Onboarding Oracle Database to Recovery Service

Use checklists to review the mandatory requirements, and plan to onboard your Oracle Cloud Database or Oracle Multicloud Database to Recovery Service.

Mandatory Requirements Checklist for Recovery Service

Use this checklist to verify the mandatory prerequisites to onboard your Oracle Database to Recovery Service.

Note

Operational backups to two different backup destinations may create data loss scenarios. Therefore, before you enable automatic backups to Recovery Service, you must disable manual backup scripts and processes to other storage destinations.

Table 2-1 Mandatory Requirements for Onboarding your Database to Recovery Service

Check Task

Ports used by Recovery Service

You must open these network ports and configure the security rules for Recovery Service.
  • Port 2484 - Enables SQL*Net connections to the RMAN catalog which is used by Recovery Service.
  • Port 8005 - Enables backup traffic from the database to Recovery Service.

Security rules for Recovery Service

Use Security Lists or network security groups (NSGs) to configure the security rules.
  • Security Rules for Oracle Databases deployed in OCI
    For OCI Databases, Oracle recommends that you use security lists to implement the security rules for the Recovery Service subnet in the database VCN.
    • For Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure, the backup subnet is used as the default Recovery Service subnet.
    • For Oracle Base Database Service, the database subnet is used as the default Recovery Service subnet.

    See Subnet Size and Security Rules for Recovery Service Subnet for details.

  • Security Rules for Oracle Multicloud Databases

    For Oracle Multicloud Databases, you must use network security groups (NSGs) to define the security rules and associate the NSGs (maximum five) while registering the Recovery Service subnet.

Target database compatibility level

19.0.0 or higher

Ensure that the target database compatibility level (the COMPATIBLE initialization parameter) is set to 19.0.0 or higher.

Supported Oracle Database releases

You can use Autonomous Recovery Service as the backup destination for Oracle Cloud Databases and Oracle Multicloud Databases provisioned with any of these releases:
  • Oracle Database 23ai (23.4) or later
  • Oracle Database 21c Release 7 (21.7) or later

    To use the Real-time data protection feature, your database must be provisioned with Oracle Database 21c Release 8 (21.8) or later.

  • Oracle Database 19c Release 16 (19.16) or later

    To use the Real-time data protection feature, your database must be provisioned with Oracle Database 19c Release 18 (19.18) or later.

Recovery Service resource limits

Ensure that the Recovery Service resource limits are adequate and request for an increase in service limits, if necessary.

For Oracle Multicloud Databases, you must review and adjust the limits specific to your multicloud subscription from the Limits, Quotas and Usage page in the OCI Console.

Caution:

If you do not select the multicloud subscription, then the increased limits will be applied to OCI resources.

See Recovery Service Resource Limits for details.

Recovery Service IAM policies

  • Oracle Databases in OCI

    By default, Oracle Databases deployed in OCI are already assigned with the permissions to access Recovery Service for backups.

    You can assign the optional policies, such as the tag namespace policy, or the policy that restricts access to specific users or groups to manage the Recovery Service resources.

    See Optional Permissions for Oracle Databases in OCI

  • Oracle Multicloud Databases

    Use the Recovery Service policy templates to assign permissions for Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud to use Recovery Service for backups.

    See Permissions Required for Oracle Multicloud Databases to Use Recovery Service

Recovery Service subnet for Oracle Databases in OCI

For OCI Databases, such as Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure and Oracle Base Database Service, Recovery Service automatically registers the Recovery Service subnet when you enable automatic backups.
  • For Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure, Recovery Service automatically registers the backup subnet as the default Recovery Service subnet.
  • For Oracle Base Database Service, Recovery Service automatically registers the database subnet as the default Recovery Service subnet.
Choose one of these options:
  • Use the default Recovery Service subnet that is already registered by the service (recommended).

    See Getting the Recovery Service Subnet Details of a Protected Database for details.

  • (Optional) Create your own Recovery Service subnet in the database VCN.

    Recovery Service requires a IPv4-only subnet in the same virtual cloud network (VCN) where your database resides. First, create your own Recovery Service subnet in the database VCN and then assign the security rules to the Recovery Service subnet that you create. Finally, register the Recovery Service subnet. If you have used network security groups (NSG)s to define the security rules, then you must add the NSGs (maximum five) to the Recovery Service subnet.

