When in the situation of having ‘SBT_TAPE’ backups, that are still known by the catalog or control file, but the device type ‘SBT_TAPE’ is no longer available.  If you try to delete the backups you get the following error message:

RMAN> list backup summary;

List of Backups
===============
Key TY LV S Device Type Completion Time #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
------- -- -- - ----------- --------------- ------- ------- ---------- ---
11208 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 20-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170720T200232
11209 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 20-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170720T200232
11210 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 20-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170720T200232
...
11356 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11357 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11358 B A A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T201725

RMAN> delete backup;

RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03002: failure of delete command at 08/10/2017 12:49:55
ORA-19554: error allocating device, device type: SBT_TAPE, device name:
ORA-27211: Failed to load Media Management Library
Additional information: 2

This is because the backups are of device type ‘SBT_TAPE’, which is no longer available.  To remove, you need to allocate channel for maintenance of device type ‘SBT’ but dummy to disk as explained in MOS Note:

Need Help To Remove Old Tape Backups From Catalog (Doc ID 342284.1)

“GOAL

How to delete obsolete TAPE backups via RMAN, when the Media Management Layer (MML Software not installed) is NOT available anymore.

So how to delete OLD backups which have been made to tape, while the current backup strategy is to disk and NO Media Manager is available.

SOLUTION

Allocate a maintenance channel with the dummy sbt API and run the DELETE FORCE OBSOLETE.

RMAN> allocate channel for maintenance device type sbt
parms 'SBT_LIBRARY=oracle.disksbt, ENV=(BACKUP_DIR=/tmp)';


RMAN> delete force obsolete;

The DUMMY API (oracle.disksbt) is simulating the callout to the Media Management Layer (MML).  This way RMAN thinks an actual MML is available and can perform the maintenance.”

My scenario:

RMAN> allocate channel for maintenance device type sbt
2> parms 'SBT_LIBRARY=oracle.disksbt, ENV=(BACKUP_DIR=/tmp)';

allocated channel: ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1
channel ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1: SID=808 device type=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1: WARNING: Oracle Test Disk API

RMAN> delete force obsolete;

RMAN retention policy will be applied to the command
RMAN retention policy is set to recovery window of 8 days
Deleting the following obsolete backups and copies:
Type Key Completion Time Filename/Handle
-------------------- ------ ------------------ --------------------
Backup Set 11217 20-JUL-17
 Backup Piece 11217 20-JUL-17 vks9rkqo_1_1
Backup Set 11214 20-JUL-17
 Backup Piece 11214 20-JUL-17 vls9rkqo_1_1
Backup Set 11216 20-JUL-17
 Backup Piece 11216 20-JUL-17 vms9rkqo_1_1
...
 Backup Piece 11341 28-JUL-17 3tsagnmq_1_1
Backup Set 11346 28-JUL-17
 Backup Piece 11346 28-JUL-17 3usagnmq_1_1
Backup Set 11340 28-JUL-17
 Backup Piece 11340 28-JUL-17 3vsagnmq_1_1

Do you really want to delete the above objects (enter YES or NO)? yes
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=vks9rkqo_1_1 RECID=11217 STAMP=949867353
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=vls9rkqo_1_1 RECID=11214 STAMP=949867353
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=vms9rkqo_1_1 RECID=11216 STAMP=949867353
...
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=3tsagnmq_1_1 RECID=11341 STAMP=950558426
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=3usagnmq_1_1 RECID=11346 STAMP=950558426
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=3vsagnmq_1_1 RECID=11340 STAMP=950558426
Deleted 132 objects

RMAN>

You may still have some ‘SBT_TAPE’ backups remaining due to your retention policy and hence the backups are not obsolete, therefore you need to crosscheck as follows:

RMAN> list backup summary;

List of Backups
===============
Key TY LV S Device Type Completion Time #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
------- -- -- - ----------- --------------- ------- ------- ---------- ---
11348 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11349 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11350 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11351 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11352 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11353 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11354 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11355 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11356 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11357 B 0 A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T200202
11358 B A A SBT_TAPE 28-JUL-17 1 1 YES TAG20170728T201725

RMAN> allocate channel for maintenance device type sbt
2> parms 'SBT_LIBRARY=oracle.disksbt, ENV=(BACKUP_DIR=/tmp)';

allocated channel: ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1
channel ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1: SID=17 device type=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_MAINT_SBT_TAPE_1: WARNING: Oracle Test Disk API

RMAN> delete backup;

List of Backup Pieces
BP Key BS Key Pc# Cp# Status Device Type Piece Name
------- ------- --- --- ----------- ----------- ----------
11348 11348 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 46sagnpr_1_1
11349 11349 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 47sagnpr_1_1
11350 11350 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 44sagnpr_1_1
11351 11351 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 48sagnqb_1_1
11352 11352 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 49sagnqb_1_1
11353 11353 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 45sagnpr_1_1
11354 11354 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 41sagnpr_1_1
11355 11355 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 43sagnpr_1_1
11356 11356 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 42sagnpr_1_1
11357 11357 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 40sagnpr_1_1
11358 11358 1 1 AVAILABLE SBT_TAPE 4asagoml_1_1

Do you really want to delete the above objects (enter YES or NO)? yes

RMAN-06207: WARNING: 11 objects could not be deleted for SBT_TAPE channel(s) due
RMAN-06208: to mismatched status. Use CROSSCHECK command to fix status
RMAN-06210: List of Mismatched objects
RMAN-06211: ==========================
RMAN-06212: Object Type Filename/Handle
RMAN-06213: --------------- ---------------------------------------------------
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 46sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 47sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 44sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 48sagnqb_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 49sagnqb_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 45sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 41sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 43sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 42sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 40sagnpr_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece 4asagoml_1_1

RMAN> crosscheck backup;

crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=46sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11348 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=47sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11349 STAMP=950558524
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=44sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11350 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=48sagnqb_1_1 RECID=11351 STAMP=950558539
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=49sagnqb_1_1 RECID=11352 STAMP=950558539
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=45sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11353 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=41sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11354 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=43sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11355 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=42sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11356 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=40sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11357 STAMP=950558523
crosschecked backup piece: found to be 'EXPIRED'
backup piece handle=4asagoml_1_1 RECID=11358 STAMP=950559445
Crosschecked 11 objects

RMAN> delete expired backup;

List of Backup Pieces
BP Key BS Key Pc# Cp# Status Device Type Piece Name
------- ------- --- --- ----------- ----------- ----------
11348 11348 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 46sagnpr_1_1
11349 11349 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 47sagnpr_1_1
11350 11350 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 44sagnpr_1_1
11351 11351 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 48sagnqb_1_1
11352 11352 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 49sagnqb_1_1
11353 11353 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 45sagnpr_1_1
11354 11354 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 41sagnpr_1_1
11355 11355 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 43sagnpr_1_1
11356 11356 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 42sagnpr_1_1
11357 11357 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 40sagnpr_1_1
11358 11358 1 1 EXPIRED SBT_TAPE 4asagoml_1_1

Do you really want to delete the above objects (enter YES or NO)? yes
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=46sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11348 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=47sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11349 STAMP=950558524
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=44sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11350 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=48sagnqb_1_1 RECID=11351 STAMP=950558539
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=49sagnqb_1_1 RECID=11352 STAMP=950558539
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=45sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11353 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=41sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11354 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=43sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11355 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=42sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11356 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=40sagnpr_1_1 RECID=11357 STAMP=950558523
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=4asagoml_1_1 RECID=11358 STAMP=950559445
Deleted 11 EXPIRED objects

RMAN>

Now you can continue to use device type ‘DISK’ or configure a new ‘SBT_TAPE’ 🙂

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Thanks

Zed DBA (Zahid Anwar)