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How to Configure Oracle RMAN to Back Up and Delete Archived Logs

RMAN can back up archived redo logs and delete them in the same operation. The right command depends on whether you want to remove only the input copy or all matching copies across archive destinations.
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RMAN can back up archived redo logs and delete the backed-up files in one operation. Use BACKUP ARCHIVELOG ALL DELETE INPUT; to delete only the copy RMAN used, or BACKUP ARCHIVELOG ALL DELETE ALL INPUT; to remove all matching copies from the archiving destinations. Either command follows the configured archived log deletion policy, so review that policy and any Data Guard requirements before running it.

Choose which archived-log copies RMAN should delete

The key distinction is whether duplicate copies in other archiving destinations should remain. Oracle’s current Oracle Database 26 Backup Reference explains that BACKUP ARCHIVELOG backs up one copy of each distinct log sequence number.

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Choice What happens after a successful backup Use when
DELETE INPUT RMAN deletes the archived-log file it used as the backup input. Other copies may remain in other destinations. You want to preserve duplicate copies in their destinations.
DELETE ALL INPUT RMAN deletes all matching copies of the backed-up logs from the archiving destinations. You intend to remove duplicate copies too, and the deletion policy permits it.
Fast recovery area automatic cleanup The database can remove eligible archived logs in the fast recovery area when more space is needed; it retains them as long as possible. You rely on recovery-area space management rather than immediate cleanup.

Because only one copy per sequence number is backed up, DELETE ALL INPUT can affect duplicate files that were not themselves used as backup input. Choose it only if removing those copies is appropriate.

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Review the deletion policy before configuring a job

RMAN’s persistent archived-log deletion policy is configured with CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY. Its default is NONE. The policy governs eligibility for deletion at archiving destinations, including the fast recovery area. Backup-and-delete commands honor it; a log may remain if the policy’s backup or standby conditions are not met.

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Deletion commands run without FORCE obey the policy. FORCE ignores it, so it is not a routine cleanup setting. Do not select a policy clause by copying a generic example: the required backup redundancy, retention needs, media destination, and database topology determine what is safe.

Data Guard deployments

In Data Guard, account for the actual standby transfer and application requirements before allowing deletion. A policy that is suitable for a standalone database may not be suitable for a primary/standby configuration. Oracle’s Database 21 maintenance guidance points administrators to Data Guard documentation for standby-specific archived-log management.

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Run a backup-and-delete command

The following are syntax patterns, not universal production prescriptions. Oracle’s Oracle Database 18 Backup and Recovery User’s Guide illustrates connecting to the target database and ensuring it is mounted or open before running the command. Confirm the state and exact behavior for your installed release in the current Backup and Recovery Reference.

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Delete only the input copy

BACKUP ARCHIVELOG ALL DELETE INPUT;

RMAN backs up archived redo logs and deletes the copy used as input when deletion is allowed by the policy. Copies in other destinations can remain.

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Delete all matching copies

BACKUP ARCHIVELOG ALL DELETE ALL INPUT;

This backs up one copy per distinct sequence number and, if policy conditions permit, removes all matching copies of those backed-up logs from the archiving destinations.

Use an SBT destination

If the backup is directed to an SBT media manager, Oracle illustrates this form:

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BACKUP DEVICE TYPE sbt
  ARCHIVELOG ALL
  DELETE ALL INPUT;

Use it only when SBT channels and the media-manager destination are configured for the target database. The command does not replace checking the deletion policy or the impact on other archive destinations.

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Understand fast recovery area cleanup

The database can automatically delete eligible archived logs from the fast recovery area when it needs disk space, retaining them there as long as possible. This automatic space-management behavior is specific to the recovery area; it does not imply that the database cleans up arbitrary archive destinations. Oracle documents recovery-area and deletion-policy behavior in its Oracle Database 26 Configure Reference.

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Checks before enabling scheduled cleanup

  • Confirm the Oracle release and verify syntax and behavior in that release’s Backup and Recovery Reference.
  • Confirm the target database state required by your procedure.
  • Check that RMAN channels and backup destinations are configured, including SBT configuration if applicable.
  • Inventory the archiving destinations and decide whether duplicate copies should remain.
  • Review the archived-log deletion policy against recovery, backup redundancy, retention, and standby requirements.
  • Use DELETE ALL INPUT only when removal of all matching copies is intended and permitted.

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