Validate a Backup or Restore

Related Topics

• Oracle iDataAgent: Ensuring Successful Oracle Data Protection and Recovery Operations
• Oracle RAC iDataAgent: Ensuring Successful Oracle Data Protection and Recovery Operations

See Also:

• Backup - Oracle or Oracle RAC - Troubleshoot
• Restore Data - Oracle or Oracle RAC - Troubleshoot

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To validate a backup:

1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the subclient containing the backup data you want to validate, then click Properties.
2. Click the Backup Arguments tab, then select Validate and click OK.
3. Start a Backup for the subclient. A Validate job will run, which will cause RMAN to examine the database and scan all of the backup pieces to verify that the backup can be successfully restored.
4. Once the Validate job completes you can view the log file for the job to determine whether there were any errors in the validation. To view the log file:
   • From the CommCell Browser, right-click the subclient, click View and then click Backup History.
   • Click OK on the History Filter dialog.
   • On the Job History window, right-click the Validate job, then select View Log File. The RMAN Output Log will display for the job.
   • If you determine that there are any errors in the validation, take the appropriate corrective action before running the actual backup.

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To validate a restore:

1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the instance whose restore you want to validate, select All Tasks, then click Restore.
2. From the Restore Options dialog, click Advanced.
3. Click the Options tab, then select Validate and click OK.

   NOTE: For the Oracle iDataAgent, keep in mind that the Options tab is unavailable when the Duplicate DB option is selected on the Restore Options (General) tab.

4. Start a Basic Restore for the Instance. A Validate job will run, which will cause RMAN to decide which database pieces need to be restored and then scans them to verify their contents, but no output will be created and no data will be over-written.
5. Once the Validate job completes you can view the log file for the job to determine whether there were any errors in the validation. To view the log file:
   • From the CommCell Browser, right-click the instance, click View and then click Restore History.
   • Click OK on the History Filter dialog.
   • On the Job History window, right-click the Validate job, then select View Log File. The RMAN Output Log will display for the job.
   • If you determine that there are any errors in the validation, take the appropriate corrective action before running the actual restore.