Oracle - Application-aware processing

[benny2020]

Hello,

We are backing up a virtual Windows Server that is running Oracle DB. Oracle is handling the backup of the database locally and truncating the transaction logs. We are then using Veeam to backup the complete server. In "Guest processing" for the server, we have ticked the box "Perform copy only (lets another application use logs)" but we don´t know if we should enable "Application-aware processing" or not. If we enable it we get the following error:

Unable to perform application-aware processing of Oracle database (SID: XXX) : Oracle error has occurred. ORA-01017: invalid username/password; logon denied

And if we disable it, the backup shows that all is ok.

So the questions are:

1. If we keep "Application-aware processing" enabled and add the username and password for the DB, what does Veeam do with the DB?
2. If we disable "Application-aware processing", will we get a crash consistent backup of the DB?

Regards,
Benny

[Andreas Neufert]

1. We bring the database in consistent state before image level backup => "Alter Database begin/end backup"
2. correct

[benny2020]

So there is no benefit in going with option 1 compared to option 2?

[Andreas Neufert]

Sure there is a benefit ... you have the Oracle DB in a cosistent state at image level backup. If you need DR and restore the server you have the DB in a good working state.