Backing Up the Database with SAPDBA 

Use

You can use SAPDBA for Oracle to back up the database. For more information, see Database Backup with SAPDBA.

• Make sure the database is running in ARCHIVELOG mode. For more information, see Setting Archive and Database Mode with SAPDBA.
• Make sure you have set the necessary BRBACKUP parameters in the initialization profile init<DBSID>.sap, because SAPDBA uses these when it calls BRBACKUP.
• Make sure you have the right backup volumes. When you back up to tape, make sure that you have read the notes on managing and initializing the tapes. For more information, see Volume Management.
• Allow enough time for the backup. Hardware compression can halve the backup time.

• You have configured and started SAPDBA. Refer to Getting Started with SAPDBA.

1. Choose Backup database.
2. Choose Backup function and choose the required function:

Backup Function	Meaning
Normal backup (default)	Performs a normal backup With this function, BRBACKUP does not initialize the tape volume, so you can start the backup immediately.
Initialize BRBACKUP tape	Initializes a tape volume
Show BRBACKUP tape header information	Displays the information in the volume label
Determine compression rates	Determines the compression rates of all data files specified with the parameter Objects for backup You need to allow some time for this procedure. If you back up to tape devices with hardware compression, we recommend you to use this option about once a month. This is so that the current compression rate of the files can be determined. For more information, see compress.
RMAN preparation run	Performs a preparation run for a backup using Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN) with the SAP backup library For more information, see RMAN Save-Set Grouping and RMAN Tape Layout.
Verify BRBACKUP tape	Checks backup to tape



If you choose a different function, the Backup database menu looks different when you return to it.

3. Depending on the function you have chosen, set the required function-specific parameters, including the special options.
4. To start the backup with the selected parameters, choose Start BRBACKUP. To perform function Verify BRBACKUP tape, choose Start VERIFICATION.
5. You check the results of the backup in the BRBACKUP logs.

• The summary log back<DBSID>.log displays the return code for the backup.
• The detail log b<encoded timestamp>.<ext> displays the progress of the backup.