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Hi,<br />
Two things.<br />
First you can also use a catalog which is a separate database syncronized wit the repository in the controlfile. This is recommended when you have many databases, when you have long retention... and it knows where to restore the controlfile from.<br />
Second, if you have lost the controlfile you need to restore it. Either you know the location of the backup or, with correct settings, oracle looks in the recovery area for it.<br />
Franck.
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If you aren't using a recovery catalog outside of the controlfile, then you will lose the RMAN backup information. &nbsp;You can recover the database manually but not using RMAN. &nbsp;That is why it is a good idea to have multiple controlfiles and backups of them in multiple places. &nbsp;Make sure they are protected.
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&gt;&gt; You can recover the database manually but not using RMAN<br />
Yes of course you can. This works even without current controlfile:<br />
RMAN&gt; connect target /<br />
RMAN&gt; restore controlfile to '/tmp/testing_controlfile_<wbr />autobackup<wbr />' from autobackup;
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Dear Frank,<br />
<br />
&quot;Yes of course you can. This works even without current controlfile:&quot;<br />
Thank you, that is what I exactly wanted to know.<br />
<br />
Can we say it just like &quot;We are manually showing to the RMAN the location and backup which include the controlfile&quot; ?<br />
<br />
Thank you very much.<br />
Pradeep.
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When they said they lost their controlfile, I was thinking they also lost the backup of the controlfile as well.
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&gt;&gt; Can we say it just like &quot;We are manually showing to the RMAN the location and backup which include the controlfile&quot; ?<br />
Yes exactly. And autobackup has default name so as long as you know where the recovery area is RMAN will find it.
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Dear Franck,<br />
Thank you very much.<br />
<br />
Your answer indicate that having meta data is not necessarily required for restoring the control file.<br />
<br />
Now, <br />
Is it possible to follow same manner for data files as well ? &nbsp;Example : If we know the correct backup of data files, can we tell to RMAN to restore it even without control file or catalog ?<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Pradeep.
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Pradeep Siriwardana (uompradeep)

Pradeep Siriwardana

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Hello Franck,<br />
Thank you so much. I got the answer for my concern.
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Dear Experts,<br />
<br />
As I already know, RMAN use the control file to keep the backup related data. <br />
Does it mean, &nbsp;we do not have a way to use RMAN for recovery if CONTROL FILE is lost ?<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Pradeep.
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Dear Experts,

As I already know, RMAN use the control file to keep the backup related data. 
Does it mean,  we do not have a way to use RMAN for recovery if CONTROL FILE is lost ?

Thank you,
Pradeep.

Question about RMAN recovery

Oracle is an object-relational database management system. It supports a large number of languages and application development frameworks. Its primary languages are SQL, PL/SQL and Java, but it also includes support for C and C++. Oracle also has its own enterprise modules and application server software.