ORA-19909: datafile string belon…

When a database goes through multiple incarnations, some backups can become orphaned. Orphaned backups are backups that are created during incarnations of the database that are not ancestors of the current incarnation.

•For example, database incarnation is 5 and SCN is 7000. A DBPITR is done at SCN 7000 to SCN 6666 and then RESETLOGS is performed. Now in current incarnation 6 the backup taken between 6666 and 7000 SCN became orphaned.

•Orphaned backups are usable by RMAN in cases where you wish to restore the database to a point in time not in the current incarnation path.

 

ORA-19909: datafile string belongs to an orphan incarnation

Cause: Either the specified datafile was restored from a backup that was taken during a period of time

that has already been discarded by a resetlogs operation, or Oracle cannot identify which database incarnation the file belongs to.

The alert log contains more information.

 

Action: Restore a backup of this file that belongs to either the current or a prior incarnation of the database.

If you are using RMAN to restore, RMAN will automatically select a correct backup.