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Oracle Database Backup, Restore, and
Oracle DBA Tutorial – Learn Oracle DBA from
Recovery: A Complete Guide
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By Yash Vardhan Gupta | Last updated on October 9, 2025 | 86762 Views
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Learn essential processes of backup, restore, and recovery into a database through ensuring
data integrity and availability by discovering how to preserve your data in effective backup
strategies, restore in times of needs, and recovering from unexpected failure for seamless
operation.

Table of Content

Backing up Databases in Oracle

Restoring and Recovering Databases

Restore and Recover Options

Managing Backups

Backing Up and Restoring Objects

Recycle Bin

What is Flashback in Oracle?

Backing up Databases in Oracle

A data backup can be defined as any copy of our original information that we store so as to
restore it should something happen that leads to data loss. Taking a backup is best practiceChat
for businesses or even personal computers that contain valuable information that cannot be
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lost, backup is key to providing secure and reliable database environments.

Check out this video on How to Become a Database Administrator:

Now, data loss can be caused due to various reasons, which are why taking backups
becomes so important. Some of the reasons for data loss are:

Accidentally misplacing or deleting data

Virus attacks

Hardware crashes

Moving data from one system to another, and so on.

Now that we understood what a backup is and why do we need it, let’s see how Oracle
Database, one of the biggest database management systems, helps in handling data
backups.

Backup Solutions in Oracle

There are basically two ways to perform a data backup in Oracle:

Oracle Recovery Manager:

Oracle provides a powerful utility to back up and restore databases, which is known as Oracle
Recovery Manager (RMAN). We can use RMAN to back up databases as a complete backup
or incremental backup. Since RMAN is a feature of the Oracle Database server, there is no
need to separately install it.

User-managed Backup and Recovery:

Other than RMAN, Oracle also supports user-managed backup and recovery, where users can
implement the backup and recovery of databases using a mixture of host operating
commands and SQL Plus commands, i.e., the users have to use different commands for
different OS. In user-managed backup and recovery, a user will be scheduling how and when
the backup has to be implemented.

When comparing both backup and recovery solutions, RMAN is most recommended since it
offers one common interface for implementing backup across all different host operating
systems, which makes it very user-friendly.

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System Database Administrators can, in fact, set up for multiple databases and schedule
RMAN database backups. In the coming section, we’ll go through how to take Oracle
backups, how to recover files, databases, and so on.

Let’s begin with how Oracle strategizes all the processes of backups and recovery.

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Backup Strategies

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) automates RMAN backup and maintenance
plans using Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), an online set of tools used by Oracle
Corporation for managing software and hardware products.

For RMAN backup of a database, we make copies and store them to disk and tape with
predetermined retention policies. A backup created using RMAN is typically used as a test
database before applying backup and recovery procedures on a real database, before saving
RMAN backups as long-term storage solutions.

As seen in the following image, RMAN connects to the source database that needs backing
up and then copies it over a network to an auxiliary instance that connects directly to RMAN,
creating a duplicate database connected by RMAN.

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Here is how the Recovery Manager works; however, before we can backup a database with
RMAN we must first configure our RMAN server. Let’s now examine how RMAN can be
configured.

RMAN Configuration for Backups

RMAN is installed with the Oracle software and placed in the ORACLE_HOME/bin/ directory.
RMAN uses either a catalog to track and manage backups or the control file of the database
for this purpose.

To configure RMAN, we have to create a user to be the catalog owner and grant this user a
quota on the tablespace where the schema is going to live, as well as the
RECOVERY_CATALOG_OWNER role.

Open RMAN command line by typing the following command in the command prompt:

rman

Next, create the catalog using the RMAN command line

RMAN> connect the target

Now, we will be connected to the target database, DBDEV1 (DBID=280973718), where

DBDEV1 is the database that will have the catalog schema.

If another database is to have the catalog, the connect catalog string will have the
database as part of the string: rman/rmanpswdRMANCAT

RMAN> connect catalog rman/rmanpswd

To create a recovery catalog, use the following command:

RMAN> create the catalog

Once we do that, the recovery catalog will be created.

To register a database in the recovery catalog, we have to use the following:

RMAN> register database

This way, the database will be registered in the recovery catalog.

Next, we will start the full resync of recovery catalog.

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RMAN> RESYNC CATALOG;

The full resync is complete now.

After the configuration of RMAN, we can start backing up our databases in Oracle. We will
first understand how to take RMAN backups using Oracle Enterprise Manager, and then we
will understand how to do the same using commands.

Backing up Using Enterprise Manager

We can back up a database in a few steps using Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM) without
having to write RMAN scripts. OEM will create the RMAN scripts using OEM Cloud Control.
This saves us a lot of time and is also cost-efficient since the whole backup approach is
automated.

Let’s understand how we can use OEM to backup a database.

Step 1: From our database home page, we will go to Availability, then select Backup &
Recovery, and then move on to Backup Settings

The following page will appear. In the Device tab, we will start filling the fields as shown
below:

If we want our backups to be created on disk, we will fill out the Disk Settings section. We
will retain the value of parallelism as 1 (the default value). Keeping the backup type as a
Compressed Backup Set will help us make the best use of backup space. We can also use
an image copy for this backup type. It will create an exact copy of all the datafiles, which is
useful for fast recovery. And, then, we will click on Test Disk Backup to ensure whether the
disk backup setup is appropriate.

