Getting started with the Oracle plug-in

Capabilities provided

• Support for Oracle Database backup and recovery.
• The Oracle plug-in provides ARCHIVELOG-based, non-RMAN backups of whole online database instances. All nontemporary table spaces and instance parameter files are automatically backed up. Oracle Corporation recommends that backups take place in periods of low database activity.
• Full and partial databases are restored through normal user-managed Oracle recovery mechanisms.

Limitations

• Only local, single-instance, disk-based databases are backed up.
• Database clusters are not backed up.
• Raw devices are not backed up.
• Remote databases are not backed up.
• The database must run in ARCHIVELOG mode, and the user under which the backup is configured must have SYSDBA privileges.
• Database passwords are encrypted for enhanced security over script-based methods.

Installing the plug-in for Windows

The Oracle plug-in is installed with the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows Agent. To install the plug-in, run the Agent installation kit with the Modify selection. The plug-in appears as an option on the Custom setup page. For more information, see Installing the IBM Cloud Backup for Classic Client in Windows.

Before you install the plug-in, stop both IBM Cloud Backup for Classic services in services.msc.

When the installation is complete, check to make sure that both services are enabled and running. If Cloud Backup Portal is able to view and access the database, then the installation was successful.

Installing the plug-in for Linux

The Oracle plug-in is an add-on to the Linux® Agent and is installed with the Agent on the database host. The Linux® Agent application must be installed before the plug-in installation occurs. The agent is available as a 32-bit application and a 64-bit application. For more information, see Installing the IBM Cloud Backup for Classic Client in Linux®.

The Oracle plug-in installation kit is available in a tar.gz file.

1. On the host, download the installation package.

   http://downloads.softlayer.com/evault/Oracle-Plugin-Linux-x64-8.10.5249.tar.gz
   

2. Extract the files from the package.

   # cd /tmp
   # tar xvf Oracle-Plugin-Linux-x64-8.10.5249.tar
   

3. Go to the folder.

   # cd Oracle-Plugin-Linux-x64-8.10.5249.xxxx
   

4. Run the installation script.

   # ./install.sh
   

5. Follow the installation instructions on the screen.

The Oracle plug-in performs an "inconsistent" whole database backup that requires that the database runs in ARCHIVELOG mode. The DBA needs to make sure that the database is in ARCHIVELOG mode before the backups are started. For more information, see the User Guide.

Configuring an Oracle DB backup job

For more information, see Configuring Oracle DB backups.

Restoring an Oracle DB

For more information, see Restoring Oracle DB.