- Introduction: We can recover specific tables in Oracle using RMAN’s RECOVER TABLE command with a timestamp or SCN, which restores tables via an auxiliary instance without impacting production. The recovered table is then exported with Data Pump and imported back into the target database, ensuring precise point-in-time recovery without affecting the rest of the environment. In this article, we will do the Table recovery with RMAN backup.
- Prerequisites:
- A valid RMAN backup prior to table drop.
- Disk space requirement is depending upon the Table & its related Tablespace size. Apart from this additional 5-10 GB for auxiliary instance.
- Environment:
- Now let's proceed to recover the table via RMAN step by step:
| Server | test.oraeasy.com |
|---|---|
| Database Name | testdb |
| Database Version | 19.27 |
1. First create a table.
SQL> DEF
DEFINE _DATE = "23-AUG-25" (CHAR)
DEFINE _CONNECT_IDENTIFIER = "testdb" (CHAR)
DEFINE _USER = "TEST" (CHAR)
DEFINE _PRIVILEGE = "" (CHAR)
DEFINE _SQLPLUS_RELEASE = "1927000000" (CHAR)
DEFINE _EDITOR = "vi" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_VERSION = "Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.27.0.0.0" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_RELEASE = "1927000000" (CHAR)
SQL>
SQL> SHOW USER
USER is "TEST"
SQL>
SQL> CREATE TABLE company (
emp_id INT,
name VARCHAR(255),
company VARCHAR(255)
);
Table created.
SQL> INSERT INTO company VALUES (101, 'Yash', 'WIPRO');
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO company VALUES (102, 'Vijay', 'AIRTEL');
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO company VALUES (103, 'Riya', 'TCS');
1 row created.
SQL> COMMIT;
Commit complete.
SQL> SELECT COUNT(*) FROM company;
COUNT(*)
----------
3
[oracle@test ~]$ RMAN TARGET /
Recovery Manager: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Sat Aug 23 10:10:58 2025
Version 19.27.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
connected to target database: testdb (DBID=877553793)
RMAN>
RMAN> RUN
{
ALLOCATE CHANNEL ch1 DEVICE TYPE DISK;
BACKUP AS COMPRESSED BACKUPSET DATABASE FORMAT '/u01/rman/Fullback_%T_%U';
BACKUP AS COMPRESSED BACKUPSET ARCHIVELOG ALL FORMAT '/u01/rman/Archive_%T_%U';
RELEASE CHANNEL ch1;
}
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ch1
channel ch1: SID=58 device type=DISK
Starting backup at 23-AUG-25
channel ch1: starting compressed full datafile backup set
channel ch1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00001 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/testdb/system01.dbf
input datafile file number=00002 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/testdb/sysaux01.dbf
input datafile file number=00004 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/testdb/undotbs01.dbf
input datafile file number=00003 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/testdb/users01.dbf
channel ch1: starting piece 1 at 23-AUG-25
channel ch1: finished piece 1 at 23-AUG-25
piece handle=/u01/rman/Fullback_20250823_0341r31u_3_1_1 tag=TAG20250823T101317 comment=NONE
channel ch1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:06:34
Finished backup at 23-AUG-25
Starting backup at 23-AUG-25
current log archived
channel ch1: starting compressed archived log backup set
channel ch1: specifying archived log(s) in backup set
input archived log thread=1 sequence=12 RECID=2 STAMP=1209298467
input archived log thread=1 sequence=13 RECID=3 STAMP=1209298492
input archived log thread=1 sequence=14 RECID=4 STAMP=1209298520
input archived log thread=1 sequence=15 RECID=5 STAMP=1209298532
input archived log thread=1 sequence=16 RECID=6 STAMP=1209298534
input archived log thread=1 sequence=17 RECID=7 STAMP=1209302329
input archived log thread=1 sequence=18 RECID=8 STAMP=1209303449
input archived log thread=1 sequence=19 RECID=9 STAMP=1209304855
input archived log thread=1 sequence=20 RECID=10 STAMP=1209305991
input archived log thread=1 sequence=21 RECID=11 STAMP=1209307464
input archived log thread=1 sequence=22 RECID=12 STAMP=1209310175
input archived log thread=1 sequence=23 RECID=13 STAMP=1209314873
input archived log thread=1 sequence=24 RECID=14 STAMP=1209322002
input archived log thread=1 sequence=25 RECID=15 STAMP=1209896476
channel ch1: starting piece 1 at 23-AUG-25
channel ch1: finished piece 1 at 23-AUG-25
piece handle=/u01/rman/Archive_20250823_0441r3hb_4_1_1 tag=TAG20250823T102128 comment=NONE
channel ch1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:08:32
Finished backup at 23-AUG-25
Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 23-AUG-25
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/autobackup/2025_08_23/o1_mf_s_1209897017_nbllql1r_.bkp comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 23-AUG-25
released channel: ch1
RMAN>
RMAN> exit
SQL> SELECT TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'MM-DD-YYYY HH24:MI:SS') "Current_Timestamp" FROM DUAL;
Current_Timestamp
-------------------
08-23-2025 10:32:05
SQL> DROP TABLE test.company;
Table dropped.
