Finding the Backup Files (SAP Library - Database Administration (Oracle) with SAPDBA)

Finding the Backup Files

Select Find backup files to locate the backup files. The existing BRBACKUP logs (for a specified period) are scanned for valid backups of the damaged data files. If the backup was performed with an external backup program, SAPDBA attempts to establish a link to that backup program and find the files in this manner. The information on the location of these files is important for the subsequent phases of the recovery process. The following menu items are displayed:

	Find backup files
S	- Start finding backup files
a	- Show the list of damaged files
b	- Show the list of backup files
c	- Select a backup file for restore
d	- Select a BRBACKUP run for restore
q	- Return

Start Finding the Backup Files

For SAPDBA to be able to make copies of the lost files which were backed up with BRBACKUP available, the menu option

Start finding backup files

must be called first. SAPDBA uses BRBACKUP logs to find the backup files.

Define the period for which you want SAPDBA to search for the backup files (default value: the last 30 days).

If you used a non-SAP backup program for the backup, SAPDBA will also attempt to obtain the corresponding information from this program. SAPDBA prompts you to enter the parameter file.

If SAPDBA finds backup files, the necessary log sequence number is determined by SAPDBA as follows: SAPDBA searches for the most recent BRBACKUP file for each lost file and then selects the smallest of the respective log sequence numbers.

In the case of an OPS database system, the smallest log sequence number is provided for each instance (‘thread’).

Display Functions

Show the list of damaged files

Lists the lost files and their backup files.

Each of the files shown in the list contains one of the following comments:

Backup file: <name> on <tape/disk> - The file must be restored from tape/disk.

backed up by <name of external backup program> - The file was backed up using the specified program. This comment appears when the parameter backup_util_name of profile init<DBSID>.dba contains the name of the external backup program. Otherwise, the following comment is displayed:
ext. backup utility

no restore of a backup file required - The existing file can be used; it is simply an older version and must be recovered.

No backup file found - No backup was found for this file in the specified period.

Show the list of backup files

Specify the lost files for which you would like to see the available backup files. Each file that has been lost can have several backup files.

Select Options

Select a backup file for restore

You can change SAPDBA’s proposal for which backup file should be restored by using this menu option. The file that is finally selected for the restore process is flagged with (SELECTED FOR RESTORE) .

Select a BRBACKUP run for restore

SAPDBA suggests the newest found backup for each individual file from which the requested files ( SELECTED FOR RESTORE ) can be restored. You can change this setting, for example, if all the files for restoring were backed up in one backup run and you only want to specify that one backup run (perhaps to avoid changing tape, which is often necessary if the files belong to different backup runs). The following information is listed:

Sequential number of the backup file found (No.)
Coded time stamp (coded timestamp), date (date), and time (time) of the backup

The backup medium

The number of files found in this backup which are to be restored (backup files found): <files found>/ <total files for restoring>. When n/n is displayed, this means that all the selected files were found in this backup.

The log sequence number(s) is not specified as from R/3 Release 31G since this would be too unclear in OPS database systems.

Select Return to continue with the recovery process. The function Find backup files is assigned the status finished.