Scan_Optimization Noscan_Optimization Specifies whether or not RMU Backup should employ scan optimizations during incremental backup operations. By default, RMU Backup optimizes incremental backup operations by scanning regions of the database that have been updated since the last full backup operation. The identity of these regions is stored in the database. Only these regions need to be scanned for updates during an incremental backup operation. This provides a substantial performance improvement when database activity is sufficiently low. However, there is a cost in recording this information in the database. In some circumstances the cost might be too high, particularly if you do not intend to use incremental backup operations. The Scan_Optimization qualifier has different effects, depending on the type of backup operation you perform. In brief, you can enable or disable the scan optimization setting only when you issue a full offline backup command, and you can specify whether to use the data produced by a scan optimization only when you issue an incremental backup command. The following list describes this behavior in more detail: o During an offline full backup operation, you can enable or disable the scan optimization setting. Specify the Scan_Optimization qualifier to enable recording of the identities of areas that change after this backup operation completes. Specify the Noscan_Optimization qualifier to disable recording of the identities of areas that change after this backup operation completes. By default, the recording state remains unchanged (from the state it was in prior to execution of the Backup command) during a full backup operation. Note that specifying the Scan_Optimization or Noscan_ Optimization qualifier with an offline full backup operation has no effect on the backup operation itself, it merely allows you to change the recording state for scan optimization. o During an online full backup operation, the qualifier is ignored. The recording state for scan optimization remains unchanged (from the state it was in prior to execution of the Backup command). If you execute an online full backup operation and specify the Scan_Optimization or Noscan_Optimization qualifier, RMU Backup returns an informational message to indicate that the qualifier is being ignored. o During an incremental backup operation, the qualifier directs whether the scan optimization data (if recorded previously) will be used during the operation. If you specify the Scan_Optimization qualifier, RMU Backup uses the optimization if Oracle Rdb has been recording the regions updated since the last full backup operation. If you specify the Noscan_Optimization qualifier, RMU Backup does not use the optimization, regardless of whether Oracle Rdb has been recording the identity of the regions updated since the last full backup operation. You cannot enable or disable the setting for scan optimizations during an incremental backup operation. By default, the Scan_Optimization qualifier is used during incremental backup operations.