Set up a Database for RMAN Backup

To simplify ongoing use of RMAN for backup and recovery, the RMAN lets you set a number of persistent configuration settings for each target database. To view these persistent configuration settings use SHOW ALL within RMAN command prompt.

To change these persistent configuration settings use CONFIGURE ... command.

If you want to clear anytime these settings to default mode then use, CONFIGURE... CLEAR command.

Whenever you set any parameter by CONFIGURE ... these settings is used while backup and recovery strategy whenever you do not specify any other format within Run block or at RMAN prompt. However you can override these settings while taking backup. T
he order of precedence is,

1.Set within Run Block.
2.Set at RMAN prompt.
3.Set with CONFIGURE

Some Examples:
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This example changes the default backup destination from disk to tape and then again backup to default.

RMAN> show default device type;
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
RMAN configuration parameters are:
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK; # default

RMAN> CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO 'SBT_TAPE';
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK;
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO 'SBT_TAPE';
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored

RMAN> CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE CLEAR;
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO 'SBT_TAPE';
RMAN configuration parameters are successfully reset to default value

RMAN> show default device type;
RMAN configuration parameters are:
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK; # default

RMAN> show backup optimization;
RMAN configuration parameters are:
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION OFF; # default

RMAN> CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored

RMAN> show backup optimization;
RMAN configuration parameters are:
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;

RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP OFF;
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored

By default, the format of the autobackup file for all configured devices is the substitution variable %F. This variable format translates into c-IIIIIIIIII-YYYYMMDD-QQ,

where:IIIIIIIIII stands for the DBID.

YYYYMMDD is a time stamp of the day the backup is generated

QQ is the hex sequence that starts with 00 and has a maximum of FF