Restore and Application of Offline Redo Log Files with BR*Tools

You can use BR*Tools for Oracle to restore and apply offline redo log files - that is, archivelog files. BRRESTORE restores offline redo log files and BRRECOVER applies the offline redo log files.

• Make sure you have set the necessary BRRECOVER parameters in the initialization profile init<DBSID>.sap, because BRTOOLS uses these when it calls BRRECOVER.

• Since this function is designed for experts, the usual safeguards are not present:

  • There is no database status check.

  • You have less guidance than otherwise, since BRRECOVER does not guide you step by step through restore and recovery.

  • You can choose individual actions independently.

  • The database is closed for the shortest time possible.

  • You can overwrite existing offline redo log files if required.

• You must meet the following prerequisites before starting the restore or apply:

  Procedure	Requirements
  Restore archivelog files	Check that there is enough free space in the restore directory The BRARCHIVE summary log exists
  Apply archivelog files	Identify the offline redo log sequence number that the database requires to start the apply.
  Open database	Make sure that all database files are consistent before trying to open the database.

• BRRECOVER calls SQLPLUS to apply the offline redo log files.

• For Apply archivelog files, you can force application of the online redo logs - that is, the online redo logs that have been archived but not yet overwritten.

1. You start BRGUI or BRTOOLS.

2. You choose  Restore and recovery  Restore and application of archivelog files .

3. You choose the required procedure.

   BRRECOVER starts the restore or apply.

4. If you chose Restore archivelog files, you set the required options and choose Continue to start the restore

   Menu Entry	Equivalent BRRESTORE Command Options
   BRRESTORE profile (profile)	-p|-profile
   Instance of archivelog thread (instance) Oracle Real Application Cluster (RAC) only	-a|-archive <DBSID>
   First sequence number (first_seq)	-a|-archive <log_no1>-<log_no2>
   Last sequence number (last_seq)	-a|-archive <log_no1>-<log_no2>
   Restore device type (device)	-d|-device
   BACKINT/Mount profile (parfile)	-r|-parfile
   Database user/password (user)	-u|-user
   Restore second copy (sec_copy)	-a2|-archive2
   Destination directory (dest_dir)	-a|-archive <log_no1>-<log_no2> rest_dir
   Confirmation mode (confirm)	-c|-confirm
   Query mode (query)	-q|-query
   Compression mode (compress)	-k|-compress
   Additional output (output)	-o|-output
   Message language (language)	-l|-language
   BRRESTORE command line (command)	This shows you the BRRESTORE command that is to be executed using the current settings.

   Note

   Restore device type (device) is taken from the device type used for the backup containing the selected offline redo log files.

   All selected offline redo log files must be backed up on the same backup device type.

   Restore second copy (sec_copy) lets you use the second copy of the restore if the first is damaged or unavailable.

5. If you chose Apply archivelog files, you set the required options and choose Continue to start the apply:

   Menu Entry	Meaning
   Archivelog directory (archive_dir)	The source directory used by SQLPLUS to apply the redo log files
   Instance of archivelog thread (instance)	Database instance that created the offline redo log files
   Apply from online redolog (apply_redo)	Apply changes recorded in the online redo log
   First sequence number (first_seq)	The sequence number of the first redo log file to apply
   Last sequence number (last_seq)	The sequence number of the last redo log file to apply
   Last system change number (last_scn)	Specifies that the recovery finishes with an Oracle system change number (SCN)
   End point-in-time (end_pit)	Specifies that the recovery finishes with a normal point in time, using the time stamp (that is, date, hours, minutes, and seconds)
   Use backup control file (back_ctl)	Option for SQLPLUS RECOVER command
   Parallel recovery (degree)	Specifies whether the recovery is serial or parallel
   SQLPLUS command (command)	This shows you the SQLPLUS command that is to be executed using the current settings.

   Note

   You must enter First sequence number (first_seq) and Last sequence number (last_seq). In this case, all the offline redo logs in the sequence you specify are applied. If required, you can also enter Last system change number (last_scn) or End point-in-time (end_pit). In this case, only changes in the logs up till the last_scn or end_pit that you specify are applied.

6. If you chose Open database, you open the database.

7. You check the results in the BRRECOVER and BRRESTORE logs:

   • BRRECOVER logs:

     • The summary log recov<DBSID>.log displays the return code.

     • The detail log v<encoded timestamp>.rsa displays the progress.

   • BRRESTORE logs for the restore functions:

     • The summary log rest<DBSID>.log displays the return code

     • The detail log r<encoded timestamp>.alf displays the progress.

   For more information about how to view the logs, see Showing Profiles and Logs with BR*Tools.