Applies to:

Netvault backup and recovery

Author:

Mayura Deshmukh, Umesh Sunnapu

Solution:

Centralized backup and restore

NetVault Backup is a light weight backup and recovery software solution that protects your data and applications in both physical and virtual environment. This blog describes the process for backing up Oracle database and tests restoring a deleted tablespace using Netvault Backup software. The readers of this blog should have knowledge of:

1. Setting recovery catalog in Oracle DB
2. Install NetVault Backup server and client software
3. Install Oracle DB plugin on the NetVault Backup server.

Note: For more information and detailed steps on 2&3, refer to the white paper Database Backup and Recovery using NetVault™ Backup and PowerVault MD3260.

NetVault backup software uses a plugin to connect to Oracle database and performs the backups and restores using the NetVault Backup (NVBU) console. At the backend NetVault runs the Oracle RMAN commands to perform backup and restore operations. Advantage of using the NetVault Backup instead of Oracle RMAN backup is:

• Knowledge of RMAN commands not required
• All backup and recovery operations are performed using NVBU console with just few clicks.
• Since NetVault is cross-platform backup software, it can be used to backup multiple databases like Oracle, SQL running on different operating systems, making it easier to work in different environments.
• NetVault backup server connected to storage (DAS,FC, iSCSI) act as the centralized repository that stores all the backups for various clients.

Backup & Restore options

NetVault gives wide options to perform different types of backup and recovery that are suitable for different situations. In this blog, recovering a deleted tablespace scenario is considered and options for achieving the successful backup and restore using NetVault backup is shown in the following sections.

Pre-Backup Configuration

Note: To complete the pre-backup steps refer to the white paper Database Backup and Recovery using NetVault™ Backup and PowerVault MD3260

For the test case Recovery Catalog (that is, an external database) is used as the RMAN repository. Also the control file auto backup feature is enabled.

In the configuring Oracle Plugin steps enter the Recover Catalog details:

In the Add Database Screen ensure that the Catalog details are entered on the RMAN Details tab:

• Catalog Net Service Name–Oracle Net Service name for the Recovery Catalog database. This service name must be defined in the “tnsnames.ora” file on the Oracle Database Server so that the Plug-in for Oracle can connect to the Recovery Catalog database.
• Catalog Owner– User that was specified as the owner of the Catalog and was granted the RECOVERY_CATALOG_OWNER role.
• Catalog Password–Password associated with the Catalog owner name specified in the preceding field.

Backup

1)      Open the NVBU Backup window from the NVBU Console.

2)      On the Selections tab, open the NVBU Client on which the plug-in is installed.

3)      Open Oracle APM. The databases added to the Plug-in for Oracle are displayed.

4)      Open the database that you want to back up select the data that you want to back up. Select the whole instance to backup.

5)      On the Backup Options Tab for backup Method, select the RMAN option to perform RMAN backups.

6)      Default values were used for all the other tabs.

7)      Click Submit on the toolbar, or select Accept > Submit Backup. You can monitor the job progress via the NVBU Jobs window and view the logs via the NVBU Logs window.

8)      The Backup set of the Oracle database will be stored in the storage attached to the Netvault server. For details regarding configuring the storage for NetVault Backups refer to the white paper Database Backup and Recovery using NetVault™ Backup and PowerVault MD3260

Restore

Now that the Backup set of the whole database is stored in the event that a tablespace is deleted from the Oracle Server, it is possible to restore and recover the whole database using NVBU with the System Change Number (SCN) option.

If auto backup of control file is enabled, a new control file is created when the tablespace is deleted. Note: Starting with Oracle 11g Release 2, RMAN creates a single autobackup file encompassing all of the structural changes that have occurred within a few minutes of each other rather than creating a new backup of the control file on each structural change to the database.

Due to this reason we would be using a SCN to recover our deleted tablespace.

1)      From the NVBU Console on the NVBU Server, open the NVBU Restore window.

2)      On the Selections tab, open the NVBU Client on which the plug-in is installed. Open the applicable backup saveset. Check the whole database option. This option enables performing the DBPITR based on SCN, LSN, or time to reconstruct the database up to the required point.

3)      Select the following options on the Restore Options tab:

4)      On the Perform Recovery tab select the option Perform Database Point in Time Recovery and select by SCN based.

5)      On the Recovery Catalog tab select the Use Catalog option and enter the Catalog Net Service Name, Catalog Owner and Catalog Password.

6)      Select the client where the database is to be restored on the Target Clients tab

7)      Default values are used for the fields on all the other tabs.

8)      Click Submit on the toolbar, or select Accept > Submit Restore. You can monitor the job progress via the NVBU Jobs window and view the logs via the NVBU Logs window.

Quest NetVault Backup software, offers a wide range of features to easily manage and protect databases. Together with Dell hardware, provides a complete solution to help organizations maintain business continuity and facilitates a disaster recovery plan.  Click on the link for more information on Dell Quest Software.