Expert: Peter Choi - 1/29/2007

Question
Peter,

What about RMAN? Oracle is giving more stress on it. If it is a more improved form then why use IMP/EXP? Secondly are there any front-end tools like TOAD that can do the task.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I installed Oracle 10g Express edition. In the Windows XP start menu I cannot see any Backup menu option in Oracle group. I want to know how I can enable automated backup of my database on scheduled basis.
-----Answer-----
Hi Rohit,

There is no delivered tool to perform an automated backup with the Express edition (or the Standard or Enterprise edition for that matter).

To do a simple backup, you can perform an Oracle EXPORT (type EXP.exe /? for the guide). Once you are able to take a backup, then you can use the Windows XP's scheduler to automate the backup.

Note: If you use this methodology, your Windows XP is required to be on at the time of the backup process.

The Windows XP scheduling tool can be found under START | CONTROL PANEL | SCHEDULED TASKS | ADD A SCHEDULED TASK.

Hope this helps.

Peter

Answer
Hi Rohit,

RMAN, like the EXPort, is a tool that you can use. You will still need to write some scripts (batch or using a scheduler) to trigger the backup to run. Enclosed are some reference links:

OracleŽ Database Backup and Recovery Quick Start Guide
10g Release 2 (10.2) Part Number B14193-03
http://download-east.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14193/toc.htm

OracleŽ Database Backup and Recovery Basics
10g Release 2 (10.2)Part Number B14192-03
http://download-east.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14192/toc.htm

OracleŽ Database Backup and Recovery Reference
10g Release 2 (10.2) Part Number B14194-03
http://download-east.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14194/toc.htm

Again, on Windows XP, you can write a DOS (Command line based) script that can be triggered using the Windows Scheduler.

Hope this helps.

Peter