Recovery Service subnet for Oracle Multicloud Databases

For Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud, ensure to register the backup subnet as the Recovery Service subnet by associating network security groups (NSG). The recommended subnet size is /24.

Optional Configuration Checklist for Recovery Service

You may choose to configure these additional options for Recovery Service.

Table 2-2 Optional Configuration Checklist for Recovery Service

Check More Information

Protection policy options

  • Custom Protection Policy

    In addition to using Oracle-defined protection policies, you can also create a custom protection policy and define the required retention period (minimum 14 days to maximum 95 days).

  • Choose the Backup Storage Location

    By default, Recovery Service creates protected databases and related backups in Oracle Cloud. You can optionally override this default behavior for your Oracle Multicloud Databases such as Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud.

    If you enable the Store backups in the same cloud provider as the database option for a custom protection policy, then the policy-linked protected database and backups will be stored in the same cloud provider where the Oracle Database is provisioned.

    See Multicloud Oracle Database Backup Support for details.

  • Enable Retention Lock

    Retention locking is an optional feature to safeguard protected database backups. See Using Retention Lock to Protect Backups for details.

IAM users and groups to manage Recovery Service resources

As a tenancy administrator, you can create IAM users and groups to manage Recovery Service related tasks.

You can then assign Recovery Service policy statements to the groups. For example, create a group called recoveryserviceadmin, and then assign the policy that allows the recoveryserviceadmin group to manage protected databases, protection policies, and Recovery Service subnets.

Recovery Service Resource Limits

A service limit is the quota or allowance set on a resource. Autonomous Recovery Service has maximum limits for the number of protected databases and the backup storage space utilization. The limits apply to each region.

Table 2-3 Autonomous Recovery Service Resource Limits

Resource Oracle Universal Credits Pay As You Go or Trial

Autonomous Recovery Service Protected Database Count

Contact Us

Contact Us

Autonomous Recovery Service Space Used for Recovery Window (GB)

Contact Us

Contact Us

Use the console to review the current service limits and usage information, and request an increase in resource limits, if necessary.

  1. In the navigation menu, select Governance & Administration, and then select Tenancy Management.
  2. Select Limits, Quotas and Usage.
  3. Select Autonomous Recovery Service from the Service list.
    Review the current limits and usage information.
  4. Request a service resource limit increase, if necessary. For Oracle Multicloud Databases, ensure to review and adjust the limits specific to your multicloud subscription from the Limits, Quotas and Usage page.

    Caution:

    If you do not select the multicloud subscription, then the increased limits will be applied to OCI resources.
  5. (Optional) You can also control the resource utilization within compartments. See Quota Policy Quick Start for detailed information.

Optional Permissions for Oracle Databases in OCI

By default, Oracle Databases in OCI are assigned with the permissions to access Recovery Service. The service can also access the network resources within the database VCN. You may choose to assign the additional and optional permissions for OCI Databases, as described in this topic.

Note

Recovery Service includes separate policy templates for Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud. If you are configuring Recovery Service for your Oracle Multicloud Database, then skip this section and proceed to Permissions Required for Oracle Multicloud Databases to Use Recovery Service.
To assign the optional permissions for OCI Databases:
  1. In the Policy Builder, select Autonomous Recovery Service as the Policy Use Case.
  2. Select the policy templates or add the policy statements using the manual editor in the Policy Builder. (see Table 2-4, Table 2-5, and Table 2-6)

Table 2-4 Additional Permissions in the Ability to do all things with Autonomous Recovery Service Policy Template

Policy Statement Create In Purpose

Allow service database to manage tagnamespace in tenancy

Root compartment

Enables the OCI Database Service to access the tag namespace in a tenancy.

If you assign this permissions, then a protected database can inherit the tags from the source database.

Allow group admin to manage recovery-service-family in tenancy

Root compartment

Enables users in a specified group to access all Recovery Service resources. Users belonging to the specified group can manage protected databases, protection policies, and Recovery Service subnets.

