07 November, 2025

Incremental Backups of a Standby Database

 In response to a comment on a previous Blog Post RMAN Backup of a Standby Database, I show incremental Backups as well below


RMAN> backup as compressed backupset incremental level 0 database;
backup as compressed backupset incremental level 0 database;
Starting backup at 07-NOV-25
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=219 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00001 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf
input datafile file number=00003 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16dxhob_.dbf
input datafile file number=00004 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16dxhom_.dbf
input datafile file number=00009 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs2_n16dxhon_.dbf
input datafile file number=00007 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_users_n16dxhoo_.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2nxdx_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T055853 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:01:15
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00010 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dz6sq_.dbf
input datafile file number=00011 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16dz6sr_.dbf
input datafile file number=00012 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16dz6t1_.dbf
input datafile file number=00013 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_undo_2_n16dz6t2_.dbf
input datafile file number=00014 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_users_n16dz6tc_.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2q8kr_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T055853 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:55
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00060 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-SYSTEM_FNO-60.dbf
input datafile file number=00061 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-SYSAUX_FNO-61.dbf
input datafile file number=00062 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-UNDOTBS1_FNO-62.dbf
input datafile file number=00063 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-UNDO_2_FNO-63.dbf
input datafile file number=00064 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-USERS_FNO-64.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/38AE431466FE1FDBE0635A38A8C085D8/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2rzo7_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T055853 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:55
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00005 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16f20wr_.dbf
input datafile file number=00006 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16f20x3_.dbf
input datafile file number=00008 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16f20xg_.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2tprh_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T055853 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:55
Finished backup at 07-NOV-25

Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/autobackup/2025_11_07/o1_mf_s_1216533563_njv2wg2k_.bkp comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-NOV-25


RMAN>
RMAN> exit
exit

RMAN Client Diagnostic Trace file : /u01/app/oracle/diag/clients/user_oracle/host_4144547424_110/trace/ora_2133_140607082957312.trc

Recovery Manager complete.
[oracle@stdby trace]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Nov 7 06:04:10 2025
Version 19.25.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2024, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.25.0.0.0

SQL> set pages600 linesize 132
SQL> select database_role, open_mode from v$database
  2  /

DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
---------------- --------------------
PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL>
SQL> exit
Disconnected from Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.25.0.0.0
[oracle@stdby trace]$ 

[oracle@stdby trace]$ rman target /

Recovery Manager: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Nov 7 06:04:55 2025
Version 19.25.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.

connected to target database: RACDB (DBID=1162136313, not open)

RMAN> list backup of datafile 1;
list backup of datafile 1;
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog

List of Backup Sets
===================


BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
320     Incr 0  1.08G      DISK        00:01:10     07-NOV-25
        BP Key: 320   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: YES  Tag: TAG20251107T055853
        Piece Name: /Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2nxdx_.bkp
  List of Datafiles in backup set 320
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time  Abs Fuz SCN Sparse Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------- ----------- ------ ----
  1    0  Incr 13423959   07-NOV-25              NO    /Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf


RMAN>
RMAN> select current_scn from v$database;
select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
-----------
   13442704


RMAN>

[oracle@stdby trace]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Nov 7 06:07:11 2025
Version 19.25.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2024, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.25.0.0.0

SQL> select current_scn, database_role, open_mode from v$database;

CURRENT_SCN DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
----------- ---------------- --------------------
   13442704 PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL> /

CURRENT_SCN DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
----------- ---------------- --------------------
   13443585 PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL>


SQL> SQL> l
  1* select current_scn, database_role, open_mode from v$database
SQL> /

CURRENT_SCN DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
----------- ---------------- --------------------
   13443585 PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL> /

CURRENT_SCN DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
----------- ---------------- --------------------
   13449819 PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL> /

CURRENT_SCN DATABASE_ROLE    OPEN_MODE
----------- ---------------- --------------------
   13449819 PHYSICAL STANDBY MOUNTED

SQL>


[oracle@stdby trace]$ rman target /

Recovery Manager: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Nov 7 06:10:58 2025
Version 19.25.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.

connected to target database: RACDB (DBID=1162136313, not open)

