Log files and the recovery history file are created automatically when a database is created (Figure 4). You cannot directly modify a log file or the recovery history file; however, they are important should you need to use your database backup image to recover data that is lost or damaged.
Figure 4. Log Files and the Recovery History File
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Each database includes recovery logs, which are used to recover from application or system errors. In combination with the database backups, they are used to recover the consistency of the database right up to the point in time when the error occurred. Database recovery is discussed in more detail in Recovering a Database.
The recovery history file contains a summary of the backup information that can be used in case all or part of the database must be recovered to a given point in time. It is used to track recovery-related events such as backup, restore, and load operations. The procedure for backing up and restoring a database is described in Recovering a Database. The load utility is described in the Data Movement Utilities Guide and Reference.