Table 2-5 Let users manage protection policies in Autonomous Recovery Service

Policy Statement Create In Purpose

Allow group {group name} to manage recovery-service-policy in compartment {location}

Compartment that owns the protection policies.

Enables all users in a specified group to create, update, and delete protection policies in Recovery Service.

Consider this example.

This policy grants the RecoveryServiceUser group with the permissions to create, update, and delete protection policies in ABC compartment.
Allow group RecoveryServiceUser to manage recovery-service-policy in compartment ABC

The Let users manage Autonomous Recovery Service subnets policy template

Table 2-6 Let users manage Autonomous Recovery Service subnets

Policy Statement Create In Purpose

Allow Group {group name} to manage recovery-service-subnet in compartment {location}

Compartment that owns the Recovery Service subnets.

Enables all users in a specified group to create, update, and delete Recovery Service subnets.

Consider this example.

This policy grants the RecoveryServiceAdmin group with the permissions to manage Recovery Service subnets in ABC compartment.
Allow group RecoveryServiceAdmin to manage recovery-service-subnet in compartment ABC

Permissions Required for Oracle Multicloud Databases to Use Recovery Service

You must assign the permissions required for Oracle Database@Azure or Oracle Database@Google Cloud to use Recovery Service for backups.

In the Policy Builder, select Autonomous Recovery Service as the Policy Use Case, and then select one of these policy templates relevant to your Oracle Multicloud Database.

Let Oracle Database@Azure use Autonomous Recovery Service for backup

This policy template includes these policy statements required by Oracle Database@Azure to use Recovery Service for backups.


Allow service database to manage tagnamespace in tenancy
Allow group admin to manage recovery-service-family in tenancy
Allow service database to use organizations-assigned-subscription in tenancy 
where target.subscription.serviceName = 'ORACLEDBATAZURE'

ORACLEDBATAZURE indicates the service name for Oracle Database@Azure.

Let Oracle Database@Google Cloud use Autonomous Recovery Service for backup

This policy template includes these policy statements required by Oracle Database@Google Cloud to use Recovery Service for backups.


Allow service database to manage tagnamespace in tenancy
Allow group admin to manage recovery-service-family in tenancy
Allow service database to use organizations-assigned-subscription in tenancy where 
target.subscription.serviceName = 'ORACLEDBATGOOGLE'

ORACLEDBATGOOGLE indicates the service name for Oracle Database@Google Cloud.

See Multicloud Oracle Database Backup Support for more information about using Recovery Service for Oracle Multicloud Database backups.

Configuring Network Resources for Recovery Service

Create or use an existing IPv4-only subnet for Recovery Service operations in the database VCN. Define security rules to control the backup traffic between your database and Recovery Service.

Note

For Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud, ensure to register the backup subnet as the Recovery Service subnet. The recommended subnet size is /24.

About Using a Private Subnet for Recovery Service Operations

Recovery Service requires a private subnet in the same virtual cloud network (VCN) where your database resides. The private subnet must include security rules to control the backup network between your database and Recovery Service.

Recommendations for Recovery Service Subnets in the Database VCN

  • Your database VCN must have a single private subnet for backups to Recovery Service. The private subnet must reside in the same VCN where the database resides.
  • Select an IPv4-only subnet for Recovery Service in your database VCN. Do not select an IPv6-enabled subnet as Recovery Service does not support using an IPv6-enabled subnet. See Creating a Subnet to learn more.
  • The recommended subnet size is /24 (256 IP addresses).

    Recovery Service dynamically assigns the required number of free IP addresses to support the private endpoints. If you have any limitations on the available number of free IP addresses, then use a minimum /27 subnet size which will allow 32 IP addresses.

    You can either create a new private subnet or select any preexisting subnet (of the recommended size) available in the database VCN.

    For Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure, by default, the backup subnet is used for Recovery Service operations. For Oracle Base Database Service, the database subnet is also used for backing up to Recovery Service.

  • When you enable automatic backups to Autonomous Recovery Service, the service automatically registers the private subnet as a Recovery Service subnet. You can either use the automatically registered Recovery Service subnet or register your own Recovery Service subnet.

