Oracle RMAN Pocket Reference

Common Keywords

Many keywords are used in many different commands throughout this syntax section. To save space, we list these common keywords first.

allocOperand

See allocOperand later in Section 1.9.3.

DBID

A unique number that identifies a database.

BACKUPSET

Specifies the backup set to be used for an operation.

CHANNEL channel_id

Specifies a communication channel that RMAN uses to communicate with an I/O device.

CHECK LOGICAL

Tests blocks for logical corruption, which is then logged in the alert log and trace files. Additionally, the ranges of corrupt blocks can be queried in V$BACKUP_CORRUPTION. Ranges of corrupt blocks can be recovered with the Oracle9i BLOCK RECOVER command.

DATAFILE

Specifies a datafile by name or by number.

DATAFILECOPY

Indicates that image copies of datafiles should be used.

DEVICE TYPE deviceSpecifier

Indicates the type of device that should be used for an operation.

FORMAT 'format_string'

Specifies the name and location for backup pieces. Various masks, described in Table 1-1, can be used as part of the format string.

LEVEL integer

Indicates the backup level to perform.

TABLESPACE tablespace_name

Specifies a tablespace name.

TAG tag_name

Specifies an arbitrary tag name for backups, file copies, archived logs, and control file copies.

UNTIL untilClause

Used by various RMAN commands to specify an upper limit for time, System Change Number (SCN), or log sequence numbers.

Table 1-1. Format string masks

Mask	Description
%c	Copy number of the backup piece
%d	Database name ...