Backup database using RMAN

Question

Hi,
I wanted to perform the first backup with RMAN and I used this command and I got error:
RMAN> BACKUP AS COPY DATABASE;
"can not backup or copy active file in noarchivelog mode".
But in order to turn on the log_mode to ARCHIVELOG, first I need to do shutdown the db and perform the backup. Right?
So how can I get my first backup using RMAN if the log mode is in NOARCHIVELOG mode?
I also performed this command successfully...
RMAN> configure controlfile autobackup on;
new RMAN configuration parameter are successfully stored...
but I'm not sure the controlfiles are being backed up. How can I verify this and where I can find the controlfile backup file?
Thanks,

Answer 1

So how can I get my first backup using RMAN if the log mode is in NOARCHIVELOG mode?You can do RMAN backups with DB in NOARCHIVELOG mode, but the DB must be MOUNTED and not OPEN. You can do something like the following :
$ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/rman nocatalog
Recovery Manager: Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on Thu Feb 9 01:18:08 2006
Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
RMAN> connect target
connected to target database: DB102 (DBID=XXXXXXXXX)
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
RMAN> run { allocate channel d1 type disk;
2> shutdown;
3> startup mount;
4> configure controlfile autobackup on;
5> backup database;
6> sql 'alter database open';
7> }
I'm not sure the controlfiles are being backed up. How can I verify this and where I can find the controlfile backup file?
RMAN> list backup of controlfile;