Target database logon credentials

The target database is the database that is being restored and/or recovered.

The user that performs the recovery operation must be a database administrator. Oracle provides a more secure authentication scheme for database administrator usernames. You can choose between operating system authentication (OS Aunthentication) or password files (Oracle Authentication) to authenticate database administrators.

Logon credentials are not required when database administrators are authenticated using operating system authentication (OS Aunthentication).

Logon credentials are required when database administrators are authenticated using password files (Oracle Authentication). The credentials consist of a user name, a password, and optionally a net service name (TNS alias) which together make up the database connect string.

User name refers to the database administrator's login name. The administrator must have SYSDBA privilege.

Password refers to the login password for the database administrator.

The Net service name, also known as TNS alias, is used to indicate what database to use. Oracle translates the service name to a connect descriptor through the tnsnames.ora file. If this field is left blank, RMAN will not use a listener to connect to the database. In this case the selected Oracle SID determines what database to connect to. Note that, if you are using a Recovery Catalog and thereby multiple SIDs, you will want to use a service name for either the target database or the recovery catalog database because only one Oracle SID can be specified at any one time in the environment.

For information on a Net service name refer to the Oracle Net Services Administrator's Guide.

The recovery catalog is a repository of information that is used and maintained by Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN). This information is used to determine how to execute requested recovery actions.

You are not required to maintain a recovery catalog with Oracle Recovery Manager. However, Oracle recommends that you use a recovery catalog, especially if you have 20 (or more) datafiles. If you choose to use the recovery catalog, select Use Oracle RMAN recovery catalog. If you decide to use a recovery catalog, you must install the recovery catalog schema in a different database from the target database you will be backing up.

For more information on the pros and cons of using a recovery catalog refer to the Oracle Backup and Recovery Guide.