SQL> SELECT TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'MM-DD-YYYY HH24:MI:SS') "Current_Timestamp" FROM DUAL;
Current_Timestamp
-------------------
08-23-2025 10:37:07
[oracle@test ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/data
[oracle@test ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/dpump
Syntax:
RECOVER TABLE test.company -- recover table COMPANY from schema TEST
UNTIL TIME "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00', 'MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')" -- recover it as of this timestamp
AUXILIARY DESTINATION '/u01/data' -- use this location for temporary auxiliary instance files
DATAPUMP DESTINATION '/u01/dpump' -- store the Data Pump export here
DUMP FILE 'company_exp.dmp'; -- name of the Data Pump dump file to generate
RMAN> RECOVER TABLE test.company
UNTIL TIME "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00', 'MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')"
AUXILIARY DESTINATION '/u01/data'
DATAPUMP DESTINATION '/u01/dpump'
DUMP FILE 'company_exp.dmp';
Starting recover at 23-AUG-25
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
current log archived
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=497 device type=DISK
RMAN-05026: warning: presuming following set of tablespaces applies to specified point-in-time
List of tablespaces expected to have UNDO segments
Tablespace SYSTEM
Tablespace UNDOTBS1
Creating automatic instance, with SID='hput'
initialization parameters used for automatic instance:
db_name=testdb
db_unique_name=hput_pitr_testdb
compatible=19.0.0
db_block_size=8192
db_files=200
diagnostic_dest=/u01/app/oracle
_pdb_name_case_sensitive=false
_system_trig_enabled=FALSE
sga_target=1200M
processes=200
db_create_file_dest=/u01/data
log_archive_dest_1='location=/u01/data'
#No auxiliary parameter file used
starting up automatic instance testdb
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area 1258288760 bytes
Fixed Size 8939128 bytes
Variable Size 318767104 bytes
Database Buffers 922746880 bytes
Redo Buffers 7835648 bytes
Automatic instance created
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')";
# restore the controlfile
restore clone controlfile;
# mount the controlfile
sql clone 'alter database mount clone database';
# archive current online log
sql 'alter system archive log current';
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
Starting restore at 23-AUG-25
allocated channel: ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: SID=19 device type=DISK
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring control file
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/autobackup/2025_08_23/o1_mf_s_1209897017_nbllql1r_.bkp
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/autobackup/2025_08_23/o1_mf_s_1209897017_nbllql1r_.bkp tag=TAG20250823T103011
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:04
output file name=/u01/data/testdb/controlfile/o1_mf_nblms0lh_.ctl
Finished restore at 23-AUG-25
sql statement: alter database mount clone database
sql statement: alter system archive log current
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')";
# set destinations for recovery set and auxiliary set datafiles
set newname for clone datafile 1 to new;
set newname for clone datafile 4 to new;
set newname for clone datafile 3 to new;
set newname for clone tempfile 1 to new;
# switch all tempfiles
switch clone tempfile all;
# restore the tablespaces in the recovery set and the auxiliary set
restore clone datafile 1, 4, 3;
switch clone datafile all;
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
renamed tempfile 1 to /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_temp_%u_.tmp in control file
Starting restore at 23-AUG-25
using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) to restore from backup set
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00001 to /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_system_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00004 to /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00003 to /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/rman/Fullback_20250823_0341r31u_3_1_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/rman/Fullback_20250823_0341r31u_3_1_1 tag=TAG20250823T101317
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:04:09
Finished restore at 23-AUG-25
datafile 1 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=4 STAMP=1209898456 file name=/u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_system_nblmvrso_.dbf
datafile 4 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=5 STAMP=1209898460 file name=/u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_nblmvt0b_.dbf
datafile 3 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=6 STAMP=1209898463 file name=/u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_nblmvspf_.dbf
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')";
# online the datafiles restored or switched
sql clone "alter database datafile 1 online";
sql clone "alter database datafile 4 online";
sql clone "alter database datafile 3 online";
# recover and open database read only
recover clone database tablespace "SYSTEM", "UNDOTBS1", "SYSAUX";
