2.6. Using LIST Commands

The LIST commands are used to query the RMAN repository and get the data regarding the BACKUP command, COPY command and database incarnations. A database incarnation is a separate version of a physical database. The output of the LIST command displays the files that the CHANGE, CROSSCHECK, and DELETE commands have used.

The LIST command displays backup information by using the BY BACKUP and BY FILE options. There are also SUMMARY and VERBOSE options to condense or expand the output. Let's look at the LIST BACKUPSET with the BY BACKUP and SUMMARY options:

RMAN> LIST BACKUPSET BY BACKUP SUMMARY;

List of Backups
===============
Key   TY LV S Device Type Completion Time #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
1      B  F  A DISK       31-MAY-04       1       1       NO         TAG20031
  
T213343
2      B  F  A DISK        31-MAY-04      1       1       NO         TAG200
  
31T213343
3      B  F  A DISK        31-MAY-04      1       1       NO         TAG200
  
31T214614
4      B  F  A DISK        31-MAY-04      1       1       NO         TAG200
  
31T214614

RMAN>

As mentioned previously, this is a listing of backup sets by backup. In other words, for each backup, this shows the backup set that is associated with the backup. This can help identify which backup sets were completed with each backup or if you needed multiple backup sets with a backup.

You can also run the LIST command with BACKUP BY FILE. This will create a slightly different listing that shows backup sets by file. This use of the LIST command tends to be verbose. Let's take a look at this usage of the LIST command:

RMAN> list backupset by file;

List of Datafile Backups
========================

File Key     TY LV S Ckp SCN    Ckp Time  #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
---- ------- -  -- - ---------- --------- ------- ------- ---------- ---
1    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
         
TAG20040911T120548
2    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120548
3    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120548
4    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120548
5    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120548
6    2       B  F  A 609403     11-SEP-04 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120548

List of Archived Log Backups
============================

Thrd Seq     Low SCN    Low Time  BS Key  S #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
---- ------- ---------- --------- ------- - ------- ------- ---------- ---
1    1       567536     06-SEP-04 3       A 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120745
1    2       576049     06-SEP-04 3       A 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120745
1    3       578090     06-SEP-04 3       A 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120745
1    4       586421     07-SEP-04 3       A 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120745
1    5       607356     07-SEP-04 3       A 1       1       YES
          
TAG20040911T120745

List of Controlfile Backups
===========================

CF Ckp SCN Ckp Time  BS Key  S #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
---------- --------- ------- - ------- ------- ---------- ---
647891     12-SEP-04 6       A 1       1       NO         TAG20040912T090747
609734     11-SEP-04 5       A 1       1       NO         TAG20040911T124220

609548     11-SEP-04 4       A 1       1       NO         TAG20040911T120813
567748     06-SEP-04 1       A 1       1       NO         TAG20040906T184954

RMAN>

As you can see, the LIST BACKUP BY FILE command separates the output into different physical database file categories. The LIST output is separated by datafiles, archive logs, and control files.

You can also list backups by querying V$BACKUP_FILES and RC_BACKUP_FILES. These dynamic views have the same information as supplied in the LIST and REPORT commands, which is discussed next.