Creating Plans to Protect Data › How to Create a Windows Backup Plan › Review the Prerequisites and Considerations › Review the Prerequisites for Oracle Database

Review the Prerequisites for Oracle Database

To back up an Oracle database with consistent data, ensure that the ARCHIVELOG mode is enabled to archive the Redo logs.

Follow these steps to verify if the ARCHIVELOG mode is enabled:

1. Log in to the Oracle server as an Oracle user with SYSDBA privileges.
2. Enter the following command at the SQL*Plus prompt:

   ARCHIVE LOG LIST;
   

   Archive log settings for the current instance is displayed.

3. Configure the following settings:

   Database log mode: Archive Mode

   Automatic archival: Enabled

4. Start the ARCHIVELOG mode.

   Note: If the ARCHIVELOG mode is not enabled, you must start the ARCHIVELOG mode to backup the database.

Follow these steps to start the ARCHIVELOG mode:

1. Shut down the Oracle server.
2. Run the following statements in Oracle:

   CONNECT SYS/SYS_PASSWORD AS SYSDBA
   

   STARTUP MOUNT;
   

   ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG;
   

   ALTER DATABASE OPEN;
   

   By default, archive logs is written to the flash recovery area. If you do not want to write archive logs to the flash recovery area, you can set the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameter to the location where you want to write archive logs.

   SQL>ALTRE SYSTEM SET LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1='LOCATION=e:\app\administrator\oradata\<oracle_database_name>\arch' SCOPE= BOTH;
   

   System altered.
   

   SQL> ARCHIVE LOG LIST;
   

   Archive log settings for the current instance is displayed.

3. Configure the following settings:

   Database log mode: Archive Mode

   Automatic archival: Enabled

   Archive destination: E:\app\oracle\oradata\<oracle_database_name>\arch

   Oldest online log sequence: 21

   Current log sequence: 23

• Oracle VSS Writer Service is started and functioning properly.

  Note: If Oracle VSS Writer Service is not running, Arcserve UDP Agent (Windows) will automatically start it before taking the snapshot.

• Arcserve UDP Agent (Windows) is installed and a plan is scheduled.

  Ensure that you have selected the volumes that include all the Oracle data files, server parameter file, control files, archived redo logs, and online redo logs for the backup.

• Review the Compatibility Matrix which provides the supported operating systems, databases, and browsers.

If you want to perform a BMR for a disaster recovery, ensure that you have selected the system volumes and the volumes which includes all the oracle installation files.