On the Database Control home page, follow the links:

Maintenance tab | Configure Backup Settings.

You can use one of the following choices to tell RMAN where to place its target files:

o FORMAT option in a backup command
o CONFIGURE CHANNEL FORMAT option
o DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

For those special times when you really need a fast recovery, Oracle Database 10g offers the SWITCH DATABASE command.

The RMAN simply adjusts the pointers for the datafiles in the control file, so they now point to the backup files in your flash recovery area.

Note: Consider this fast recovery method as a temporary solution. Later, you should relocate your database datafiles to permanent locations.

This method applies in the tablespace level as well:

The ability to recover a file that has never been backed up has always been available from SQL*Plus, with the help of the CREATE DATAFILE .. AS .. statement. Now, in Oracle Database 10g, you can create the lost file as part of an RMAN RESTORE DATABASE command.

• In Oracle Database 10g, you can use backups taken before an incomplete recovery operation; that is, you can use backups from older incarnations of the database.

• The new archive redo log format in Oracle Database 10g is of the following form:

The additional variable r stands for the RESETLOGS identifier.

• The V$DATABASE view contains now RESETLOGS_CHANGE#,  RESETLOGS_TIME, and RESETLOGS_ID.

• The V$LOG_HISTORY contains now RESETLOGS_CHANGE# and RESETLOGS.

Here are some features of the DROP DATABASE command:

• Oracle will drop all control files and datafiles automatically, whether you use the SQL*Plus, RMAN, or DBCA interface to drop a database.

• Oracle does not remove archived redo logs and backups. To make the RMAN remove all database backup copies as well as the archived redo log files:

• If you are using SPFILE, Oracle will remove it automatically.

• After you drop a database, the RMAN catalog  continues to list the dropped database information.

You need to use the following RMAN command:

You can use the DURATION command as an option for your regular backup commands, such as BACKUP AS COPY, to specify the time (in hours and minutes) a backup job can take. This makes the job taken less resources during its operation.

PARTIAL - Normally, when your database backup jobs run past the time interval you specify through the DURATION parameter, the RMAN job errors out and the backup is canceled. You can override this default behavior by specifying the PARTIAL clause, which will prevent the issuing of any RMAN error messages.

MINIMIZE TIME - This option tells the RMAN to "hurry up" and finish as fast as it can.

MINIMIZE LOAD - This option tells the RMAN to "slow down" if it is well within its allotted time for a backup job.

Note: It is recommended that you do not use the MINIMIZE LOAD option with tape.