ShowDoc

https://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/f?p=130:14:73365453001305...

Bookmarks Admin Profile Feedback Sign Out Help

Headlines

Knowledge

Service Request

Software Configuration Manager Secure Enterprise Search Go

Patches & Updates

Forums

Certify

Knowledge Browser

Advanced Search

Bug Search

Quick Knowledge Base Find

Secure Enterprise Search

Advanced

Saved Searches

Did this article help solve your problem?

Select

Would you recommend this document to others?

Select

Submit

TIP: Click help for a detailed explanation of this page.

Bookmark

Go to End

Subject: FLASH RECOVERY AREA and FLASHBACK database Doc ID: Note:369759.1 Last Revision Date: 08-JUN-2006 In this Document
Goal Solution References

Type: HOWTO Status: MODERATED

@ (AuthWiz 2.3.3) Created from SR 5388663.993 with ODM @ Click here to edit in wizard.
This document is being delivered to you via Oracle Support's Rapid Visibility (RaV) Rapid Visibility (RaV) process, and therefore has not been subject to an independent technical review.

Applies to:
Oracle Server - Enterprise Edition - Version: 10.1 to 10.2 Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal
Differences between FLASH RECOVERY AREA and FLASHBACK database.

Solution
FLASH RECOVERY AREA ------------------------------The flash recovery area is a directory that provides a centralized disk location for backup and recovery files. Oracle creates archived logs in the flash recovery area. RMAN can store its backups in the flash recovery area ( and stores the backups in FRA by default), and it uses it when restoring files during media recovery. All files necessary to recover the database following a media failure are located in the flash recovery area ( if defined ). The flash recovery area also acts as a disk cache for tape. The recomended strategy is store the backups in the FRA, to have more recent backups available on disk, then the backup and restore processes will be faster,

1 of 2

5/6/2008 3:25 PM

ShowDoc

https://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/f?p=130:14:73365453001305...

Moreover periodically is recomended to backup the FRA to tape, then you will have the more recent backups on disk and the older one on tape.

FLASHBACK DATABASE ------------------------------This is a new feature introduced in 10g. The Flashback Database feature provides a way to quickly revert entire Oracle database to the state it was in at a past point in time. Also is possible to bring a single table back in time. This is different from traditional point in time recovery. To Flashback a database, Oracle uses older block images to back out changes to the database, what means that the oracle blocks are being overwritten for its before images to bring the database back in time. If flashback database feature is enabled. During normal database operation, Oracle creates the Flashback logs, where the before image of the database blocks is stored previously to applying any change in this database blocks. Oracle automatically creates, deletes, and resizes Flashback logs in the flash recovery area. You only need to be aware of Flashback logs for monitoring performance and deciding how much disk space to allocate to the flash recovery area for Flashback logs. Flashback Database is not true media recovery, because it does not involve restoring physical files. However, Flashback is preferable to using the RESTORE and RECOVER commands in some cases, because it is faster and easier, and does not require restoring the whole database. You can limit the number of flashback logs stored by defining the parameter: *) DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET (dynamically modifiable) --> upper limit in minutes on how far back one can flashback the database. But you cannot manually delete the flashback logs, you need to turn flashback database off to delete the flashback logs. Note 369755.1 Flashback Logs-Space management

References
Oracle Administrator's Guide Concepts Backup and Recovery Basics Help us improve our service. Please email us your comments for this document. .

Bookmarks Admin Profile Feedback Sign Out Help

Copyright 2006, Oracle. All rights reserved. Legal Notices and Terms of Use | Privacy Statement

2 of 2

5/6/2008 3:25 PM