Still having errors in Backup but this time less.

Question

Still having errors in Backup but this time less.
RMAN> backup database;
Starting backup at 17-SEP-13
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=26 device type=DISK
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 09/17/2013 20:18:25
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 17-SEP-13
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 17-SEP-13
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/DB11GR2/backupset/2013_09_17/o1_mf_ncsnf_TAG20130917T201824_93kwblqh_.bkp tag=TAG20130917T201824 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 09/17/2013 20:18:25
ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode
RMAN>
Can someone please tell why I am having errors ?
Thanks. Dan.

Answer 1

You cannot take a backup of a database that is OPEN if it is in NOARCHIVELOG mode. You need to switch the database to ARCHIVELOG mode (and have it generate ArchiveLogs which you *must* backup with the database) !
These are the instructions to backup a database that is in NOARCHIVELOG mode :
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/backup.112/e10642/rcmquick.htm#sthref113
Essentially, you need to SHUTDOWN and then MOUNT (but not OPEN) the database before you can take a backup.  That means the database is NOT available to users for the duration of the backup.  Also, you can only do a RESTORE  of the database to that time of the backup and not RECOVER it  to any intermediate time between two backups (because you wouldn't have the ArchiveLogs required for the point in time recovery).
Hemant K Chitale