Lesson 1

In a perfect world, databases would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. In the real world, this is not the case. That is why a good database administrator must be aware of what can and will go wrong with a database, including situations that are beyond your control. In this module you will learn some of the considerations a good DBA must evaluate when formulating or reassessing an existing backup and recovery plan.
By the end of this module you will be familiar with the following:

1. DBA responsibilities
2. Business considerations
3. Operational considerations
4. Technical considerations
5. The components of a disaster recovery plan
6. Importance of testing a backup and recovery strategy

There will come a time when your database crashes and your job is on the line. You cannot plan for every situation but the better prepared you are, the more likely you will be to survive the crisis. So, let us get started.

A disaster recovery plan for an Oracle DBA typically includes the following key components:

1. Risk assessment: Identifying potential disaster scenarios and the impact they may have on the Oracle database infrastructure.
2. Backup and recovery strategy: Developing a backup strategy that includes regular database backups, off-site storage of backups, and testing the restore process.
3. High availability solutions: Implementing high availability solutions such as Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) or Data Guard to minimize downtime in the event of a disaster.
4. Testing and documentation: Regularly testing the disaster recovery plan, documenting the process and updating the plan as necessary.
5. Communication plan: Establishing a communication plan to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and updated in the event of a disaster.
6. Incident response plan: Developing a plan for responding to a disaster, including activating the disaster recovery plan, communicating with stakeholders, and managing the recovery process.
7. Training: Providing training to relevant personnel on the disaster recovery plan and their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.