There are several alternatives for Oracle DB backup, including online,
partial backups with ADSM!  If you haven't seen the redbook GG24-4335
that would be a good place to start.  We are updating it right now
and plan for the new version to be available in December.

You can directly back up Oracle with ADSM using Oracle's alter tablespace
command....this will allow you to do online, partial backups.
Oracle must be on file systems however.  This will work for any ADSM
backup/archive client platform.

You can use DataTools SQL-Backtrack product, on HP, SUN, and AIX, for
full, partial, online and offline backups.  SQl-Backtrack uses the ADSM API.
Oracle can be raw devices or on file systems.

Future:  Oracle's OBACKUP product which will use the ADSM API...on HP, SUN,
and AIX.....availability dependent on GA of OBACKUP.  Will also have full,
partial, online and offline backups, and Oracle can be on raw devices or
file systems.

Future: ADSMPIPE tools for ADSM to read raw devices directly...actually
code that reads the raw device and sends the data directly to ADSM using
the ADSM api....the database must be offline for this approach.
AS-is tool avail in December. Supported tool avail 1H96.

If you are an SAP R/3 shop, then you should use BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE with
the BACKINT IBM service offering.

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to further explain the options.
Cyndie Behrens
IBM - ITSO San Jose
cbehrens AT vnet.ibm DOT com
408-256-6934