Backup, Recovery & Data Guard Flashcards

Which RMAN command is used to validate a backup without actually restoring it?

Answer: RESTORE DATABASE VALIDATE

RESTORE DATABASE VALIDATE checks whether backups exist and are usable without writing any data files.

In Data Guard, which log shipping mode guarantees zero data loss in the event of a primary failure?

Answer: SYNC

SYNC (synchronous) mode ensures every redo is hardened on the standby before the primary commits, guaranteeing zero data loss.

What is the purpose of the RMAN CROSSCHECK command?

Answer: Compares RMAN catalog records against actual backup files

CROSSCHECK synchronizes the RMAN repository metadata with the actual state of backup files on disk or tape.

A Data Guard standby database is in MOUNTED state. Which command activates it as a primary after a failover?

Answer: ALTER DATABASE ACTIVATE STANDBY DATABASE

ALTER DATABASE ACTIVATE STANDBY DATABASE converts the physical standby to a primary and opens it with RESETLOGS.

Which RMAN retention policy ensures that backups needed to recover the database to any point in the last 7 days are retained?

Answer: CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 7 DAYS

RECOVERY WINDOW OF n DAYS retains all backups necessary to perform point-in-time recovery within that window.

When performing tablespace point-in-time recovery (TSPITR), which object type CANNOT be recovered using this method?

Answer: Tables with foreign key constraints to other tablespaces

TSPITR cannot recover objects that have referential integrity constraints pointing to objects outside the recovered tablespace set.

In RMAN, what does the UNTIL SCN clause specify during a point-in-time recovery?

Answer: The exact system change number at which recovery should stop

UNTIL SCN tells RMAN to recover the database and apply redo up to but not including the specified System Change Number.