RMAN allow you to copy archivelog files to a tape or filesystem. The following examples provide RMAN scripts for copying all archivelog files to '/tmp'.

-- Copy all archivelog files to a location in filesystem
rman>
run
{
allocate channel c1 type disk format '/tmp/arc_%U';
backup archivelog all;
}

-- Back up all archived logs created more than 7 and less than 30 days ago.
run {
allocate channel ch1 type disk format '/tmp/arc_%U';
backup archivelog from time 'SYSDATE-30' until time 'SYSDATE-7';
}

-- Back up all archived logs from sequence # 250 to sequence # 301 and deletes the archived redo logs after the backup is complete.

run {
allocate channel ch1 type disk format '/tmp/arc_%U';
backup
archivelog from logseq 250 until logseq 301 thread 1
}

In FORMAT clause, %U is replaced with unique file names when creating archivelog backups.

The above RMAN statements create a file in the following format in the destination directory (/etc).

-rw-r----- 1 oracle dba2 46623232 Sep 28 13:14 arc_03kqcj6g_1_1

Then, one can restore archive logs that are already located on a filesystem using restore command:

run {
set archivelog destination to '/tmp';
restore archivelog all;
}

If you do not specify SET ARCHIVELOG DESTINATION, then RMAN restores archived redo log files to the flash recovery area (when FRA is configured ).  Refer to RMAN options to restore only the required archive logfiles based on sequence number or creation timestamp.