VALIDATE

Syntax

validate::=

Description of the illustration validate.gif

Purpose

To examine a backup set and report whether it can be restored. RMAN scans all of the backup pieces in the specified backup sets and looks at the checksums to verify that the contents are intact so that the backup can be successfully restored if necessary.

Note:

The VALIDATE BACKUPSET command tests whether the backup sets can be restored, whereas CROSSCHECK examines the headers of the specified files if they are on disk or queries the media management catalog if they are on tape.

Use this command when you suspect that one or more backup pieces in a backup set are missing or have been damaged. Use VALIDATE BACKUPSET to specify which backups to test; use the VALIDATE option of the RESTORE command to let RMAN choose which backups to validate. For validating image copies, run RESTORE VALIDATE FROM DATAFILECOPY.

Restrictions and Usage Notes

If you do not have automatic channels configured, manually allocate at least one channel before executing a VALIDATE BACKUPSET statement.
The target instance must be started.

Keywords and Parameters

Syntax Element	Description
`primary_key`	Specifies the backup sets to be validated by `primary_key`. Obtain the primary keys of backup sets by executing a LIST statement or, if you use a recovery catalog, by querying the `RC_BACKUP_SET` recovery catalog view.
`CHECK` `LOGICAL`	Tests data and index blocks in the backup set that pass physical corruption checks for logical corruption, for example, corruption of a row piece or index entry. If RMAN finds logical corruption, then it logs the block in the `alert.log` and server session trace file. The RMAN command completes and `V$DATABASE_BLOCK_CORRUPTION` is populated with corrupt block ranges. Note: `VALIDATE` does not use `MAXCORRUPT`.
`DEVICE` `TYPE` deviceSpecifier	Allocates automatic channels for the specified device type only. This option is valid only if you have configured automatic channels and have not manually allocated channels. For example, if you configure automatic disk and tape channels, and run `VALIDATE` `...DEVICE` `TYPE` `DISK`, RMAN allocates only disk channels. See Also: "deviceSpecifier"

Example

Validating a Backup Set: Example This example validates the status of the backup set whose primary key is 218:

VALIDATE BACKUPSET 218;
# As the output indicates, RMAN determines whether it is possible to restore the
# specified backup set.

allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_1
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: sid=14 devtype=SBT_TAPE
using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: starting validation of datafile backupset
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: restored backup piece 1
piece handle=09dg9kkl_1_1 tag=TAG20020208T125443 params=NULL
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: validation complete