Cleaning up RMAN backup files

If the Flashback area is full or does not have enough space for a warm backup, clean up the RMAN backup files before the next backup is performed.

To clean up RMAN backup files

Log in as the oracle (Solaris) or AgfaService (Windows) user.
In a command prompt, type
rman target /

To determine the backups that are currently stored in the Flashback area, type

list backupset;

A list of backup sets appears.

Example

List of Backup Sets
===================

BS Key  Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
134     109.25M    DISK        00:00:06     31-JUL-10
        BP Key: 102   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: NO  Tag: TAG20100731T0215

        Piece Name: E:\DATA\FLASHBACK\DB_RECOVERY_AREA\4MLK4LU6_1_1

  List of Archived Logs in backup set 134
  Thrd Seq     Low SCN    Low Time  Next SCN   Next Time
  ---- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
  1    68      2616783    30-JUL-10 2642837    30-JUL-10
  1    69      2642837    30-JUL-10 2667857    30-JUL-10
  1    70      2667857    30-JUL-10 2697542    30-JUL-10
  1    71      2697542    30-JUL-10 2702345    30-JUL-10
  1    72      2702345    30-JUL-10 2717464    31-JUL-10
  1    73      2717464    31-JUL-10 2723623    31-JUL-10

BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time
------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ ---------------
184     Full    642.56M    DISK        00:04:52     05-AUG-10
        BP Key: 142   Status: AVAILABLE  Compressed: NO  Tag: TAG20100805T0215

        Piece Name: E:\DATA\FLASHBACK\DB_RECOVERY_AREA\6DLKHRQJ_1_1
  List of Datafiles in backup set 184
  File LV Type Ckp SCN    Ckp Time  Name
  ---- -- ---- ---------- --------- ----
  1       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\SYSTEM\SYSTEM01.DBF
  2       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\RBS\UNDO01.DBF
  3       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\SYSTEM\SYSAUX01.DBF
  4       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\DATA2\MVF01.DBF
  5       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\DATA1\MVFL01.DBF
  6       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\DATA1\MVFL02.DBF
  7       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\INDEX2\MVFINDX01.DBF
  8       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\INDEX1\MVFLINDX01.DBF
  9       Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\INDEX1\MVFLINDX02.DBF
  10      Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\INDEX1\MVFLINDX03.DBF
  11      Full 3277145    05-AUG-10 D:\DATA\DBASE\INDEX1\MVFLINDX04.DBF

Note the BS Key number of the backup set to delete.
From RMAN, run
delete backupset backupset_number;

where backupset_number is the BS Key number.
At the confirmation prompt, to delete the backup set, type YES.