Similarly, if we want our backups to be created on tape, we can fill the Tape Settings
section

Step 2: Next, we will move to the Backup Set tab as shown below:

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In this tab, we have to specify the size of the Maximum Backup Piece in MB, and then we
have to set the Compression Algorithm fields. The release field can be filled with a specific
version or can be left with the default value

Step 3: Now, we will move on to the Policy tab as shown in the following screenshot:

Here, in the Policy tab, we will choose the automatic backup of Database Control File and
Server Parameter File with every database backup

Note: It is strongly recommended to specify the automatic backup as Database Control File
and Server Parameter File are very important files.

Scrolling down in the Policy tab shows the retention policy, Archived Redo Log Deletion
Policy, as in the below screenshot:

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Note: Selecting to retain full backups for each data file as 1 (the default value) will mark the
older backups as obsolete whenever a new backup is taken, i.e., only one backup will be
retained at a time. Later, we can delete the obsolete backups using the following command:

DELETE NOPROMPT OBSOLETE DEVICE TYPE DISK;

Finally, we will click on OK to save the backup settings in the control file of the database

Backup and Restore Commands

The basic commands for backing up and restoring Oracle databases should look familiar to
SQL Server DBAs.

Let’s start with the SQL Server command to back up a database:

<br>
backup database customer_db to<br>
disk ='E:\mssql\bkups\customer_db_02022010.bak'<br>
backup log customer_db to<br>
disk='E:\mssql\bkups\customer_db_log_02022010.trn'<br>

In Oracle, we use a Recovery Manager (RMAN) command, like this:

RMAN> run {<br>

allocate channel disk1 device type disk;<br>
backup database plus archivelog;<br>
}

This command will back up the database with the archive logs and write the backup file to
the disk.

Backup Options

Some common backup types and how to run them in SQL Server and RMAN are mentioned in
the below table:

Backup Type SQL Server Command Oracle (RMAN) Command

Full backup database Backup database

Files or filegroups backup database db1 Backup as backups

filegroup=’db1file1’ to disk datafile
… ‘/u01/data/users01.dbf’;

Tablespaces Backup tablespace system,

users;

Logs (transaction and backup log db1 to disk … Backup archive log all;
archive)

Incremental backups/base Backup database db1 to Backup incremental level 0

backup disk=’S:bkupsdb1.bak’ with database
init

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Incremental Backup database db1 to Backup incremental level 1

backups/differential disk=’S:bkupsdb1.bak’ with cumulative database;
backups differential Backup incremental level 1
database;

OEM Backup Jobs

With OEM, we can configure RMAN backups and schedule them for later as jobs in the
database. OEM will generate the RMAN script and display it for our review. This provides a
good way to gain a better understanding of the backup options and RMAN commands.

Restoring and Recovering Databases

Till now, we were talking about how to take backups in Oracle. Now, let’s assume that we
have already taken a backup of our database in Oracle, and later, due to some reason, we lost
our original data.

In this scenario, even if we have a backup, it won’t do any good to us until we know how to
recover and restore the backup. So, let’s understand how we can recover and restore
databases in Oracle.

Before we dive into restoring and recovering databases, let’s first understand under what
circumstances we might need to recover a database, and what are the different ways in
which a database can fail.

Hardware failures/firmware issues:

User errors

Bad code

Loss of a file, control file, redo log, or datafile

Corrupt blocks

Upgrade issues

Bad changes

Disasters

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Oracle provides various options for recovery, such as rolling back a query or returning to a
point before a change.

Restore and Recover Options

To use RMAN to recover or restore a database we must first connect to a recovery catalog
then allocate the channels to the tape or disk.

The catalog has information about the database backup and backup set. A control file can be
used for the same information.

The command restore database restores the file of the database, whereas the command
recover database executes any of the changes available in the archive logs.

Recovering to a Specific Point

In SQL Server, we have the option to restore with recovery or with no recovery. With Oracle,
we can just restore the database, and then use the recover database command with options
to define at which point to recover.

Along with this, Oracle RMAN recover database command can bring the database to a point
in time, to a change number, or to a specific archive log.

We can recover to a system change number (SCN). The current SCN can be seen here:

v$database view (select current_scn from v$database;)

We can also recover to an ‘until time’ or a sequence from archive logs. If a restore point, such
as before_upgrade, has been set for the backup, we can recover the database to that point.

Restoring Tablespaces, Datafiles, and Blocks

If there are more tablespaces in the database, there is a way to recover with downtime for
only the applications or users in the damaged tablespace. To recover a tablespace to a point
in time, before an error occurred or it was corrupted, an auxiliary database/files can be used.
After restoring a tablespace we should run a backup as a recovery of the tablespace after the
restore is impossible.

DBVERIFY will throw an error, displaying a message about the datafile number and block
number in case a block of data is corrupt. The system view v$database_block_corruption will
confirm the block number. Using RMAN, we can supply the datafile number and block
number to recover the blocks.

