OK, I'll bite.

Yes, it is very important to have a control file backup!

I recommend you make the RMAN setting for control file auto-backup 
("CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;").  Then, your control file is 
automatically backed up with the DB, and if you lose your control file 
(or repository), it's a simple matter to "RESTORE CONTROLFILE FROM 
AUTOBACKUP;".

However, you can still request explicit control file backup as you have 
done.  

As Steve suggested, view your RMAN log to see what happened.  Also, if 
the control file backup succeeded, there will be an entry in the DB 
alert log (at least there is with control file auto-backup on).  Also, 
use the RMAN "LIST" command to see items backed up.

Have you turned "backup optimization" on?  Doing so may cause RMAN to 
skip objects if they haven't changed since last backup.

cheers, wayne

Wilkinson, Alex wrote, in part,  on 2007-06-24 10:38 PM:
> Anyone ?
>
> Surely people are backing up their control files for Oracle ?
> If so ... can you tell me how you are confirming this via NB ?
>
>  -aW
>
>
>     0n Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 04:35:04PM +0800, Wilkinson, Alex wrote: 
>
>     >Hi all,
>     >
>     >Our RMAN template contains the following run block:
>     >
>     >   ALLOCATE CHANNEL ch00
>     >       TYPE 'SBT_TAPE';
>     >   SEND
>     >   
> 'NB_ORA_CLIENT=hostname.dsto.defence.gov.au,NB_ORA_POLICY=EDN-hostname-ORA,NB_ORA_SERV=hostname.dsto.defence.gov.au,NB_ORA_SCHED=Default-Application-Backup';
>     >   BACKUP
>     >       FORMAT 'ctlfile_%d_u%u_s%s_p%p_t%t'
>     >       CURRENT CONTROLFILE;
>     >   RELEASE CHANNEL ch00;
>     >   }
>     >
>     >The only modification to this template has been the FORMAT strings.
>     >
>     >The problem:
>     >
>     >We never see any evidence of the control file being backed via the 
> output of the
>     >FORMAT string 'ctlfile_%d_u%u_s%s_p%p_t%t' in NetBackup's activity 
> monitor.
>     >
>     >The Questions:
>     >
>     >1. From all my reading the Oracle policy type includes the control file.
>     >   Can someone please confirm this ?
>     >
>     >2. Why would we never see a string output of 
> 'ctlfile_%d_u%u_s%s_p%p_t%t' even
>     >   though it has been defined within the RMAN template ?
>     >
>     >3. How can I confirm whether or not NetBackup is actually backing up the 
> control file ?
> ...
>   
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