sql clone 'alter database open read only';
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
sql statement: alter database datafile 1 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 4 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 3 online
Starting recover at 23-AUG-25
using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1
Executing: alter database datafile 2, 5, 7, 8 offline
starting media recovery
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 25 is already on disk as file /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_25_nbll44m7_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 26 is already on disk as file /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_26_nblm8msp_.arc
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_25_nbll44m7_.arc thread=1 sequence=25
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_26_nblm8msp_.arc thread=1 sequence=26
media recovery complete, elapsed time: 00:02:24
Finished recover at 23-AUG-25
sql statement: alter database open read only
contents of Memory Script:
{
sql clone "create spfile from memory";
shutdown clone immediate;
startup clone nomount;
sql clone "alter system set control_files =
''/u01/data/testdb/controlfile/o1_mf_nblms0lh_.ctl'' comment=
''RMAN set'' scope=spfile";
shutdown clone immediate;
startup clone nomount;
# mount database
sql clone 'alter database mount clone database';
}
executing Memory Script
sql statement: create spfile from memory
database closed
database dismounted
Oracle instance shut down
connected to auxiliary database (not started)
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area 1258288760 bytes
Fixed Size 8939128 bytes
Variable Size 318767104 bytes
Database Buffers 922746880 bytes
Redo Buffers 7835648 bytes
sql statement: alter system set control_files = ''/u01/data/testdb/controlfile/o1_mf_nblms0lh_.ctl'' comment= ''RMAN set'' scope=spfile
Oracle instance shut down
connected to auxiliary database (not started)
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area 1258288760 bytes
Fixed Size 8939128 bytes
Variable Size 318767104 bytes
Database Buffers 922746880 bytes
Redo Buffers 7835648 bytes
sql statement: alter database mount clone database
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')";
# set destinations for recovery set and auxiliary set datafiles
set newname for datafile 7 to new;
# restore the tablespaces in the recovery set and the auxiliary set
restore clone datafile 7;
switch clone datafile all;
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
executing command: SET NEWNAME
Starting restore at 23-AUG-25
allocated channel: ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: SID=20 device type=DISK
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) to restore from backup set
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00007 to /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/datafile/o1_mf_users_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/rman/Fullback_20250823_0341r31u_3_1_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/rman/Fullback_20250823_0341r31u_3_1_1 tag=TAG20250823T101317
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
Finished restore at 23-AUG-25
datafile 7 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=8 STAMP=1209898997 file name=/u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/datafile/o1_mf_users_nblnns3s_.dbf
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 10:32:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')";
# online the datafiles restored or switched
sql clone "alter database datafile 7 online";
# recover and open resetlogs
recover clone database tablespace "USERS", "SYSTEM", "UNDOTBS1", "SYSAUX" delete archivelog;
alter clone database open resetlogs;
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
sql statement: alter database datafile 7 online
Starting recover at 23-AUG-25
using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1
Executing: alter database datafile 2, 5, 8 offline
starting media recovery
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 25 is already on disk as file /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_25_nbll44m7_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 26 is already on disk as file /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_26_nblm8msp_.arc
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_25_nbll44m7_.arc thread=1 sequence=25
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/testdb/archivelog/2025_08_23/o1_mf_1_26_nblm8msp_.arc thread=1 sequence=26
media recovery complete, elapsed time: 00:00:07
Finished recover at 23-AUG-25
database opened
contents of Memory Script:
{
# create directory for datapump import
sql "create or replace directory TSPITR_DIROBJ_DPDIR as ''
/u01/dpump''";
# create directory for datapump export
sql clone "create or replace directory TSPITR_DIROBJ_DPDIR as ''
/u01/dpump''";
}
executing Memory Script
sql statement: create or replace directory TSPITR_DIROBJ_DPDIR as ''/u01/dpump''
sql statement: create or replace directory TSPITR_DIROBJ_DPDIR as ''/u01/dpump''
Performing export of tables...