Data Recovery Advisor

If there is an issue with one of the database files, we can use the LIST FAILURE command
and the ADVISE FAILURE command to help figure out what to do. The advisor provides a
repair script, and the recovery is possible without data loss. The script can be run after
running the advisor, with REPAIR FAILURE. REPAIR FAILURE PREVIEW will show us the script
first.

Managing Backups

Managing backups is not just about purging and maintaining the retention policy, but also
about knowing which backups are available for restores. Oracle provides several ways to get
information about backup sets.

Viewing Backups

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RMAN has a LIST command that will return the backup sets that are present in the catalog or
control file. This would show the different backup pieces and details, including the
checkpointed SCN, the date, full or incremental, and tablespaces that were backed up.

Data dictionary views and recovery catalog tables also provide views into the backup sets to
help manage backups and to know which backups are available for restoring.

Purging Obsolete Files

In Oracle, the parameters, REDUNDANCY and RECOVERY WINDOW, set the number of
backups and the number of days for retention policies.

Option SQL Server Oracle

Expire Part of backup job or script RMAN parameters

parameters EXPIREDATE REDUNDANCY and
or RETA INDAYS (number RECOVERY WINDOW
of days or on a date) (number of days or number
of backups)

Delete (from Sp_delete_backuphistory DELETE EXPIRED

msdb/catalog)

Delete expired backup files Maintenance Cleanup Task DELETE OBSOLETE

BACKUPA ARCHIVELOGS
DELETE ALL INPUT

Backing Up and Restoring Objects

With Oracle, restoring the database is normally to restore the full system, but there are
utilities available to pull out just the objects by schema, or even at the table level. This allows
the securing of backups for the objects, copying them onto another system, or, perhaps,
refreshing a test environment with just the required schema or tables.

Copying Objects at the Table and Schema Level

A backup table can be defined (such as CREATE table TAB_BACKUP AS select * from
TAB_PROD) with tablespaces, no logging (to avoid some of the logging in the redo logs), and
with some of the other table options.

The table will not include any of the indexes, constraints, or triggers that might be on the ‘real’
table, but it will have the same datatypes and the same data. A WHERE clause can also be
defined in the CREATE table AS statement to capture data.

Using Data Pump

Oracle has the Data Pump utility that handles both exports and imports, as well as older EXP
and IMP utilities. We can set up a Data Pump export job to recover just a table or another
object, such as a view or stored procedure. The exports include Data Definition Language
(DDL), which creates the structures of the tables, procedures, triggers, indexes, views, and
other objects. Exports can also be done without data, to provide just the structures, which we
can then copy to another schema or save as a backup.

Recycle Bin

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The Oracle recycle bin works with the tables that have been dropped. For example, if we are
refreshing a couple of tables and we realized that we dropped the wrong tables, we can
retrieve those objects from the recycle bin. The recycle bin has been available since Oracle
Database 10g and is on by default. Users have their own recycle bins.

The user_recyclebin and dba_recyclebin views show information about the contents of the
recycle bin. The dba_recyclebin view has an owner column, which lists who owns an object.

What is Flashback in Oracle?

The Oracle flashback is a collection of tools that will allow a system administrator and the
users to view or, rather, manipulate the past states of data without necessarily moving
backward to a specific point in time. With the usage of the flashback command, we can pull a
table out of the recycle bin.

Restoring Tables from the Recycle Bin

To ‘undrop’ a table in the recycle bin, we flashback the table.

SQLPLUS> flashback table TAB_CUST to before drop;

The Flashback is complete; this way, we restore the table.

Purging the Recycle Bin

The objects in the recycle bin can be cleared out with the purge command. Users can clear
their own recycle bins using the below purge command:

SQLPLUS> purge recyclebin;

Purging the DBA recycle bin clears out all users’ recycle bins:

SQLPLUS> conn / as sysdba<br>

SQLPLUS> purge dba_recyclebin;

Flashback in Oracle is a set of tools that allow System Administrators and the users to view
and even manipulate the past state of data without having to recover to a fixed point in time.
Using the flashback command, we can pull a table out of the recycle bin.

Conclusion

The most important tool for ensuring integrity and availability in Oracle Database is its robust
set of backup, restore, and recovery features. Oracle Database manages both the backup and
the restoration of objects and uses other advanced options, such as Flashback and the
Recycle Bin. By understanding and leveraging these tools, you will be able to minimize
downtime and recover from errors efficiently, hence safeguarding your critical information.
Mastering these concepts in dealing with routine maintenance or disaster recovery scenarios
gives you the ability to maintain a robust and reliable database environment. Advanced
features in Oracle mean your data is always secure and recoverable.

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About the Author

Yash Vardhan Gupta

Technical Writer | Business Analyst

Yash Vardhan Gupta is an expert in data and business analysis, skilled at

turning complex data into clear and actionable insights. He works with tools
like Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Markdown to develop effective
documentation, including SRS and BRD. He helps teams interpret data, make
informed decisions, and drive better business outcomes. He is also passionate
about sharing his expertise in a simple and understandable way to help others
learn and apply it effectively.

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