2.7. Using REPORT Commands

The REPORT commands are used to query RMAN repository and get the data regarding which files need a backup, unneeded backups, database physical schema, and whether or not unrecoverable operations were performed on files. The output of the REPORT commands will generate more detailed information from the RMAN repository.

The RMAN repository must synchronize with the control file. In addition, the CHANGE, UNCATALOG, and CROSSCHECK commands should have been recently executed for the report to be completely accurate.

The REPORT command options include REPORT NEED BACKUP, REPORT OBSOLETE, and REPORT SCHEMA. Let's look at the REPORT OBSOLETE example. This report will display backups that are no longer needed based on the existing retention policy:

RMAN> REPORT OBSOLETE;

RMAN retention policy will be applied to the command
RMAN retention policy is set to recovery window of 30 days
Report of obsolete backups and copies
Type                 Key    Completion Time    Filename/Handle
-------------------- ------ ------------------ --------------------
Backup Set           1      31-MAY-04
  Backup Piece       1      31-MAY-04          C:ORACLEFLASH_RECOVERY_AREAORA

101C\%REC_AREA_2_1.BAK
Backup Set           2      31-MAY-04
  Backup Piece       2      31-MAY-04          C:ORACLEFLASH_RECOVERY_AREAORA
101C\%REC_AREA_3_1.BAK
Backup Set           3      31-MAY-04
  Backup Piece       3      31-MAY-04          C:ORACLEFLASH_RECOVERY_AREAORA
101C\%REC_AREA_4_1.BAK
Backup Set           4      31-MAY-04
  Backup Piece       4      31-MAY-04          C:ORACLEFLASH_RECOVERY_AREAORA
101C\%REC_AREA_5_1.BAK
Backup Set           5      31-MAY-04
  Backup Piece       5      31-MAY-04          C:ORACLEFLASH_RECOVERY_AREAORA
  101C\%REC_AREA_6_1.BAK

RMAN>

Let's also look at displaying the database structure with the REPORT SCHEMA command. This will display the physical structure of the database (the physical schema is the actual location of the datafiles of the Oracle database):

RMAN> REPORT SCHEMA;

Report of database schema
File K-bytes    Tablespace           RB segs Datafile Name
---- ---------- -------------------- ------- -------------------
1        460800 SYSTEM               ***     C:ORACLEORADATAORA101C
  
SYSTEM01.DBF
2         25600 UNDOTBS1             ***     C:ORACLEORADATAORA101C
  
UNDOTBS01.DBF
3        245760 SYSAUX               ***     C:ORACLEORADATAORA101C
  
SYSAUX01.DBF
4          5120 USERS                ***     C:ORACLEORADATAORA101C
  
USERS01.DBF
5        153600 EXAMPLE              ***     C:ORACLEORADATAORA101C
  
EXAMPLE01.DBF

RMAN>