archivelogRecordSpecifier

Syntax

Description of the illustration archivelogrecordspecifier.gif

Description of the illustration archlogrange.gif

Purpose

A subclause used to specify an archived log or range of archived redo logs files for use in backup, restore, recovery, and maintenance operations.

When backing up archived redo logs, RMAN can perform archived log failover automatically. RMAN backs up the log when at least one archived log corresponding to a given log sequence number and thread is available. Also, if the copy that RMAN is backing up contains corrupt blocks, then it searches for good copies of these blocks in other copies of the same archived logs.

Specifying a range of archived redo logs does not guarantee that RMAN includes all redo data in the range: for example, the last available archived log file may end before the end of the range, or an archived log file in the range may be missing from all archiving destinations. RMAN includes the archived redo logs it finds and does not issue a warning for missing files.

Note:

Query the V$ARCHIVED_LOG view or RC_ARCHIVED_LOG recovery catalog view to determine the time stamps, SCNs, and log sequence numbers for an archived log. For information on how to use the NLS_LANG and NLS_DATE_FORMAT environment variables to specify the format for the time, see Oracle Database Reference.

Keywords and Parameters

archivelogRecordSpecifier

Syntax Element	Description
`ALL`	Specifies all available archived logs.
`LIKE` `'string_pattern'`	Specifies all archived logs that match the specified `string_pattern`. The same pattern matching characters that are valid in the `LIKE` operator in the SQL language can be used to match multiple files. See Also: Oracle Database Oracle Clusterware and Oracle Real Application Clusters Administration and Deployment Guide to learn about using RMAN in a RAC configuration

