Restore the database from tape backup of the Database

Suppose the entire server is lost, 

we have the  tape copy of the backup of the database , which includes RMAN backup pieces and control file backup
Assuming that were the case, we would have to rebuild the entire server, reinstall the OS and the Oracle Software, then restore the backup of the database from tape. . If the Archives and online redo are lost, the recovered database will not include all transactions,
but it will be current up to the last backup.
Steps Required
1.copy the tape backup of the database to disk
2.create the init.ora file
3.create the password file
 4.start the instance in nomount
5.restore the spfile from autobackup spfile backup piece
6.shutdown immediate
7.startup nomount
 8.RESTORE CONTROLFILE FROM AUTOBACKUP;
9.alter database mount;
10.catalog all the backup piece into RMAN
11.restore database
12.recover database;
13.alter database open resetlogs;
14. check the status of listener and if any connection issues then workout and fix the problem
Detailed Description of Steps
Disconnected from Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options

[oracle@localhost Stasdb_database]$ . oraenv

ORACLE_SID = [statsdb] ?
The Oracle base for ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1 is /u01/app/oracle

[oracle@localhost Stasdb_database]$ rman
Recovery Manager: Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on Wed Jun 13 15:49:57 2012
Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.

RMAN> connect target /
connected to target database (not started)

RMAN> startup nomount
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area     893562880 bytes
Fixed Size                     2218512 bytes
Variable Size                243271152 bytes
Database Buffers             641728512 bytes
Redo Buffers                   6344704 bytes

RMAN> RESTORE SPFILE FROM '/u02/app/Stasdb_database/c-782188580-20120613-02';
Starting restore at 13-JUN-12
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=19 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring spfile from AUTOBACKUP /u02/app/Stasdb_database/c-782188580-20120613-02
channel ORA_DISK_1: SPFILE restore from AUTOBACKUP complete
Finished restore at 13-JUN-12

RMAN> shutdown immediate;
Oracle instance shut down

RMAN> startup nomount;
connected to target database (not started)
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area     893562880 bytes
Fixed Size                     2218512 bytes
Variable Size                243271152 bytes
Database Buffers             641728512 bytes
Redo Buffers                   6344704 bytes

RMAN> RESTORE CONTROLFILE FROM '/u02/app/Stasdb_database/c-782188580-20120613-02';
Starting restore at 13-JUN-12
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=17 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring control file
channel ORA_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
output file name=/u01/app/statsdb/control01.ctl
output file name=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/control02.ctl
Finished restore at 13-JUN-12

RMAN> alter database mount;

database mounted
released channel: ORA_DISK_1

RMAN> catalog start with '/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb';
Starting implicit crosscheck backup at 13-JUN-12
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=17 device type=DISK
Crosschecked 100 objects
Finished implicit crosscheck backup at 13-JUN-12
Starting implicit crosscheck copy at 13-JUN-12
using channel ORA_DISK_1
Finished implicit crosscheck copy at 13-JUN-12
searching for all files in the recovery area
cataloging files...
no files cataloged
searching for all files that match the pattern /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb
List of Files Unknown to the Database
=====================================
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hhndeia8_1_1
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hindeimj_1_1
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hgndeia5_1_1
Do you really want to catalog the above files (enter YES or NO)? YES
cataloging files...
cataloging done
List of Cataloged Files
=======================
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hhndeia8_1_1
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hindeimj_1_1
File Name: /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hgndeia5_1_1

RMAN> restore database;
Starting restore at 13-JUN-12
using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) to restore from backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00001 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/system01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00002 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/sysaux01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00003 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/undotbs01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00004 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/users01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00005 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/example01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00006 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/statsdb/tripointmonitor01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hhndeia8_1_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hhndeia8_1_1 tag=TAG20120613T144216
channel ORA_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:05:56
Finished restore at 13-JUN-12

RMAN> recover database;
Starting recover at 13-JUN-12
using channel ORA_DISK_1
starting media recovery
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting archived log restore to default destination
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring archived log
archived log thread=1 sequence=2345
channel ORA_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hindeimj_1_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/statsdb/hindeimj_1_1 tag=TAG20120613T144851
channel ORA_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/STATSDB/archivelog/2012_06_13/o1_mf_1_2345_7xl72djp_.arc thread=1 sequence=2345
channel default: deleting archived log(s)
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/STATSDB/archivelog/2012_06_13/o1_mf_1_2345_7xl72djp_.arc RECID=1851 STAMP=785865820
unable to find archived log
archived log thread=1 sequence=2346
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03002: failure of recover command at 06/13/2012 16:03:42
RMAN-06054: media recovery requesting unknown archived log for thread 1 with sequence 2346 and starting SCN of 92188455

RMAN> alter database open resetlogs;
database opened

RMAN>

Your database is ready to use.

I hope this article helped you. Your suggestions/feedback are most welcome.

Keep learning... Have a great day!!!