Oracle server back up question.

[Pablonhd]

Not sure if this is the right area for this question so let me know if I am in the wrong place.

Recently the organization I work for switched to a new system that uses an Oracle DB for it back end. Perviously the system we had was a MS SQL back end.

In our old environment we had full admin access to the SQL server and ran our backups off it using Backup Exec. Durring the day we would do transaction log backups at different times and at night do full backups.

Our new vendor tell us that in no way can any thing similar be done with their system. Instead they tell me that the only option they support is a RMAN backup to a single file on the same drive as the DB and then at night we backup the RMAN backup.

This means that I need to maintain enough free space (650gigs and growing) on the server to do the disk to disk backup and then pull the file onto tape using backup exec. This adds a lengthy and resource intensive set to our backup routine.

The reason I have been given as to why no other options is available is because the Oracle licence used in the new application is a "Embedded" licence and no direct access to the DB is allowed.

My questions are the following:

- Is this a valid explanation?
- What is an embedded licence?
- Is there another method of doing backups I should be looking at? (Ideally using Backup Exec)

I am not a Oracle expert so I don't know if what I am being told is valid or not so I am here to get a second opinion.

 

[karluk]

There's a good chance that your vendor's explanation is correct, as unwelcome as that may be to you. An embedded license allows access to the underlying database only to run the application.

http://www.oracle.com/partners/en/how-to-do-business/distribution-agreements/index.html

An Embedded Software License is a restricted type of license sold by an Independent Software Vendor where Oracle technology is embedded in its application package. Embedded Licenses may only be used by the end user to execute the solution provider's application program. Embedded Software Licenses may not be used with more than one application package.

I gather that the vendor has provided only one backup option, the one you describe. If it's a big enough issue, your management might be able to pressure the vendor into adding additional backup options. But of course that would have been easier before switching products. Now that they've made the sale, they have less incentive to add new functionality.

 

[Pablonhd]

Ok. Just wanted to be sure.

Thanks for the update.