Overview

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Gain expertise in advanced backup and recovery strategies with this course designed to equip you with critical skills. You will learn to manage RMAN recovery catalogs, implement secure encryption methods, optimize backup plans with RPO and RTO strategies, and perform advanced recovery scenarios, including point-in-time recovery (PITR), cross-platform data transport, and handling corrupted blocks. The course begins by delving into the management of RMAN recovery catalogs, teaching you how to create, synchronize, and manage recovery repositories. Next, you’ll explore secure backup methods, including transparent encryption, password-based keystore, and dual-mode encryption, ensuring your backups remain robust and secure. As you progress, you'll learn best practices for database backups, including how to define effective Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO). Advanced recovery techniques will also be covered, such as point-in-time recovery (PITR), restoring control files and server parameter files (SPFILE), and handling redo log losses. Designed for database administrators and IT professionals, this course is ideal for those with prior RMAN and database management experience. Its advanced focus provides valuable insights and hands-on experience to tackle even the most complex database recovery challenges.

Syllabus

Managing RMAN Recovery Catalog

In this module, we will dive deep into the RMAN Recovery Catalog, a critical component for robust backup and recovery operations. You will compare its functionality with the control file repository, explore catalog creation and maintenance, and practice working with RMAN stored scripts.

Securing RMAN Backups

In this module, we will focus on securing RMAN backups using various encryption techniques. You will learn how to configure transparent and password-based encryption modes and practice securing sensitive data with RMAN-encrypted backups.

Common Backup Practices

In this module, we will cover essential best practices for database backups. From defining RPO and RTO to exploring advanced backup layouts and third-party tools, you’ll gain practical insights into building robust backup strategies.

Performing Recovery Scenarios in RMAN

In this module, we will tackle advanced RMAN recovery scenarios, from restoring control files and SPFILEs to performing PITR and recovering lost redo logs. Through hands-on practice, you’ll master recovery procedures for a wide range of failure scenarios.

Using Data Recovery Advisor

In this module, we will introduce the powerful Data Recovery Advisor tool, which simplifies the process of identifying and resolving database issues. You’ll also learn to manage block corruption and leverage hands-on practice to troubleshoot and repair failures.

Performing Cross-Platform Data Transportation

In this module, we will explore cross-platform data transportation, a critical technique for migrating databases across environments. You’ll practice using image copies and backup sets to transfer data efficiently between hosts while addressing real-world challenges.