Oracle Agent vs. just backing up the files?

[erathtech]

Question:

We are getting a few new servers and new company software that will run on an Oracle database.

We are thinking about getting Symantec BE for backups. Do I have to buy the "database agent" to backup oracle?

Is the database not just files that get backed up in the normal backup of drives? Can I not just make Backup Exec backup the entire server? (System state, all files, ect?)

Is this something I need or just something for the backup company to get more money?

--Daniel

 

[steveot]

You need the agent unless you plan on creating scripts and running RMAN scripts to dump the database files to disk then you pickup your orable database dumps with backup exec

 

[erathtech]

Just out of curiousity are databases typically the only thing you have to do this with?

I don't understand why you can't just restore the database using the files it backed up.

So if I did a complete backup of the pc (files/system state) and a complete restore.. the pc would boot up but the oracle database would not work?

 

[LawnBoy]

I don't understand why you can't just restore the database using the files it backed up.

You'd have to stop the Oracle services before backing up or else BE won't grab those open files (and an open file option won't either; those are not 'normal' files).

Or you can schedule Oracle to back itself up, and then simply archive those files to tape. This is what I do, as it is the simplest and, imo, the most reliable.

Or you can run the Oracle Agent.


--
The stagehand's axiom: "Never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave.