3.2 Using RMAN to Start Up and Shut Down Databases

When an RMAN procedure requires that your database be started, shut down or brought to MOUNT or NOMOUNT state, you can use the RMAN client to start up and shut down the target database. The following example uses the RMAN SHUTDOWN and STARTUP commands to shut the target database down cleanly, and then mount it in preparation for a backup:

% rman TARGET /
RMAN> SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE # closes database consistently
RMAN> STARTUP MOUNT

To change the state of a target database that is in NOMOUNT or MOUNT state, you must either use SQL*Plus or use the RMAN SQL command to issue a SQL statement, as shown in these examples:

RMAN> SQL 'ALTER DATABASE OPEN';

RMAN> SQL 'ALTER DATABASE OPEN';

RMAN> SQL 'ALTER DATABASE OPEN';