(RA19) RMAN Incremental Level 1 backups which utilize multi-section backups are not indexed efficiently resulting in high space utilization

Asset ID:	1-77-2260630.1
Update Date:	2017-05-02
Keywords:

Solution Type Sun Alert Sure

Solution 2260630.1 : (RA19) RMAN Incremental Level 1 backups which utilize multi-section backups are not indexed efficiently resulting in high space utilization

Applies to:

Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance X6 Hardware - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance X5 Hardware - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance X4 Hardware - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance Software - Version 12.1.1.1.8 and later

Description

Oracle has discovered a new critical issue on top of Recovery Appliance 12.1.1.1.8. The critical issue impacts only new 12gR1 RMAN incremental Level 1 backups with Section Size to Recovery Appliance 12.1.1.1.8.

Occurrence

Due to bug 25897512 , RMAN incremental level 1 backups that utilize multi-section backups are not indexed properly. The result is the Virtual Level 0 backups are not being created and recovery takes longer than it should. The lack of Virtual Level 0 backups also prevents efficient purging of old data.

Symptoms

The impact of this critical issue can result in the following:

RMAN backups can be restored, but the RA virtual backups may "silently" not completed for new RMAN incremental level 1 backups with Section Size.
Subsequent incremental backups are not processed or indexed efficiently resulting in high space utilization for those backups and reduced available space for all backups in the Recovery Appliance.
Restores from the impacted backups can take longer due to inefficient processing.
If this increased space utilization goes unmonitored and causes extreme space pressure on the Recovery Appliance, the complete RMAN incremental level 1 backup with Section Size can be purged and restore operations for those backups will be jeopardized.

After applying this critical issue fix

The space utilization issue described above will not occur for new RMAN incremental level 1 backups with Section Sizes.
The existing space utilization issue after the next RMAN cumulative incremental level 1 backup is sent to the Recovery Appliance.
Restore times will no longer be impacted because virtual backups will be successfully created.
The downstream Recovery Appliance will need to temporarily remove the protected database from the replication server on the upstream and then re-add the protected database in the replication server.

Workaround

A script is provided that can detect if the problem currently exists on a Recovery Appliance running 12.1.1.1.8

To avoid the problem or to fix the issue, run RMAN cumulative incremental level 1 backups without section size clause

This will not resolve space utilization sizes for previously created RMAN incremental level 1 backups that utilized the Section Size clause.

Patches

ZDLRA PATCH FOR 12.1.1.1.8.201704 CUMULATIVE PATCH 2

History

01-MAY-2017 - Created

02-MAY-2017 - Patch Released

Attachments

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