EXPDP> Starting "SYS"."TSPITR_EXP_hput_joFn":
EXPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
EXPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
EXPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/MARKER
EXPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
EXPDP> . . exported "TEST"."COMPANY" 5.976 KB 3 rows
EXPDP> Master table "SYS"."TSPITR_EXP_hput_joFn" successfully loaded/unloaded
EXPDP> ******************************************************************************
EXPDP> Dump file set for SYS.TSPITR_EXP_hput_joFn is:
EXPDP> /u01/dpump/company_exp.dmp
EXPDP> Job "SYS"."TSPITR_EXP_hput_joFn" successfully completed at Sat Aug 23 11:24:32 2025 elapsed 0 00:13:02
Export completed
contents of Memory Script:
{
# shutdown clone before import
shutdown clone abort
}
executing Memory Script
Oracle instance shut down
Performing import of tables...
IMPDP> Master table "SYS"."TSPITR_IMP_hput_Fjcx" successfully loaded/unloaded
IMPDP> Starting "SYS"."TSPITR_IMP_hput_Fjcx":
IMPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
IMPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
IMPDP> . . imported "TEST"."COMPANY" 5.976 KB 3 rows
IMPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
IMPDP> Processing object type TABLE_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/MARKER
IMPDP> Job "SYS"."TSPITR_IMP_hput_Fjcx" successfully completed at Sat Aug 23 11:39:43 2025 elapsed 0 00:03:39
Import completed
Removing automatic instance
Automatic instance removed
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_temp_nblnc15n_.tmp deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/onlinelog/o1_mf_7_nblnorlc_.log deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/onlinelog/o1_mf_6_nblnor5v_.log deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/onlinelog/o1_mf_5_nblnor4v_.log deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/onlinelog/o1_mf_4_nblnor40_.log deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/HPUT_PITR_testdb/datafile/o1_mf_users_nblnns3s_.dbf deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_nblmvspf_.dbf deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_nblmvt0b_.dbf deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/testdb/datafile/o1_mf_system_nblmvrso_.dbf deleted
auxiliary instance file /u01/data/testdb/controlfile/o1_mf_nblms0lh_.ctl deleted
auxiliary instance file company_exp.dmp deleted
Finished recover at 23-AUG-25
RMAN> exit
SQL> DEF
DEFINE _DATE = "23-AUG-25" (CHAR)
DEFINE _CONNECT_IDENTIFIER = "testdb" (CHAR)
DEFINE _USER = "SYS" (CHAR)
DEFINE _PRIVILEGE = "AS SYSDBA" (CHAR)
DEFINE _SQLPLUS_RELEASE = "1927000000" (CHAR)
DEFINE _EDITOR = "vi" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_VERSION = "Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.27.0.0.0" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_RELEASE = "1927000000" (CHAR)
SQL>
SQL> SELECT COUNT(*) FROM test.company;
COUNT(*)
----------
3
If you have CDB/PDB environment then use below syntax.
RECOVER TABLE test.company OF PLUGGABLE DATABASE testpdb
UNTIL TIME "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 19:55:00', 'MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')"
AUXILIARY DESTINATION '/u01/data'
DATAPUMP DESTINATION '/u01/dpump'
DUMP FILE 'company_exp.dmp';
Also if you don't want to import the table in the same database then you can append NOTABLEIMPORT clause in Recover table script like below.
RECOVER TABLE 'TEST'.'COMPANY'
UNTIL TIME "TO_DATE('08/23/2025 19:55:00','MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS')"
AUXILIARY DESTINATION '/u01/data'
DATAPUMP DESTINATION '/u01/dpump'
DUMP FILE 'company_exp.dmp'
NOTABLEIMPORT;
Thank you for reading!
I hope this content has been helpful to you. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome — feel free to leave a comment or reach out with any queries.
Abhishek Shrivastava
