IDrive currently supports backup and restore of the following versions of Oracle:
Oracle 12c (12.2)
Oracle 11g
Oracle 10g
Oracle 9i
Are there any special settings that I should be aware of while performing backup/restore using the IDrive application?
Yes. There are a few special settings that you need to make while performing Oracle server backup/restore:
The Oracle database selected for backup must be in the ARCHIVELOG Mode.
For remote backup, select the temporary directory on the computer where the Oracle server service is running. Ensure that the temporary directory selected on the computer for the local backup of the Oracle server is mapped from a remote location and has sufficient space to hold the Oracle server backup resources.
You must have the SYSDBA privileges.
How do I backup Oracle databases?
To backup your Oracle server,
Sign in to the IDrive desktop application and click 'Server Backup'. A slider menu will appear.
Click 'Oracle'. The Oracle connection screen appears. By default, 'Oracle backup' is selected.
Provide the Oracle server authentication information when prompted. Click 'Login to Oracle Server'.
Note: Ensure that the Oracle server user who has logged in has SYSDBA privileges.
To grant the SYSDBA privileges to the user use the following command:
SQL>grant sysdba to <user>
Select 'Online Backup', or 'Local Backup', or 'IDrive Express™ Backup'.
Note: On selecting ‘Online Backup’, the data will be stored on the IDrive cloud whereas on selecting 'Local Backup' or 'IDrive Express™ Backup' the data will be stored in the local drive.
Select the database(s) from the list which appears and specify a temporary path for the local backup.
Note:
(a) Ensure that the selected temporary directory path on the local computer has sufficient disk space to hold the Oracle server backup resources.
(b) Select the temporary location on the computer where the Oracle server service is running. If you are performing a remote/network Oracle server backup, then select the temporary location on the server where the Oracle server service is running.
(c) Once the local backup is initiated, '.ServerBackup' folder is auto-created.
Click 'Schedule Now'. The 'Scheduler' is displayed where you can schedule the backup for any future day and time or perform an immediate backup of the selected databases.
Note: For easy identification of the Oracle server backup set, the name of the backup set will begin with 'IDOracleServerBkset' followed by the Database SID (Database System Identifier) name that you have scheduled for backup.
For example: If the Database SID name is 'JOHN,' then the name of the backup job would be 'IDOracleServerBkset (JOHN_DB)'.
You can consult your Oracle DBA for details on the configuration parameters.
Does IDrive support backup of Oracle server which is running on Linux/Unix operating system?
Yes. IDrive supports the backup of Oracle servers running on Linux/Unix operating systems.
To backup,
Install the Oracle client on one of the computers with Windows operating system and configure the Oracle Client and Server, in addition to the Oracle server which is running on your Linux/Unix machine.
Download and install the IDrive application on the Windows computer where the Oracle client application is running.
Share a folder on your Linux/Unix system and map the same as a drive on your Windows machine.
During Oracle server backup, select this mapped drive as the temporary directory to hold the Oracle server backup resources. Ensure that the temporary directory selected for the local backup of Oracle server is mapped from the Linux/Unix computer and has sufficient space/privileges.
Schedule the Oracle server backup for the desired frequency.
Does IDrive perform incremental backup of Oracle databases?
Yes. IDrive performs incremental backups of Oracle databases.
Can I backup Oracle server databases located at a remote location, using the IDrive application?
Yes. You can backup the Oracle server databases present at a remote location. For this, select a temporary directory on the computer where the Oracle server service is running. Ensure that the temporary directory selected on the computer for the local backup of Oracle server is mapped from a remote location and has space to hold the Oracle server backup resources.
How do I convert the database to the ARCHIVELOG Mode?
To perform the Oracle server database backup, set the database to the ARCHIVELOG Mode.
To enable ARCHIVELOG Mode using Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN):
RMAN> connect target
<username>
/
<PWD>
@
<SID>
[connect to your Oracle database];
RMAN> shutdown immediate;
RMAN> startup mount;
RMAN> sql 'alter database archivelog';
RMAN> alter database open
Can I backup the databases from multiple instances of the Oracle server with IDrive?
Yes. IDrive can backup databases from multiple instances of the Oracle server.
Can I select the Oracle server backup location on the network?
The IDrive application allows you to select the backup location on the network for the remote backup of Oracle server databases. Choose the temporary location on the computer where the Oracle server service is running. Ensure that the temporary directory selected on the computer for the local backup of Oracle server is mapped from the remote computer and has sufficient space to hold the Oracle server backup resources.
Where and how should I select the remote server backup location?
Select the temporary location on the remote computer where the Oracle server service is running. Ensure that the temporary directory selected on the computer for the local backup of Oracle server is mapped from the remote computer and has sufficient space to hold the Oracle server backup resources.
I am receiving an error message for insufficient privileges while performing the Oracle server backup. Why?
This error occurs if you have logged into the Oracle server that does not have sufficient privileges to perform backup and restore operations.
To resolve the issue you need SYSDBA privileges:
Syntax: SQL>grant sysdba to <user>
Can I perform Oracle server backup in the 'Mirror Path' mode?
No. Even if you choose the 'Mirror Path' for backups, they take place in the 'Relative Path' mode.
Can I add/modify the files present in the Oracle backup folder 'IDORACLEBackup'?
No. It is not advisable to add/modify files present in the Oracle backup folder 'IDORACLEBackup'. Any modification to files present in this folder impacts your Oracle server restore operations.
Can I remove the Oracle backup folder 'IDORACLEBackup' from my local computer upon completion of Oracle server backup to my IDrive account?
Yes. You can remove the Oracle backup folder 'IDORACLEBackup' from your local computer on successful completion of the Oracle server backup to your IDrive account. However, removing this folder prevents local incremental backup of your Oracle server databases.
How do I restore my Oracle database back to the Oracle server?
To restore your Oracle database,
Sign in to the IDrive desktop application and click 'Restore'.
Select 'Online Restore', or 'Local Restore', or 'IDrive Express™ Restore'.
Locate and select the IDORACLEBackup' folder in your IDrive account or local drive. Note: If ‘Local Restore’ is selected, you can choose the required version from the 'Version' list.
Click the 'Restore Now' button, to restore the IDORACLEBackup' folder to the local computer. Note: The 'IDORACLEBackup' folder selected for restore should be in the same path as it was while performing the backup operation.
Once the folder has been successfully restored, click 'Server Backup'. A slider menu will appear.
Click 'Oracle'. The Oracle connection screen appears.
Click 'Oracle restore'.
Provide the relevant Oracle server authentication information when prompted. Click 'Login to Oracle Server'.
Browse and choose the 'IDORACLEBackup' folder (restored earlier from your IDrive account or local drive).
Select the database(s) you want to restore to your Oracle server.
Click 'Restore Now'.
Where should I place the Oracle backup folder 'IDORACLEBackup' to perform Network/Remote Oracle server database restore?
You need to select a temporary location on the computer where the Oracle server service is running. The 'IDORACLEBackup' folder selected for restore should be in the same path as it was while performing the backup operation.
How do I restore the Oracle database to a different server?
You need to use RMAN (Recovery manager) tool to restore the Oracle database to a different server manually. Details of DBID of backup database and original backup filename are found in file "IBOracle database DB.ini", which is found in the IDrive backupset folder.