    If you have defined security rules using network security groups (NSGs), then you must register a Recovery Service subnet and associate the NSGs (maximum five) with the Recovery Service subnet.

    For Oracle Multicloud Databases, you must register a Recovery Service subnet by associating NSGs.

    See Register a Recovery Service Subnet for details.

  • If a Recovery Service subnet contains insufficient number of available IP addresses, then Recovery Service issues an alert message when you try to add a new database. In this scenario, you can add IP addresses by associating multiple subnets to the Recovery Service subnet.
  • Your Oracle Cloud database can reside in the same private subnet used by Recovery Service or in a different subnet within the same VCN.
Note

Oracle recommends using a private subnet for backups to Recovery Service. However, it is possible to use a public subnet.

Implementing Security Rules for Recovery Service Subnet

The database VCN requires security rules to allow backup traffic between your database and Recovery Service.

Security rules for the Recovery Service subnet must include stateful ingress rules to allow destination ports 8005 and 2484.

Use these Networking service features to implement security rules:
  • Security Lists

    A security list allows you to add security rules at the subnet level.

    In your database VCN, select the security list that is used for the Recovery Service subnet, and add the ingress rules to allow destination ports 8005 and 2484.

  • Network Security Groups (NSG)
    Network security groups (NSG) enable granular control over security rules that apply to individual VNICs in a VCN. Recovery Service supports these options to configure security rules using NSGs:
    • Create one NSG for the database VNIC with egress rules to allow ports 2484 and 8005. Add a separate NSG for Recovery Service with ingress rules to allow ports 2484 and 8005. Use this approach if you want to implement network isolation.
    • Create and use a single NSG (with egress and ingress rules) for the database VNIC and Recovery Service.
Note

  • If you use network security groups (NSG) to implement security rules or if your database VCN restricts network traffic between subnets, then ensure to add an egress rule for ports 2484 and 8005 from the database NSG or subnet to the Recovery Service NSG or subnet that you create.
  • If you have created NSGs to implement security rules, then you must also ensure to associate the Recovery Service NSG with the Recovery Service subnet. See Registering the Recovery Service Subnet for details.
  • If you have configured a security list and an NSG within your database VCN, then the rules defined in the NSGs takes precedence over the rules defined in a security list.

See Comparison of Security Lists and Network Security Groups to learn more.

Review Networking Service Permissions to Configure a Subnet

Ensure that you have these Networking Service permissions required to create a subnet in the database VCN and to assign security rules for Recovery Service.

Table 2-7 Networking Service Permissions Required to Create a Private Subnet and Configure Security Rules for Recovery Service

Operation Required IAM Policies

Configure a private subnet in a database VCN

  • use vcns for the compartment which the VCN is in
  • use subnets for the compartment which the VCN is in
  • manage private-ips for the compartment which the VCN is in
  • manage vnics for the compartment which the VCN is in
  • manage vnics for the compartment which the database is provisioned or is to be provisioned in

Alternatively, you can create a policy that allows a specified group with broader access to networking components.

For example, use this policy to allow a NetworkAdmin group to manage all networks in any compartment in a tenancy.

Example 2-1 Policy for Network Administrators

Allow group NetworkAdmin to manage virtual-network-family in tenancy

Subnet Size and Security Rules for Recovery Service Subnet

The security rules are necessary to allow backup traffic between a database and Recovery Service.

Note

  • Select an IPv4-only subnet for Recovery Service in your database VCN. Do not select an IPv6-enabled subnet as Recovery Service does not support using an IPv6-enabled subnet. See Creating a Subnet to learn more.
  • For Oracle Multicloud Databases, you must configure the security rules using network security groups (NSGs). NSGs control the traffic for the Recovery Service subnet and they must include stateful ingress rules to allow destination ports 8005 and 2484.

Table 2-8 Subnet Size and Security Rules for the Recovery Service Subnet

Item Requirements

Recommended subnet size

/24 (256 IP addresses)

If you have any limitations on the available number of free IP addresses, then use a minimum /27 subnet size which will allow 32 IP addresses.

General ingress rule 1:

Allow HTTPS traffic from Anywhere

This rule allows backup traffic from your Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Database to Recovery Service.

