RMAN FULL BACKUP VS. LEVEL 1 INCREMENTAL


RMAN FULL BACKUP VS. LEVEL 1 INCREMENTAL

By default, RMAN makes full backups. A full backup of a data file includes every allocated block in the file being backed up. A full backup of a data file can be an image copy, in which case every data block is backed up. It can also be stored in a backup set, in which case data file blocks not in use may be skipped.

A full backup is the default type of RMAN backup. A full backup has no effect on subsequent incremental backups and is not considered a part of an incremental backup strategy. 

Image copies are always full backups because they include every data block in a data file. A backup set is by default a full backup because it can potentially include every data block in a data file, although unused block compression means that blocks never used are excluded and, in some cases, currently unused blocks are excluded.

In contrast to a full backup, an incremental backup copies only those data blocks that have changed since a previous backup. You can use RMAN to create incremental backups of data files, tablespaces, or the whole database. A full backup cannot be part of an incremental backup strategy; that is, it cannot be the parent for a subsequent incremental backup.

Multilevel Incremental Backups


RMAN can create multilevel incremental backups. Each incremental level is denoted by a value of 0 or 1. A level 0 incremental backup, which is the base for subsequent incremental backups, copies all blocks containing data.
The only difference between a level 0 incremental backup and a full backup is that a full backup is never included in an incremental strategy. Thus, an incremental level 0 backup is a full backup that happens to be the parent of incremental backups whose level is greater than 0.

A level 1 incremental backup can be either of the following types:
·       differential incremental backup, which backs up all blocks changed after the most recent incremental backup at level 1 or 0

·       cumulative incremental backup, which backs up all blocks changed after the most recent incremental backup at level 0 Incremental backups are differential by default.

Incremental backups at level 0 can be either backup sets or image copies, but incremental backups at level 1 can only be backup sets.


Differential Incremental Backups


In a differential level 1 backup, RMAN backs up all blocks that have changed since the most recent incremental backup at level 1 (cumulative or differential) or level 0.

For example, in a differential level 1 backup, RMAN determines which level 1 backup occurred most recently and backs up all blocks modified after that backup. If no level 1 is available, then RMAN copies all blocks changed since the base level 0 backup.

If no level 0 backup is available in either the current or parent incarnation, then the behavior varies with the compatibility mode setting. If compatibility is >=10.0.0, RMAN copies all blocks that have been changed since the file was created. Otherwise, RMAN generates a level 0 backup.



·       Sunday
An incremental level 0 backup backs up all blocks that have ever been in use in this database.

·       Monday through Saturday
On each day from Monday through Saturday, a differential incremental level 1 backup backs up all blocks that have changed since the most recent incremental backup at level 1 or 0. The Monday backup copies blocks changed since Sunday level 0 backup, the Tuesday backup copies blocks changed since the Monday level 1 backup, and so forth.

Cumulative Incremental Backups

In a cumulative level 1 backup, RMAN backs up all blocks used since the most recent level 0 incremental backup in either the current or parent incarnation. Cumulative incremental backups reduce the work needed for a restore operation by ensuring that you only need one incremental backup from any particular level.
Cumulative backups require more space and time than differential backups because they duplicate the work done by previous backups at the same level.

·       Sunday
An incremental level 0 backup backs up all blocks that have ever been in use in this database.

·       Monday - Saturday
A cumulative incremental level 1 backup copies all blocks changed since the most recent level 0 backup. Because the most recent level 0 backup was created on Sunday, the level 1 backup on each day Monday through Saturday backs up all blocks changed since the Sunday backup.


Block Change Tracking

The block change tracking feature for incremental backups improves incremental backup performance by recording changed blocks in each data file in a block change tracking file. This file is a small binary file stored in the database area. RMAN tracks changed blocks as redo is generated.

If block change tracking is enabled, then RMAN uses the change tracking file to identify changed blocks for incremental backups, thus avoiding the need to scan every block in the data file. RMAN only uses block change tracking when the incremental level is greater than 0, because a level 0 incremental backup includes all blocks.

Ref: www.docs.oracle.com





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