archlogRange

Syntax Element	Description
`FROM` `SCN` `=` `integer`	Specifies the beginning SCN for a sequence of archived redo log files. If you do not specify the `UNTIL` `SCN` parameter, RMAN will include all available log files beginning with SCN specified in the from `SCN` parameter.
`SCN` `BETWEEN` `integer` `AND` `integer`	Specifies a range of SCNs. `SCN` `BETWEEN` `integer1` `AND` `integer2` is exactly equivalent to `FROM` `SCN` `integer1` `UNTIL` `SCN` `integer2`.
`UNTIL` `SCN` `=` `integer`	Specifies the ending SCN for a sequence of archived redo log files. If you do not specify the `FROM` `SCN` parameter, then RMAN will start with the earliest available archived log. If the database is open when you run `BACKUP` `ARCHIVELOG`, and if the `UNTIL` clause is specified, then RMAN does not run `ALTER` `SYSTEM` `ARCHIVE` `LOG` `CURRENT`.
`FROM` `SEQUENCE` `integer`	Specifies the beginning log sequence number for a sequence of archived redo log files. If you do not specify the `UNTIL` `SEQUENCE` parameter, RMAN will include all available log files beginning with log sequence number specified in the `FROM` `SEQUENCE` parameter. Note: You can specify all log sequence numbers in a thread by using the following syntax, where `thread_number` is an integer referring to the thread: ... ARCHIVELOG FROM SEQUENCE 0 THREAD thread_number
`SEQUENCE`	Specifies either a single log sequence number or a range of sequence numbers. If the database is open when you run `BACKUP` `ARCHIVELOG`, and if the `SEQUENCE` keyword is specified, then RMAN does not run `ALTER` `SYSTEM` `ARCHIVE` `LOG` `CURRENT`.
`integer`	Specifies a single log sequence number.
`BETWEEN` `integer` `AND` `integer`	Specifies a range of log sequence numbers. `SEQUENCE` `BETWEEN` `integer1` `AND` `integer2` is exactly equivalent to `FROM` `SEQUENCE` `integer1` `UNTIL` `SEQUENCE` `integer2`.
`UNTIL` `SEQUENCE` `=` `integer`	Specifies the terminating log sequence number for a sequence of archived redo log files. If you do not specify the `FROM` `SEQUENCE` parameter, RMAN uses the lowest available log sequence number to begin the sequence. If the database is open when you run `BACKUP` `ARCHIVELOG`, and if the `UNTIL` clause is specified, then RMAN does not run `ALTER` `SYSTEM` `ARCHIVE` `LOG` `CURRENT`.
`FROM` `TIME` `=` '`date_string'`	Specifies the beginning date for a sequence of archived redo log files. The clause specifies those logs that could be used in a recovery starting at the indicated time. The time specified in the string must be formatted according to the Globalization Technology date format specification currently in effect, but can also be any SQL expression with the `DATE` datatype, such as `SYSDATE`. The `TO_DATE` function can be used to specify hard-coded dates that work regardless of the current Globalization Technology settings. If you do not specify the `UNTIL` `TIME` parameter, RMAN will include all available log files beginning with the date specified in the `FROM` `TIME` parameter. Use the `V$ARCHIVED_LOG` data dictionary view to determine the time stamps for the first and last entries in a log file. Note: The `FROM` `TIME` clause is not the same as the `COMPLETED` `AFTER` clause. `FROM` `TIME` specifies logs that could be used to recover starting at the indicated time, whereas `COMPLETED` `AFTER` specifies logs that were created after the indicated time (refer to "completedTimeSpec"). See Also: Oracle Database Reference for information on how to use the `NLS_LANG` and `NLS_DATE_FORMAT` environment variables to specify the format for the time
`TIME` `BETWEEN` `'date_string'` `AND` '`date_string'`	Specifies a range of times. Note that `TIME` `BETWEEN` `'date_string'AND'date_string'` is exactly equivalent to `FROM` `TIME'date_string'` `UNTIL` `TIME` `'date_string'`.
`UNTIL` `TIME` `=` `'date_string'`	Specifies the end date for a sequence of archived redo log files. The clause specifies those logs that could be used to recover to the indicated time. The time specified in the string must be formatted according to the Globalization Technology date format specification currently in effect, but can also be any SQL expression with the `DATE` datatype, such as `SYSDATE`. The `TO_DATE` function can be used to specify hard-coded dates that work regardless of the current Globalization Technology settings. If you do not specify the `FROM` `TIME` parameter, then the beginning time for the sequence will be the earliest available archived redo log. If the database is open when you run `BACKUP` `ARCHIVELOG`, and if the `UNTIL` clause is specified, then RMAN does not run `ALTER` `SYSTEM` `ARCHIVE` `LOG` `CURRENT`. Note: The `UNTIL` `TIME` clause is not the same as the `COMPLETED` `BEFORE` clause. `UNTIL` `TIME` specifies logs that could be used to recover to the indicated time, whereas `COMPLETED` `BEFORE` specifies logs that were created before the indicated time (refer to "completedTimeSpec"). See Also: Oracle Database Reference for information on how to use the `NLS_LANG` and `NLS_DATE_FORMAT` environment variables to specify the format for the time
`THREAD` `=` `integer`	Specifies the thread containing the archived redo log files you wish to include. You only need to specify this parameter when running the database in an Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) configuration. `THREAD` is only valid when `SEQUENCE` is also specified. Although the `SEQUENCE` parameter does not require that `THREAD` be specified, a given log sequence always implies a thread. The thread defaults to `1` if not specified. Query `V$ARCHIVED_LOG` to check the thread number for a log.

Examples

Specifying Records by Completion Time: Example This example deletes all archived redo logs that were created more than two weeks ago:

DELETE ARCHIVELOG ALL COMPLETED BEFORE 'SYSDATE-14';

Specifying Records by Recovery Point-in-Time : Example This example backs up all logs that could be used to recover to a point one week ago:

BACKUP ARCHIVELOG UNTIL TIME 'SYSDATE-7';

Specifying Records by SCN: Example This example restores backup archived redo log files from tape that fall within a range of SCNs:

RESTORE ARCHIVELOG SCN BETWEEN 94097 AND 106245;

Specifying a Single Log Sequence Number: Example This example backs up only archived log 30 of thread 1 and then deletes it.

BACKUP ARCHIVELOG SEQUENCE 30 DELETE INPUT;

Specifying a Range of Records by Log Sequence Number: Example This example backs up all archived logs from sequence 431 to sequence 440 on thread 1 and deletes the archived logs after the backup is complete. If the backup fails, the logs are not deleted.

RUN
{
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL dev1 DEVICE TYPE sbt;
  BACKUP ARCHIVELOG 
    SEQUENCE BETWEEN 31 AND 40 THREAD 1
    # delete original archived redo logs after backup completes
    DELETE INPUT;
}

Specifying All Log Sequence Numbers in a Thread This example crosschecks all archived redo logs in thread 1:

CROSSCHECK ARCHIVELOG FROM SEQUENCE 0 THREAD 1;