SQL*Loader provides full support for data recovery when using the direct path load method. There are two main types of recovery:
Media - recovery from the loss of a database file. You must be operating in ARCHIVELOG mode to recover after you lose a database file.
Instance - recovery from a system failure in which in-memory data was changed but lost due to the failure before it was written to disk. The Oracle database can always recover from instance failures, even when redo logs are not archived.
If redo log file archiving is enabled (you are operating in ARCHIVELOG mode), then SQL*Loader logs loaded data when using the direct path, making media recovery possible. If redo log archiving is not enabled (you are operating in NOARCHIVELOG mode), then media recovery is not possible.
To recover a database file that was lost while it was being loaded, use the same method that you use to recover data loaded with the conventional path:
Because SQL*Loader writes directly to the database files, all rows inserted up to the last data save will automatically be present in the database files if the instance is restarted. Changes do not need to be recorded in the redo log file to make instance recovery possible.
If an instance failure occurs, then the indexes being built may be left in an Index Unusable state. Indexes that are Unusable must be rebuilt before you can use the table or partition. See "Indexes Left in an Unusable State" for information about how to determine if an index has been left in Index Unusable state.