Issue/Symptom/Question

How do I know if my database backups are running successfully?

Applies To

Database Backups

Oracle

Resolution/Fix/Answer

The RMAN backups are configured to run via the 'oracle' operating system user’s crontab.

You can see this by:

• Log into the Linux server as the 'oracle' user.
• Type crontab -l (lower case L) at the command prompt and you will see something like the following:

• The first job is the backup script which runs every night at midnight. It is a full backup and will backup all of the databases listed in the command.  This is a ‘hot’ backup which means the database is not shutdown.
• The second job is the same backup script, but now it is only backing up the archivelogs. It is run on the hour between 8AM and 8PM.  When this job runs, it takes a backup of any existing archivelogs and then removes the archivelog from the archivelog directory. 
  
  

Backup log files are written to the /u01/app/oracle/local/rman/log directory. If there is an error during the backup you will see one of these in the log file:

• ORA-
• RMAN-
• error
• fail

There is an option to add an email address to the backup script job so that someone can be notified if it fails for any reason. This is recommended if you do not have a Managed Service Contract with PENTA.

If you are not receiving the above mentioned email, please submit a Service Desk ticket and reference this article.  Please provide the email address you want to use for this.