RMAN backup is stuck/taking a long time

I am trying to run an RMAN backup that is either hung or is taking a very long time. Some background:

• I inherited this database, and I am unfamiliar with Oracle, as I am an SQL Server guy, so please point out / forgive any basic gaps in my knowledge
• This database is large but infrequently-used, and is loaded up with external data for analysis. There are no transactions. Therefore, the database is in NOARCHIVELOG mode.
• I need to do a one-time backup for now, so I think I don’t need a recovery catalog.
• I’m not quite sure of the database size, but it is on the order of 1TB

Here’s what I did, cobbled together from various sources on the internet:

> rman target mydatabase

shutdown;
startup mount;
run {
    allocate channel ch1 device type disk format 'C:/Backup_Folder/%U';
    backup format 'C:/Backup_Folder/db_%t_%s.bk' (database);
    release channel ch1;
}

The backup seems to be stuck on channel ch1: starting piece 1 at 01-MAY-15

RMAN creates a tiny (90K) file in C:/Backup_Folder but then nothing else has happened for over an hour. Do I just wait? Am I doing something wrong?

Don’t specify two conflicting FORMATs (you have one in the ALLOCATE CHANNEL command and one in the BACKUP command).

If and when you need different FORMATs (e.g. one for database datafile backups, one for archivelog backups and one for controlfile backups) specify them explicitly with the BACKUP command.

Eg:

> rman target mydatabase

    shutdown;
    startup mount;
RUN {
      ALLOCATE CHANNEL ch1 TYPE 
        DISK FORMAT 'C:Backup_Foldermydatabase%d_DB_%u_%s_%p'; 
      BACKUP DATABASE;
      RELEASE CHANNEL ch1;
    }
    EXIT;

Note: I noticed that you provided the path starting with “C:/”. Shouldn’t it start with “C:”?