Fred, I think that the controlfile back can only have %F as a variable. %T and %U are invalid (at least in 9i). The error indicates that the format for the file is incorrect. Tom -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fred Smith Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 10:50 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RMAN error while backing up control file Hi all, I keep getting a nagging RMAN error, perhaps someone out there can help. My RMAN setup works great to backup the database, etc. .... but I tried to set it to "auto backup" the control file. However, everytime after a backup, when the "auto backup" starts, I get an error: Starting Control File Autobackup at 29-SEP-05 RMAN-00571: =========================================================== RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS =============== RMAN-00571: =========================================================== RMAN-03015: error occurred in stored script full_bell1_nic_backup_plus_archlogs RMAN-03002: failure of backup command at 09/29/2005 14:53:46 ORA-19715: invalid format for piece name Here are my config settings: RMAN> show all; RMAN configuration parameters are: CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 7 DAYS; CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION OFF; # default CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK; # default CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON; CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/xfer/rman_backups/bell1_nic/bell1_nic_control_files/ctl_file_%T_%U_%F' ; CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1; CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default CONFIGURE MAXSETSIZE TO UNLIMITED; # default CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '/xfer/oracle/app/oracle/product/920/dbs/snapcf_nic.f'; Any ideas why it won't successfully backup the controlfile?? Thanks, -Fred S. _________________________________________________________________ Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l