Use the CROSSCHECK command to ensure that data about backups in the
recovery catalog or control file is synchronized with actual files on disk or
in the media management catalog. The CROSSCHECK command operates only on files
that are recorded in the RMAN repository.
The CROSSCHECK command checks only objects marked AVAILABLE or EXPIRED by
examining the files on disk for DISK channels or by querying the media manager
for sbt channels. The CROSSCHECK command updates the repository records for any
files that it is unable to find to EXPIRED. It does not delete any files that
it is unable to find.
The DELETE command can remove any file that the LIST and CROSSCHECK
commands can operate on. For example, you can delete backup sets, archived redo
logs, and data file copies. The DELETE command removes both the physical file
and the catalog record for the file. The DELETE OBSOLETE command deletes
backups that are no longer needed. It uses the same REDUNDANCY and RECOVERY
WINDOW options as REPORT OBSOLETE.
If you delete backups without using RMAN, you can use the CROSSCHECK or
UNCATALOG commands to remove the files from the recovery catalog.