  • Stateless: No (all rules must be stateful)
  • Source Type: CIDR
  • Source CIDR: CIDR of the VCN where the database resides
  • IP Protocol: TCP
  • Source Port Range: All
  • Destination Port Range: 8005

General ingress rule 2:

Allows SQLNet Traffic from Anywhere

This rule allows recovery catalog connections and real-time data protection from your Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Database to Recovery Service.

  • Stateless: No (all rules must be stateful)
  • Source Type: CIDR
  • Source CIDR: CIDR of the VCN where the database resides
  • IP Protocol: TCP
  • Source Port Range: All
  • Destination Port Range: 2484
Note

If you use network security groups (NSG) to implement security rules or if your database VCN restricts network traffic between subnets, then ensure to add an egress rule for ports 2484 and 8005 from the database NSG or subnet to the Recovery Service NSG or subnet that you create.

Create a Recovery Service Subnet in the Database VCN

Use the OCI Console to configure a private subnet for Recovery Service in your database virtual cloud network (VCN).

Note

For Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud, ensure to register the backup subnet as the Recovery Service subnet. The recommended subnet size is /24.
  1. In the navigation menu, select Networking, and then select Virtual cloud networks to display the Virtual Cloud Networks list page.
  2. Select the VCN in which your database resides.
  3. Use these steps to create a Recovery Service subnet with a security list. If you want to use network security groups, then proceed to step 4.
    1. On the details page for the virtual cloud network, select the Security tab.
    2. Under Security Lists, select the security list that is used for the VCN.
    3. On the details page for the security list, select the Security rules tab.
      You must add two ingress rules to allow destination ports 8005 and 2484.
    4. Select Add Ingress Rules and add these details to set up a stateful ingress rule that allows HTTPS traffic from anywhere:
      • Source Type: CIDR
      • Source CIDR: Specify the CIDR of the VCN where the database resides.
      • IP Protocol: TCP
      • Source Port Range: All
      • Destination Port Range: 8005
      • Description: Specify an optional description of the ingress rule to help manage the security rules.
    5. Select +Another Ingress Rule and add these details to set up a stateful ingress rule that allows SQLNet traffic from anywhere:
      • Source Type: CIDR
      • Source CIDR: Specify the CIDR of the VCN where the database resides.
      • IP Protocol: TCP.
      • Source Port Range: All
      • Destination Port Range: 2484.
      • Description: Specify an optional description of the ingress rule to help manage the security rules.
      Note

      Select an IPv4-only subnet for Recovery Service in your database VCN. Do not select an IPv6-enabled subnet as Recovery Service does not support using an IPv6-enabled subnet. See Creating a Subnet to learn more.
    6. Select Add Ingress Rules.
    7. On the details page for the virtual cloud network page, select the Subnets tab and then select Create Subnet.
    8. Create a private subnet or select a private subnet that already exists in the database VCN. Oracle recommends a subnet size of /24 (256 IP addresses) for the private subnet.
    9. On the details page for the subnet, select the Security tab. Under Security Lists, add the security list that includes the ingress rules to allow destination ports 8005 and 2484.
      Note

      If your database VCN restricts network traffic between subnets, then ensure to add an egress rule for ports 2484 and 8005 from the database subnet to the Recovery Service subnet that you create.
  4. Use these steps to create a Recovery Service subnet with network security groups (NSG).
    1. On the details page for the virtual cloud network, select the Security tab and go to the Network Security Groups section.
    2. Select Create Network Security Group.
      Use one of these supported methods to configure security rules using NSGs:
      • To implement network isolation, create one NSG for the database VNIC (add egress rules to allow ports 2484 and 8005) and a separate NSG for Recovery Service (add ingress rules to allow ports 2484 and 8005).
      • Create and use a single NSG (with egress and ingress rules) for the database VNIC and Recovery Service.
      The Network Security Group page lists the NSGs that you create.
    Note

    For additional configuration details, refer the relevant OCI Database Service documentation.
Note

  • For OCI Databases, Recovery Service automatically registers default Recovery Service subnet.

    You can either use the default Recovery Service subnet or register your own Recovery Service subnet.

