Copy database file directly across network using RMAN in 11g including Primary and Standby

(Doc ID 1909235.1)

Last updated on JANUARY 08, 2017

Applies to:

Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition - Version 11.1.0.6 and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.
**** Checked for relevance on 27-NOV-2015 ****

Goal

By copying files directly across network, we can not just eliminate several steps, but also, reduce time by several factors due to reduced I/O calls:

Legacy Method

Take backup at Source (I/O call)
Copy backup files across network to destination using OS commands, e.g. scp, ftp, etc. (I/O call and Network call)
Catalog the backup files at destination
Restore files at destination (I/O call)

Above method requires 3 I/O calls.

Copying files directly across network reduces to Single I/O & Network call to achieve same goal.

In 12c, this is a new native feature and much easier and efficient. Refer 12c Documentation :

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E16655_01/backup.121/e17630/rcmadvre.htm#BRADV680

For versions prior to 11g (e..g 10gR2), refer below Article:

Recovering the primary database's datafile using the physical standby, and vice versa (Doc ID 453153.1)

Prerequisites

TNS Entry for source (target) and destination (auxiliary)
RMAN executable which is compatible with Source and Destination Oracle Home version. It can be from any 3rd Oracle Home remotely from source and destination.

Limitations

Only Image Backup format can be used.
RMAN compression can not be used to utilize network efficiently.
MULTI-SECTION can not be used as this is not applicable to Image Backup in 11g.
Level 1 backup FROM SCN can not be taken from Primary directly over to Standby for rollforward, as this is a Backupset not a Image Backup.

Above restrictions are lifted in 12c.

Use Cases

Copy datafile from Primary to Standby
Copy datafile from Standby to Primary
Copy datafile from any source to any destination, e.g. failed DUPLICATE auxiliary destination
Copy controlfile from any source to any destination, e.g. from Primary to Physical Standby
Copy archivelog from any source to any destination
Copy spfile from any source to any destination

Solution

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