Oracle database backups are mainly categorized into two types: logical and physical. Each backup type has its own pros and cons. In previous editions, it was not feasible to restore a table or partition using existing physical backups. In order to restore a particular object, you must have logical backup. With 12c R1, you can recover a particular table or partition to a point-in-time or SCN from RMAN backups in the event of a table drop or truncate.
When a table or partition recovery is initiated via RMAN, the following action is performed:
- Required backup sets are identified to recover the table/partition
- An auxiliary database will be configured to a point-in-time temporarily in the process of recovering the table/partition
- Required table/partitions will be then exported to a dumpfile using the data pumps
- Optionally, you can import the table/partitions in the source database
- Rename option while recovery
- A full database backup must be exists, or at least the SYSTEM related tablespaces
- Tables/partitions stored under SYSAUX and SYSTEM tablespaces can’t be recovered
- Recovery of a table is not possible when REMAP option used to recovery a table that contains NOT NULL constraints