Backing Up Oracle - Computing at Cornell

Control file
Archive log
If the control files are lost, they must be restored before other restore
operations can be performed. Only after restoring the control files can the
target database be mounted and the other restore operations started.
A restore operation is typically followed by a recovery operation.
12.2 Recovery Operation
Recovery is a process whereby a restored file is made available, either to the
most current state or to a specific point in time.
Once the data files are restored, they have to be made consistent with each
other. The recover command is used to perform media recovery and to apply
incremental backups. During the recovery process, RMAN automatically
restores the archived redo logs as required.
If RMAN has a choice between restoring incremental backup sets or applying
redo logs, it always uses the incremental backups. If overlapping levels of
incremental backup are available, the lowest level of incremental backup, the
one covering the longest period of time, is chosen automatically.
The following objects can be recovered:
Individual data files
One or more data files can be recovered. The target database must be
started and mounted. If the target database is open, the data file must be
offline.
Tablespaces
All data files in a tablespace can be recovered or a tablespace can be
recovered to a previous point in time. The target database must be started
and mounted. If the target database is open, the tablespace must be
offline.
The entire database
The entire database can be recovered under the following circumstances:
- A media failure has damaged the entire database.
- The entire database must be recovered to a previous point in time.
- The control files have been lost.
For database recovery, the database must be started but not open.
190 Backing Up Oracle using Tivoli Storage Management