NetVault Plug-in for Oracle 12.2 - User Guide

Licensing the plug-in

Another difference between using Plug‑in for Oracle in a clustered environment is how it is licensed for use. The plug-in supports backup and restore of shared data only. Hence, for an Oracle Database Server Failover Cluster environment, only a single license would be needed — a clustered application license for the Virtual Client.

For information on the licensing process, including how to obtain the proper license keys, see the Quest NetVault Backup Installation Guide.

Configuring the plug-in and adding a database

Configuring Plug‑in for Oracle for a clustered failover environment is almost identical to configuring the plug-in for a single-instance, non-clustered environment. Adding a database involves the following exceptions:

For more information, see Configuring the plug-in and Adding a database.

IMPORTANT: If a failover to a different node occurs, use the Add Database option to add the Oracle Database information to the plug-in on the active node — the one to which the cluster failed over. You only need to enter this information once; in subsequent failovers, the plug-in automatically retrieves the information.

Backing up data

Backing up data using Plug‑in for Oracle that has been set up for use in a Virtual Client is relatively simple. On the NetVault Backup Selections page, open the Virtual Client node, open Plug‑in for Oracle, and select the Oracle Server Instances, or the items contained within, for inclusion in the backup.

Restoring data

Restoring data to a Virtual Client is conducted in the same manner as a restore performed to a traditional NetVault Backup Client. All options available for a restore with Plug‑in for Oracle are also available for Failover Clustering environments, and data selection is also performed in the same way. The difference is that restorable backups of a Virtual Client are displayed on the Create Selection Set page under the name of the Virtual Client, not the specific NetVault Backup Client or node that was active during each backup. When a restore job is initiated, NetVault Backup communicates with all member Clients to determine which machine is in control of the failover cluster, and targets this machine for the restore.

IMPORTANT: The Restore Backup taken from NetVault Backup Client field on the Configure dialog box must contain the name of the NetVault Backup Virtual Client that performed the backup; otherwise, restores fail. For more information on using the Configure dialog box, see Configuring the plug-in. To restore a Controlfile Autobackup or a backup taken from the CLI in a failover-cluster environment, provide the name of the NetVault Backup Physical Client either in the Restore Backup taken from NetVault Backup Client option or in the NV_ORIGINAL_NV_CLIENT option (use this variable with “send”). The Oracle RMAN backup pieces are stored in the NetVault Backup Media Manager, under the name of the NetVault Backup Client that performed the backup. The Client name is listed in the Create Restore Job - Choose Saveset page, in the Saveset Information area. During a restore, you must have the Plug‑in for Oracle configured to retrieve the backup pieces stored under the Client name that performed the backup.

Additionally, you can restore a NetVault Backup Virtual Client to a non-clustered (standalone) NetVault Backup Client.

When restoring data to a Virtual Client, Quest recommends that you select the applicable Virtual Client from the Target Client list in the Create Restore Job page.

All the instructions offered about performing a restore can be used in the recovery of a Virtual Client. For more information on restoring a NetVault Backup Virtual Client, see the various topics in Restoring data.