RMAN provides the ability to perform backups for all of the following: Database, Tablespaces, Data Files, Control Files, and Archive Log Files.

By default, backup files are stored in the Flash Recovery Area unless another storage location is specified using the parameter FORMAT to define the path and name of the backup file. However, Oracle prefers using the Flash Recovery Area to store backup files because its management is handled by Oracle.

The path for this space is defined by the parameter DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, and its size is defined by the parameter DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE.

We will discuss backup procedures using RMAN here, but it should be noted that RMAN does not support backups for Online Redo Log Files.

It only supports backups for Archive Log Files. It should also be noted that you can use RMAN to perform backups for the database even if the database operates in NOARCHIVELOG mode.