Oracle RMAN Configuration for Optimizing Backup and Recovery using the RMAN Utility.
Posted by Mir Sayeed Hassan on April 25th, 2026
Oracle RMAN Configuration for Optimizing Backup and Recovery using the RMAN Utility.
Overview:
The RMAN configuration parameters are set to default rules for performing the backup and recovery in Oracle databases using CONFIGURE commands and they control retention, backup type, device usage, and automation. therefore this settings are ensure consistent backups, reduce manual effort & support fast, reliable recovery.
Let us start using the one-by-one RMAN Configuration.
Parameter 1:
$rman target /
RMAN> show CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO REDUNDANCY 1; #default value is 1
Use the following command to change it from the default value.
RMAN> CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO REDUNDANCY 5;
Note: This parameter tells RMAN to keep backups from the last 5 days up to the current backup date.
Parameter 2:
RMAN> CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION OFF; #default value off
Use the following command to change it from the default value.
RMAN> CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
Note: Enables RMAN to skip backing up unchanged datafiles & archived logs, reducing redundant backups and saving time and storage from database.
Parameter 3:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK '/u02/backup/%U';
Note: This parameter allows you to store RMAN backups in a custom location (directory must be created manually). %U generates unique backup file names as expected.
Parameter 4:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP OFF; #default is off
To set it on.,
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;
Note: This parameter enables automatic control file backups whenever an RMAN backup runs. The control file is saved both in your chosen backup location and automatically in the Flash Recovery Area (FRA) (/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/…/autobackup/), ensuring a reliable recovery point.
Parameter 5:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO ‘%F’; #default is ‘%F’
To set this.,
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO ‘%F’; #default is ‘/u02/backup/%F’
Note: To use this parameter, set your preferred backup location & enable CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON to automatically back up the control file.
Parameter 6:
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; #default value is 1
To set this.,
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 3 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET;
Note: This parameter increases the number of parallel channels to speed up RMAN backups—for ex: setting it to 3 allows four concurrent backup processes, improving performance.
Parameter 7:
RMAN> CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; #default value is 1
RMAN> CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 5;
Note: This parameter allows RMAN to create multiple copies of a single backup—for ex:, setting it to 5 will generate four copies of the control file when you run a backup command.
Parameter 8:
RMAN> CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; #default value is 1
RMAN> CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 3;
Note: This parameter allows RMAN to create multiple copies of each archived log backup—for example, setting it to 4 will back up each archive log four times.
Parameter 9:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE UNLIMITED;
To set this:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE 500M;
Note: This parameter splits RMAN backup files into 500 MB pieces, making them easier to manage, transfer, and restore.
Parameter 10:
ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE DISK; ALLOCATE CHANNEL c2 DEVICE TYPE DISK; ALLOCATE CHANNEL c3 DEVICE TYPE DISK; ALLOCATE CHANNEL c4 DEVICE TYPE DISK; ALLOCATE CHANNEL c5 DEVICE TYPE DISK;
Note: RMAN backup performance can be improved by increasing parallelism, which depends on the number of CPU cores available on your system in your database server.
Parameter 11:
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK; # default
Note: This parameter sets DISK as the default backup device, so RMAN stores backups on disk automatically unless specified otherwise.
RMAN> CONIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK BACKUPSET TO COMPRESSED;
Note: This setting configures RMAN to use disk as the default backup destination and automatically create compressed backup sets, reducing storage usage and improving backup efficiency.
Parameter 12: FOR COMPRRESSED AND UNCOMPREESED BACKUP;
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET;
#default is uncompressed.
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
Note: This parameter configures RMAN to create compressed backup sets on disk, helping reduce storage space and improve backup efficiency.
RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE SBT BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
Note: This parameter configures RMAN to create compressed backup sets on tape (SBT), reducing storage usage and optimizing backup performance.
Parameter 13:
RMAN> CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE 100M;
Note: This parameter limits RMAN backup pieces to 100 MB each, splitting backups into smaller chunks for easier handling and management in database.
Parameter 14: Encryption
RMAN> CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR DATABASE OFF; # default for encryption is off
To enable the encryption, set below command.
RMAN> CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR DATABASE ON;
Parameter 15:
Encryption Algorithm., Default is AES128.
RMAN> CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION ALGORITHM ‘AES128’;
Note: This parameter sets AES128 encryption for RMAN backups, ensuring your backup data is securely protected.
Here you can choose from these backup encryption algorithms:
AES128 – Fast and commonly used AES192 – Balanced security and performance AES256 – Highest level of security
Parameter 16: To delete the archive log.
RMAN>CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY TO NONE; # default for archive log deletion method.
Note: CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY (RMAN) and NONE (Default): Archive logs are not deleted automatically.
Parameter 17: Backed up 1 times to disk.
Logs can be deleted after one successful backup to disk.
RMAN> CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY TO BACKED UP 1 TIMES TO DISK;