RMAN> backup as compressed backupset incremental level 1 database;
backup as compressed backupset incremental level 1 database;
Starting backup at 07-NOV-25
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=219 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 1 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00001 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf
input datafile file number=00003 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16dxhob_.dbf
input datafile file number=00004 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16dxhom_.dbf
input datafile file number=00009 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs2_n16dxhon_.dbf
input datafile file number=00007 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_users_n16dxhoo_.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd1_TAG20251107T061125_njv3dg1n_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T061125 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:07
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 1 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00010 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dz6sq_.dbf
input datafile file number=00011 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16dz6sr_.dbf
input datafile file number=00012 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16dz6t1_.dbf
input datafile file number=00013 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_undo_2_n16dz6t2_.dbf
input datafile file number=00014 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/datafile/o1_mf_users_n16dz6tc_.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/1476C653214704CFE0635A38A8C08494/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd1_TAG20251107T061125_njv3do5w_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T061125 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:07
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 1 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00060 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-SYSTEM_FNO-60.dbf
input datafile file number=00061 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-SYSAUX_FNO-61.dbf
input datafile file number=00062 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-UNDOTBS1_FNO-62.dbf
input datafile file number=00063 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-UNDO_2_FNO-63.dbf
input datafile file number=00064 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/PRDAPPTST/data_D-RACDB_TS-USERS_FNO-64.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/38AE431466FE1FDBE0635A38A8C085D8/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd1_TAG20251107T061125_njv3dw8p_.bkp tag=TAG20251107T061125 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 1 datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00005 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16f20wr_.dbf
skipping datafile 00005 because it has not changed
input datafile file number=00006 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_n16f20x3_.dbf
skipping datafile 00006 because it has not changed
input datafile file number=00008 name=/Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/14769E258FBB5FD8E0635A38A8C09D43/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_n16f20xg_.dbf
skipping datafile 00008 because it has not changed
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup cancelled because all files were skipped
Finished backup at 07-NOV-25

Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-NOV-25
piece handle=/Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/autobackup/2025_11_07/o1_mf_s_1216534110_njv3dzjt_.bkp comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-NOV-25


RMAN>

RMAN> list backup of datafile 1;
list backup of datafile 1;

List of Backup Sets
===================


BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
320     Incr 0  1.08G      DISK        00:01:10     07-NOV-25
        BP Key: 320   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: YES  Tag: TAG20251107T055853
        Piece Name: /Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2nxdx_.bkp
  List of Datafiles in backup set 320
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time  Abs Fuz SCN Sparse Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------- ----------- ------ ----
  1    0  Incr 13423959   07-NOV-25              NO    /Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf

BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
325     Incr 1  2.93M      DISK        00:00:05     07-NOV-25
        BP Key: 325   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: YES  Tag: TAG20251107T061125
        Piece Name: /Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd1_TAG20251107T061125_njv3dg1n_.bkp
  List of Datafiles in backup set 325
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time  Abs Fuz SCN Sparse Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------- ----------- ------ ----
  1    1  Incr 13449820   07-NOV-25              NO    /Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf


RMAN>

RMAN> exit
exit


Recovery Manager complete.
[oracle@stdby trace]$ export NLS_DATE_FORMAT=DD_MON_RR_HH24_MI
[oracle@stdby trace]$ rman target /

Recovery Manager: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Nov 7 06:15:24 2025
Version 19.25.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.

connected to target database: RACDB (DBID=1162136313, not open)

RMAN> list backup of datafile 1;
list backup of datafile 1;
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog

List of Backup Sets
===================


BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
320     Incr 0  1.08G      DISK        00:01:10     07_NOV_25_06_00
        BP Key: 320   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: YES  Tag: TAG20251107T055853
        Piece Name: /Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd0_TAG20251107T055853_njv2nxdx_.bkp
  List of Datafiles in backup set 320
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time        Abs Fuz SCN Sparse Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------------- ----------- ------ ----
  1    0  Incr 13423959   07_NOV_25_05_56              NO    /Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf

BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
325     Incr 1  2.93M      DISK        00:00:05     07_NOV_25_06_11
        BP Key: 325   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: YES  Tag: TAG20251107T061125
        Piece Name: /Standby_DB/FRA/STDBY/backupset/2025_11_07/o1_mf_nnnd1_TAG20251107T061125_njv3dg1n_.bkp
  List of Datafiles in backup set 325
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time        Abs Fuz SCN Sparse Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------------- ----------- ------ ----
  1    1  Incr 13449820   07_NOV_25_06_08              NO    /Standby_DB/oradata/STDBY/datafile/o1_mf_system_n16dxho8_.dbf


RMAN>


After the Level-0 Backup I waited for some time to confirm that the SCN at the Standby had advanced.
Then, I ran an Level-1 Backup.

The final listing shows two backups of datafile 1, the first being a Level-0 backup at SCN 13423959 at 05:56 of 07-Nov and the second being a Level-1 backup at SCN 13449820 at 06:08 of 07-Nov/

Of course, I *must* backup ArchiveLogs at the Standby.

Note : Oracle's recommendation is to use an RMAN Catalog when running Database Backups.

2 comments:

Basu said...

Hi Hemant,
When I’m running incremental backups on standby database it’s not getting sync with Prod for at least 30 mins. Have you ever faced this kind of problem? If so, how to fix it?
Thanks in advance

11 November, 2025
Hemant K Chitale said...

Basu,
Check that Redo Shipping from Primary and Redo Apply (MRP) at Standby are both running.
One possibility is that your standby server doesn't have enough resources to run the backup (eg CPU and I/O) so the Redo Apply MRP process get's impacted. Check CPU and I/O before and during the backup run.

11 November, 2025

Post a Comment