This is true (RAID5:READS), the strange thing , though, is there is also a reporting server - which is not an entire clone of this database - but pretty close to it. If users are asked to disconnect from the reporting server (basically no load) and a test backup is performed via rman - the throughput achieved is 50mb/s. The storage (that houses the database) is configured in the same manner, also uses RAID5. The backup is to the same tape drives. I understand the significance of a number like 666, but whats up with 50. Is it possible, though, when a large number of disks (100+) are part of a RAID5 configuration for the controllers involved to become bound with i/o requests? Sorry , for the slight hijack of your thread Michael. ----- Original Message ---- From: Jared Still <jkstill@xxxxxxxxx> To: naqimirza@xxxxxxxxx Cc: MFontana@xxxxxxxxx; oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, 13 February, 2007 5:02:08 AM Subject: Re: RMAN Performance Maladies On 2/12/07, Naqi Mirza <naqimirza@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: The problem I witnessed at a certain site - never got resolved, the site was also using RAID 5 - I suspected this as the culprit I would not expect RAID5 to be a problem during backup, unless there is a lot of write activity to the drives during that time. -- Jared Still Certifiable Oracle DBA and Part Time Perl Evangelist ___________________________________________________________ All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html