RMAN Backups with the SAP Backup Library 

Integration

The SAP backup library is an implementation of the Oracle interface SBT (System Backup to Tape) in the form of a dynamic function library (Dynamic Link Library). This is called by the Oracle server process to back up data. This is mainly done to tape.

Without this library, the Oracle Server process can only back up to local disk. For tape management reasons, an SBT backup library is always required for a backup to tape.

Features

1) Backup to Tape Devices

BRBACKUP calls the Recovery Manager for a backup to tape devices. For a parallel backup to multiple tape devices, the required number of parallel processes are started. RMAN activates the Oracle server process to read the data from the database and transfer it to the SAP backup library. The library then backs up the data to local or remote tape devices with the operating system command dd.

For backups to remote tape devices, a remote shell is used to set up a network connection to the remote host. Since errors can occur when you transfer data over a network, we do not recommend that you back up a production system in this way.

You can use RMAN to back up to tape with the following variants:

tape_copy_cmd

backup_mode

cpio

dd

rman + backup library

partial

X

X

X

all

X

X

X

full (level 0)

X+cat.

X+cat.

X

incr (level 1)

    

X

Key: X: Backup possible; X+cat.: Backup with subsequent cataloging possible

2) Backup to Remote Disks

As of Release 4.5A, you can make BRBACKUP backups to remote disks. You can use the following profile parameters:
 backup_dev_type = stage|stage_copy|stage_standby

With RMAN you can make only incremental backups (level 1) to remote disks. The SAP-specific file transfer protocol SAPFTP is used alongside the SAP backup library. The full backup (level 0) needed for the incremental backup is made with BRBACKUP and cataloged automatically afterwards.

You can use RMAN to back up to remote disk with the following variants:

stage_copy_cmd

backup_mode

rcp

ftp


RMAN + SAP backup library

partial

X

X

  

all

X

X

  

full (level 0)

X+cat.

X+cat.

  

incr (level 1)

    

X+SAPFTP

Key: X: Backup possible; X+cat.: Backup with subsequent cataloging possible; X+SAPFTP: Backup with SAP file transfer protocol possible

Backups to remote disks are particularly useful in standby database scenarios (BRARCHIVE copy of offline redo log files to the backup host) and when you use AMASS software to control tape jukeboxes (virtual disks).

For more information, see Profile Parameters and BRBACKUP Command Options.