Enable archive mode for an Oracle database - Cloud Backup

By default, the archive mode of an Oracle database is disabled. Before you can use Cloud Backup to back up an Oracle database, you must enable archive mode. This topic describes how to enable archive mode for an Oracle database.

Log on to an Oracle database as sysdba.

Execute the ARCHIVE LOG LIST statement to query the archive status of the current database. A similar output is displayed:

Sample responses

Database log mode              No Archive Mode  #NOARCHIVELOG mode
Automatic archival             Disabled
Archive destination            USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST  
Oldest online log sequence     1    
Current log sequence           2

Note

If the value Archive Mode is returned for the Database log mode parameter, ARCHIVELOG mode is enabled.

You cannot enable ARCHIVELOG mode for an Oracle database that is in the OPEN state. In this case, you must execute SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE statement to shut down the database.
Important
We recommend that you perform this step during off-peak hours.
Execute the STARTUP MOUNT statement to change the startup status of the database to MOUNT.
Execute the ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG statement to enable ARCHIVELOG mode.
Execute the ARCHIVE LOG LIST statement again to query the archive status. A similar output is displayed:
Sample responses
```
Databaselog mode             Archive Mode #ARCHIVELOG mode
Automatic archival           Enabled 
Archive destination          USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST 
Oldest online log sequence 1
Next log sequence to archive 2
Currentlog sequence        2
```
Note
After ARCHIVELOG mode is enabled, the default log archive path for an Oracle database is$ORACLE_BASE/fast_recovery_area. By default, this directory has only 4 GB of space and is also the default path for backup files and flashback logs. To prevent database exceptions due to the insufficient space of the directory, you can modify the size of the directory or change the log archive path.
Execute the ALTER DATABASE OPEN statement to start the database.