RMAN backup issue

Question

Oracle 11.2.0.1
Windows 7 Home Premium
RMAN> backup database;
Starting backup at 05-MAR-12
using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on ORA_DISK_1 channel at 03/05/2012 12:25:05
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
continuing other job steps, job failed will not be re-run
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
including current control file in backup set
including current SPFILE in backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 05-MAR-12
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 05-MAR-12
piece handle=E:\APP\NISHA\FLASH_RECOVERY_AREA\ORCL\BACKUPSET\2012_03_05\O1_MF_NCSNF_TAG20120305T122505_7O8RTBXJ_.BKP tag=TAG20120305T122505 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on ORA_DISK_1 channel at 03/05/2012 12:25:05
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
RMAN> 1.What is the problem in above scnerio ?
2.How to take RMAN backup when db is down ?
3.How to take RMAN backup when db is noarchivelog mode ?
Please help me. Thank you.

Answer 1

I am trying to do a full RMAN cold backup and am getting the following :
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
What’s the cause ?
Here’s the example
connected to target database (not started)
Oracle instance started
database mounted Total System Global Area 1610612736 bytes Fixed Size 2056504 bytes
Variable Size 603983560 bytes
Database Buffers 989855744 bytes
Redo Buffers 14716928 bytes using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: backup_disk1
channel backup_disk1: sid=4977 instance=TEST1 devtype=DISK Starting backup at 31-OCT-13
channel backup_disk1: starting full datafile backupset
channel backup_disk1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on backup_disk1 channel at 31/10/2013 20:18:45
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
continuing other job steps, job failed will not be re-run
channel backup_disk1: starting full datafile backupset
channel backup_disk1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on backup_disk1 channel at 13/10/2013 20:18:45
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
continuing other job steps, job failed will not be re-run
channel backup_disk1: starting full datafile backupset
channel backup_disk1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on backup_disk1 channel at 13/10/2013 20:18:46
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
continuing other job steps, job failed will not be re-run
channel backup_disk1: starting full datafile backupset
channel backup_disk1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
released channel: backup_disk1
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on backup_disk1 channel at 13/10/2013 20:18:47
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
RMAN>
The cause is simple, the database has not been shutdown cleanly. You will require to restart the database and shutdown again, if in a RAC you will have to shutdown all instances cleanly.
Disabing archive log and attempting to backup the database will demonstrate the cause.
SQL> startup force;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1235959808 bytes
Fixed Size 2175288 bytes
Variable Size 620760776 bytes
Database Buffers 603979776 bytes
Redo Buffers 9043968 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.
SQL> shutdown abort;
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup mount;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1235959808 bytes
Fixed Size 2175288 bytes
Variable Size 620760776 bytes
Database Buffers 603979776 bytes
Redo Buffers 9043968 bytes
Database mounted.
SQL>
Now we’ll try again to backup datafile 1.
RMAN> backup datafile 1;
Starting backup at 31-OCT-13
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=133 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on ORA_DISK_1 channel at 13/10/2013 20:43:34
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
This is simply because we issue a shutdown abort on the instance. However, just preforming a recovery will allow you to backup as required.
SQL> recover database;
Media recovery complete.
SQL> exit
Disconnected from Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 – 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
C:UsersGary>rman target sys/passwd@db11g
Recovery Manager: Release 11.2.0.1.0 – Production on Thu  Oct 31 20:44:15 2010
Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
connected to target database: DB10G (DBID=3002158372, not open)
RMAN> backup datafile 1;
Starting backup at 06-DEC-10using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=125 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00001 name=C:APPGARYORACLEPRODUCT10.2.0DB_1ORADATADB10GSYSTEM01.DBF
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 31-OCT-13
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 31-OCT-13
piece handle=C:APPGARYORACLEPRODUCT10.2.0DB_1FLASH_RECOVERY_AREADB10GBACKUPSET2010_12_06O1_MF_NNNDF_TAG20101206T204423_6HTCR810_.BKP tag=TAG20101206T204423 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:45
Finished backup at 31-OCT-13
Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 31-OCT-13
piece handle=C:APPGARYORACLEPRODUCT10.2.0DB_1FLASH_RECOVERY_AREADB10GAUTOBACKUP2010_12_06O1_MF_S_737066556_6HTCSQVF_.BKP comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 31-OCT-13
RMAN> exit
Interestingly, even with the recovery performed, we cannot switch back to archivelog mode without a clean shutdown.
SQL> alter database archivelog;
alter database archivelog*
ERROR at line 1:ORA-00265: instance recovery required, cannot set ARCHIVELOG mode
SQL> recover database;
ORA-00283: recovery session canceled due to errors
ORA-00264: no recovery required
SQL> alter database archivelog;
alter database archivelog*
ERROR at line 1:ORA-00265: instance recovery required, cannot set ARCHIVELOG mode
So we’ll startup and shutdown again. You cannot use the force option since that still does not perform a normal shutdown and you’ll get the same error.
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.
SQL> shutdown immediate;
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup mount;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1235959808 bytes
Fixed Size 2175288 bytes
Variable Size 620760776 bytes
Database Buffers 603979776 bytes
Redo Buffers 9043968 bytes
Database mounted.
SQL> alter database archivelog;
Database altered.
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.