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Oracle® Database Backup and Recovery Reference 10g Release 2 (10.2) Part Number B14194-03 |
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# keepOption

Syntax

keepOption::=

Description of the illustration keepoption.gif

Purpose

A subclause specifying the status of a backup or copy in relation to a retention policy. The `KEEP` option marks the backup or copy as exempt from the retention policy (that is, not obsolete), and the `NOKEEP` option undoes any existing exemptions.

Limitations and Restrictions

- This option cannot be used to override the retention politcy for files stored in the flash recovery area.

- The `KEEP` `UNTIL` clause never causes RMAN to consider a backup obsolete, if it is still required to satisfy the retention policy. `KEEP` `UNTIL` can cause backups to be kept longer than the retention policy would otherwise require, but never causes a backup to become obsolete sooner than the retention policy requires.

Keywords and Parameters

Syntax Element | Description
--- | ---
`KEEP` | Overrides any configured retention policy for this backup or copy so that the backup is not obsolete. The `BACKUP` `...` `KEEP` command specifies a new retention time for this backup. Use this option to create a long-term backup, that is, a backup that want you to archive.
`FOREVER` | Specifies that the backup or copy never expires. You must use a recovery catalog when `FOREVER` is specified, because the backup records eventually age out of the control file.
`UNTIL` `TIME` `=` `'``date_string``'` | Specifies the date until which the backup or copy must be kept. You can either specify a specific time by using the current `NLS_DATE_FORMAT`, or a SQL date expression, such as `'SYSDATE+365'`.
`LOGS` | Specifies that all of the archived logs required to recover this backup or copy must remain available as long as this backup or copy is available.
`NOLOGS` | Specifies that this backup or copy cannot be recovered because the archived logs needed to recover this backup will not be kept. The only use for this backup or copy is to restore the database to the point in time that the backup or copy was taken. This is the only valid recoverability option when the database operates in `NOARCHIVELOG` mode. This option is not valid if the backup or copy is inconsistent.
`NOKEEP` | Specifies that the backup or copy expires according to the user's retention policy. This is the default behavior if no `KEEP` option is specified.

Examples

Making a Long-Term Backup: Example This example makes a long-term backup of the database and specifies that it should never become obsolete and that the logs required to recover it should not be retained:

    SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE;
    STARTUP MOUNT;
    BACKUP DATABASE
      KEEP FOREVER NOLOGS;
    ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

Changing the Status of a Copy: Example This example specifies that any long-term image copies of datafiles and control files should lose their exempt status and so become eligible to be obsolete according to the existing retention policy:

    CHANGE COPY OF DATABASE CONTROLFILE NOKEEP;