how does application backups see NBU?

[mad_about_you]

NBU 7.7.3, Oracle RMAN

i'm trying to understand, in the example of RMAN or NTBACKUP, how does the backup part of any database backups see NBU? for example, in RMAN (like NTBACKUP) you can backup to disk or to tape as it has the necessary architecture/commands for it. now, instead of disk or tape, the destination is NBU how should the backup software treat it? as tape or disk?

[Marianne · Accepted solution]

Oracle rman can no longer write directly to tape. It needs a backup application for tape.

The Oracle 'Media Manager library' is called libobk.so and resides on Unix systems in the $ORACLE_HOME/lib/ directory.
To link this library to backup application, this libobk is renamed, followed by creating a symbolic link to the backup software's (NetBackup) plugin. 

So, when the backup destination in rman script is configured to use 'sbt_tape', the backup is sent to NetBackup.

The NetBackup Oracle policy is configured to use a specific Storage Unit. 
The Storage Unit can be tape or disk.

Please see this Oracle link about Rman and 'Media Manager':

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14191/rcmconfg.htm#CEGJFJEH