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Oracle® Database Backup and Recovery Reference
11g Release 1 (11.1)

Part Number B28273-01
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keepOption

Purpose

Use the keepOption subclause to specify the status of a backup or copy in relation to a retention policy.

Syntax

keepOption::=

Description of keepoption.gif follows
Description of the illustration keepoption.gif

Usage Notes

RMAN does not consider backup pieces with the KEEP option when computing the backup retention policy. If available, RMAN uses these backups for disaster recovery restore operations, but their purpose is to produce a snapshot of the database that can be restored on another system for testing or historical usage.

Semantics

Syntax Element Description
KEEP Specifies the backup as an archival backup, which is a self-contained backup that is exempt from the configured retention policy.

An archival backup is self-contained because is contains all files necessary to restore the backup and recover it to a consistent state. If the database is open during the backup, then RMAN automatically generates and backs up the archived redo logs needed to make the database backup consistent (see Example 2-26).

RMAN does not consider backup pieces with the KEEP option when computing the retention policy. If available, RMAN uses these backups for disaster recovery restore operations, but their purpose is to produce a snapshot of the database that can be restored on another system for testing or historical usage.

Note: You cannot use KEEP to override the retention policy for files stored in the flash recovery area. If you specify KEEP when backing up to the recovery area, then RMAN issues an error.

When KEEP is specified, RMAN creates multiple backup sets. RMAN backs up datafiles, archived redo logs, the control file, and the server parameter file with the options specified in the first backupOperand. RMAN uses the FORMAT, POOL, and TAG parameters for all the backups. For this reason, the FORMAT string must allow for the creation of multiple backup pieces. Specifying %U is the easiest way to meet this requirement.

Note: A recovery catalog is only required for KEEP FOREVER. No other KEEP options require a catalog.

   FOREVER Specifies that the backup or copy never becomes obsolete (see Example 2-27). A recovery catalog is required when FOREVER is specified because the backup records eventually age out of the control file.
   UNTIL TIME

   'date_string'

Specifies the time until which the backup or copy must be kept. After this time the backup is obsolete, regardless of the backup retention policy settings.

You can either specify a specific time by using the current NLS_DATE_FORMAT, or a SQL date expression such as 'SYSDATE+365'. If you specify a KEEP TIME such as 01-JAN-07, then the backup becomes obsolete one second after midnight on this date. If you specify a KEEP time such as 9:00 p.m, then the backup becomes obsolete at 9:01 p.m.

   RESTORE POINT

   restore_point_name

Creates a normal restore point matching the SCN to which RMAN must recover the backup to a consistent state (see Example 2-26). The restore point name must not already exist.

The SCN is captured just after the datafile backups complete. The restore point is a label for the SCN to which this archival backup can be restored and recovered, enabling the database to be opened. In contrast, the UNTIL TIME clause specifies the date until which the backup must be kept.

Note: The RESTORE POINT parameter is not valid with the CHANGE command.

NOKEEP Specifies that any KEEP attributes no longer apply to the backup. Thus, the backup is a normal backup that is subject to the configured backup retention policy. This is the default behavior if no KEEP option is specified.

Examples

Example 3-23 Creating a Consistent Database Backup for Archival

This example makes a database backup with tag Q107 and specifies that it should never be considered obsolete (partial sample output included). The archived redo logs necessary to make the datafiles consistent are included in the backup set.

RMAN> BACKUP TAG Q107 DATABASE KEEP FOREVER;

Starting backup at 24-JAN-07

current log archived
allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_1
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: SID=105 device type=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: Oracle Secure Backup
backup will never be obsolete
archived logs required to recover from this backup will be backed up
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
.
.
.

Example 3-24 Removing the KEEP Attributes for a Backup

This example backs up all archived redo logs. The KEEP clause specifies that one second after midnight on January 1, 2008 the backup is considered obsolete.

RMAN> BACKUP KEEP UNTIL TIME '01-JAN-08' ARCHIVELOG ALL;

The following command removes the KEEP attributes of all archived redo log backups (sample output included):

RMAN> CHANGE BACKUP OF ARCHIVELOG ALL NOKEEP;
 
using channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=77 device type=DISK
keep attributes for the backup are deleted
backup set key=330 RECID=19 STAMP=612722760
keep attributes for the backup are deleted
backup set key=397 RECID=22 STAMP=612722884