messages?
SQL> SELECT object_type, message_type,message_level, reason,
suggested_actionFROMdba_outstanding_alerts;
How do you backup the entire database?
RMAN> BACKUP DATABASE;
How do you backup an individual tablespaces?
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK;RMAN> BACKUP TABLESPACE system;
How do you backup datafiles and control files?
RMAN> BACKUP DATAFILE 3;RMAN> BACKUP CURRENT CONTROLFILE;Use a fast recovery without
restoring all backups from their backup location to the location specifiedinthe controlfile.RMAN>
SWITCH DATABASE TO COPY;