If you plan to recover to the current log sequence number, you should use complete database recovery via the
RECOVER [AUTOMATIC] DATABASE
command. However, sometimes you may only want to recover to an earlier log sequence number and you have to use the incomplete recovery with the appropriate option and open the database with the
RESETLOGS
option.
- Open the database and check whether the data you expected to recover exists if you planned to recover to an earlier redo log sequence number. Check the data dictionary view V$LOG to ensure you recovered to the current log sequence number if you planned to recover to the current redo log sequence number.
- Make a whole database backup to prevent the need for this kind of recovery in the future.
To perform recovery through RESETLOGS you must have all archived logs generated after the most recent backup and at least one control file (current, backup, or created).