I don't think there is a way to use TDP without RMAN, but you can use RMAN without TDP. We are using the RMAN and TDP here. I think it performs rather well. If you already have TDP, RMAN comes free with Oracle, so there really shouldn't be a cost issue. RMAN does a lot of different things in the background when backing up the Oracle database, checks for corruption of the datafiles when backing them up is one. It also does not put the datafiles in backup mode, which creates more activity and redo of the database, so it actually has less overhead than the traditional method of online backups for oracle.
If you need anymore info, just let me know. Mike Borden
