# Backups for Oracle

You can back up online or offline Oracle databases, log files, or Oracle datafiles and tablespaces. If the database must be accessible and you only have a small backup window, run a series of online backups for different parts of the database.

You can run backups immediately or configure a schedule.

Important

If you have configured RMAN backup optimization for an Oracle instance, then the Commvault software permanently turns off optimization the first time that you perform a full backup or selective online full backup from the Commvault software. This behavior ensures that the backups contain all the Oracle data files and that you can successfully restore the backups.

## Full Backups

Oracle full backups include the entire database and the control file. If the database is using Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and using file-based Oracle Wallet, the wallet files are automatically backed up as part of a full database backup.

A full backup is the most comprehensive backup and is the baseline for incremental backups. Full backups of online databases include the log files. An offline full backup is a cold backup for Oracle databases.

## Incremental Backups

An Oracle incremental backup contains the changed data from the last full backup. Incremental backups use less media and resources than full backups.

In a cumulative level n backup, only the data that differs from the most recent backup at level n-1 or a lower level is backed up.

## What Is Backed Up

- Oracle database files that include the datafiles and control files

- Archived redo logs

- Parameter files (SP file)

- Oracle Managed Files

- Oracle Wallet files

## What Is Not Backed Up

You can use a file server agent to back up the following content, which is not included in backups of Oracle databases. For more information, see File Servers.

- Oracle application files that are associated with the Oracle installation

- External files, for example, external tables

## Control CPU Usage

To control CPU usage for backups, see control CPU usage for database backups.

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