B
RMAN Compatibility

This section contains these topics:

• About RMAN Compatibility
• RMAN Compatibility Matrix
• RMAN Compatibility: Scenario

About RMAN Compatibility

The RMAN environment can contain the following components:

• RMAN executable
• Recovery catalog database
• Recovery catalog schema in the recovery catalog database
• Target database
• Auxiliary database (that is, a duplicate or standby database)

Each component has a release number. For example, you can use a release 9.0.1 RMAN executable with:

• A release 9.0.1 target database
• A release 9.0.1 duplicate database
• A release 8.1.5 recovery catalog database whose catalog tables were created with RMAN release 9.0.1

RMAN Compatibility Matrix

In general, the rules of RMAN compatibility are as follows:

• You can create the recovery catalog schema in any Oracle database release 8.0 and higher (refer to "Note 1: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas in 8.0 Catalog Databases").
• The recovery catalog schema version must be greater than or equal to the RMAN executable version (refer to "Note 2: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas and 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN Executables").
• The versions of the RMAN executable and the target database should be the same (refer to Table B-1 for other legal combinations).

Table B-1 shows version requirements for RMAN components.

Table B-1 RMAN Compatibility Table

Target/Auxiliary Database	RMAN Executable	Catalog Database	Catalog Schema
8.0.3	8.0.3	>=8.x	8.0.3
8.0.4	8.0.4	>=8.x	>= 8.0.4, see "Note 2: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas and 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN Executables"
8.0.5	8.0.5	>=8.x	>= 8.0.5, see "Note 2: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas and 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN Executables"
8.0.6	8.0.6	>=8.x	8.0.6
8.0.6	8.0.6	>=8.1.x	>= 8.1.x
8.1.5	8.1.5	>=8.1.x	>= 8.1.5
8.1.6	8.0.6.1	>=8.x	8.0.6
8.1.6	8.0.6.1	>=8.1.x	>= 8.1.x
8.1.6	8.1.5	>=8.1.x	>= RMAN executable
8.1.6	8.1.6	>=8.1.x	>= RMAN executable
8.1.7	8.0.6.1	>=8.x	8.0.6
8.1.7	8.0.6.1	>=8.1.x	>=8.1.x
8.1.7	8.1.x	>=8.1.x	>= RMAN executable
9.0.1	9.0.1	>=8.1.x	>= RMAN executable
9.2.0	>=9.0.3	>=8.1.x	>= RMAN executable

Note 1: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas in 8.0 Catalog Databases

RMAN cannot create release 8.1 or later catalog schemas in 8.0 catalog databases.

Note 2: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas and 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN Executables

You cannot use an 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN executable with a release 8.1 or later recovery catalog schema.

Note 3: 8.1.6 Catalog Schema and Pre-8.1.6 RMAN Executable

Using a pre-8.1.6 release of the RMAN executable with recovery catalog schema of release 8.1.6 (newly created by 8.1.6 RMAN executable with the CREATE CATALOG command) requires the following update at the catalog database:

SQL> UPDATE CONFIG SET VALUE='080004' WHERE NAME='COMPATIBLE';

RMAN Compatibility: Scenario

Assume that you maintain a production databases of the following releases:

• 8.0.3
• 8.0.4
• 8.0.5
• 8.0.6
• 8.1.6
• 8.1.7
• 9.0.1
• 9.2.0

You want to record metadata about these databases in a single recovery catalog database. According to Table B-1, you can use a single 9.2.0 recovery catalog database with a 9.2.0 catalog schema for all but the 8.0.3, 8.0.4, and 8.0.5 target databases. The 8.0.3 target database requires an 8.0.3 catalog schema. "Note 2: 8.1 or Later Catalog Schemas and 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 RMAN Executables" indicates that in general 8.0.4 and 8.0.5 target databases should not use the 9.2.0 catalog schema.

RMAN permits you to create multiple catalog schemas in a single catalog database. Hence, the solution illustrated in Table B-2 is to do the following:

• Use a single release 9.2.0 catalog database to store all metadata, but create three separate catalog schemas of the following releases: 8.0.3, 8.0.5, and 9.2.0
• Ensure that the RMAN executable version matches the release of the target database that it is backing up

  Table B-2 RMAN Compatibility Scenario with Release 9.0.1 Catalog Database

  Target Database	Catalog Schema
  8.0.3	8.0.3
  8.0.4	8.0.5
  8.0.5	8.0.5
  8.0.6	9.2.0
  8.1.5	9.2.0
  8.1.6	9.2.0
  8.1.7	9.2.0
  9.0.1	9.2.0
  9.2.0	9.2.0