"if I run this will this actually backup the DB? " -- No, it won't. But it will read the datafiles as though it would back them up, thus a noarchivelog database cannot be validated in open mode. David Fitzjarrell ________________________________ From: Dba DBA <oracledbaquestions@xxxxxxxxx> To: ORACLE-L <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 12:43 PM Subject: checking for block corruption I need to run a block corruption test. I have a BCV copy of prod I am running this on. We are not using RMAN for prod backups. I can't change this. DB Version: 10.2.0.5.6 DB Size: 10 TBs files are on raw partitions rman target / backup validate database; if I run this will this actually backup the DB? When I read the docs they seemed to say it would only do a validate check. We have the DB copy in noarchivelog mode. When I ran that command I get: RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on ORA_DISK_1 channel at 05/21/2012 16:05:09 ORA-19602: cannot backup or copy active file in NOARCHIVELOG mode If backup validate only checks for block corruption why does it care if I am in archivelog mode ( i know i can bounce the db or turn it off. I want to make sure I'm not actually taking a backup). -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l