  • If you have implemented security rules using NSGs or if your target database is an Oracle Multicloud Database, then you must register the Recovery Service subnet by adding the Recovery Service NSGs (maximum five).
  • Oracle recommends that you register only a single Recovery Service subnet per VCN.

Registering the Recovery Service Subnet

Use this procedure to register a Recovery Service subnet.

Note

Before you register a Recovery Service subnet:

  • Ensure to open these network ports and configure the security rules for Recovery Service.
    • Port 2484 - Enables SQL*Net connections to the RMAN catalog which is used by Recovery Service.
    • Port 8005 - Enables backup traffic from the database to Recovery Service.
  • Ensure that you have reviewed and confirmed the mandatory prerequisites described in Mandatory Requirements Checklist for Recovery Service.
  • Ensure that you select an IPv4-only subnet for Recovery Service operations in your database VCN. Do not select an IPv6-enabled subnet as Recovery Service does not support using an IPv6-enabled subnet.
  • For Oracle Databases deployed in OCI, if your backup subnet meets the recommended subnet size (at least 12 free IP addresses), then Recovery Service automatically registers the Recovery Service subnet. If you want to replace the subnet registered by Recovery Service, use the steps described in Add or Replace Subnets for a Recovery Service Subnet.
  • For Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud, you must register the Recovery Service subnet by associating network security groups (NSG).
  • Multiple protected databases can use the same Recovery Service subnet. In order to ensure that the required number of IP addresses are available to support the Recovery Service private endpoints, you can assign multiple subnets to a Recovery Service subnet that is used by more than one protected database.
  1. On the Recovery Service subnets list page, select Register Recovery Service subnet. See Listing Recovery Service Subnets for detailed steps to access the list page.
  2. Enter a name for the Recovery Service subnet. Avoid entering confidential information in the Name field.
  3. Verify the compartment where you want to create the Recovery Service subnet. Use the Create in compartment field to select a different compartment, if necessary.
  4. Select the Compartment that contains the virtual cloud network (VCN) that you want to use. You can select a VCN from only one compartment at a time
  5. Select the virtual cloud network.
  6. Under Subnets, select these options:
    1. Select the Compartment that contains the private subnet that you want to use.
    2. Select the Subnet that you have configured for Recovery Service operations in the selected VCN.
  7. (Optional) Select +Another Subnet to assign an additional subnet to the Recovery Service subnet.
    If a single subnet does not contain enough IP addresses to support the Recovery Service private endpoints, then you can assign multiple subnets.
  8. Expand Advanced options to configure these options:
    • Network security groups

      If you have used a network security group (NSG) to implement security rules for Recovery Service in the database VCN or if your target database is an Oracle Multicloud Database, then you must add the Recovery Service NSG to the Recovery Service subnet. The Recovery Service NSG can reside in the same compartment or in a different compartment. However, the NSG must belong to the same VCN to which the specified subnet belongs.

      1. In the Network security groups section, select Use network security groups to control traffic.
      2. Select the Recovery Service NSG you have created in the database VCN.
      3. Select +Another network security group to associate multiple NSGs (maximum five).
      Note

      For Oracle Database@Azure and Oracle Database@Google Cloud, you must register the Recovery Service subnet by associating network security groups (NSG).
    • Tags: (Optional) Add one or more tags to the resource. If you have permissions to create a resource, then you also have permissions to apply free-form tags to that resource. To apply a defined tag, you must have permissions to use the tag namespace. For more information about tagging, see Resource Tags. If you are not sure whether to apply tags, skip this option or ask an administrator. You can apply tags later.

  9. Select Register.
    Note

    A Recovery Service subnet must be associated with at least one subnet belonging to your database VCN.
You can replace a subnet or add more subnets to support the required number of private endpoints. See Add or Replace Subnets for a Recovery Service Subnet for details.
See Associate NSGs to a Recovery Service Subnet for detailed steps to add NSGs to an existing Recovery Service subnet.

Ways to Manage Recovery Service Resources

In Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), you can create and manage Recovery Service resources using a variety of interfaces provided to fit your different management use cases.

Interface More Information

OCI Console

Using the Console

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

Oracle Database Autonomous Recovery Service API

Command-Line Interfaces (CLIs)

Using the CLI