Oracle Architectural

Components
Objectives

 After completing this lesson, you should be able to

do the following:
– Outline the Oracle architecture and its main
components
– List the structures involved in connecting a user to an
Oracle Instance
Overview of Primary Components
Instance
User
process Shared Pool SGA

Library Redo Log

Database
Cache Buffer
Buffer Cache
Server Data Dictionary
process Cache Large Pool
Java Pool
PGA
PMON SMON DBWR LGWR CKPT Others

Datafiles Control Redo Log

Parameter files files Archived
file Log files
Password
file
Database
Oracle Server
 An Oracle server:
– Is a database management Oracle Server
system that provides an
open, comprehensive,
integrated approach to
information management
– Consists of an Oracle
Instance and an Oracle
database
Oracle Instance
 An Oracle Instance:
– Is a means to access an Oracle database
– Always opens one and only one database
– Consists of memory and background process
structures

Instance
Shared Pool SGA

Library Memory
Database Redo Log
Cache
Buffer Cache Buffer structures
Data Dictionary
Cache Java Pool Large Pool

Background
PMON SMON DBWR LGWR CKPT Others
process structures
Establishing a Connection
and Creating a Session
 Connecting to an Oracle Instance:
– Establishing a user connection
– Creating a session
Server
Connection process
established Session created
User Oracle Server
process

Database user
Oracle Database

 An Oracle database:
– Is a collection of data that is treated as a unit
– Consists of three file types

Oracle Database
Redo
Datafiles Control Log
Parameter files files Archived
file Log files
Password
file
Physical Structure
 The physical structure includes three types of
files:
– Control files
– Datafiles
– Redo log files

Header
Control
files
Datafiles
(includes
Online
Data
Redo Log
Dictionary)
files
Memory Structure

 Oracle’s memory structure consists of two

memory areas known as:
– System Global Area (SGA): Allocated at instance
startup, and is a fundamental component of an Oracle
Instance
– Program Global Area (PGA): Allocated when the
server process is started
System Global Area
– The SGA consists of several memory structures:
 Shared Pool
 Database Buffer Cache
 Redo Log Buffer
 Other structures (for example, lock and latch
management, statistical data)
– There are two additional memory structures that
can be configured within the SGA:
 Large Pool
 Java Pool
System Global Area

– SGA is dynamic
– Sized by the SGA_MAX_SIZE parameter
– Allocated and tracked in granules by SGA components
 Contiguous virtual memory allocation
 Granule size based on total estimated SGA_MAX_SIZE
Shared Pool
– Used to store:
 Most recently executed SQL statements
 Most recently used data definitions
– It consists of two key performance-related memory
structures:
 Library Cache
 Data Dictionary Cache
– Sized by the parameter
SHARED_POOL_SIZE
Shared Pool
Library
Cache
Data
Dictionary
ALTER SYSTEM SET Cache
SHARED_POOL_SIZE = 64M;
Library Cache

– Stores information about the most recently

used SQL and PL/SQL statements
– Enables the sharing of commonly used
statements
– Is managed by a least recently used (LRU)
algorithm
– Consists of two structures:
 Shared SQL area
 Shared PL/SQL area
– Size determined by the Shared Pool sizing
Data Dictionary Cache
– A collection of the most recently used definitions in
the database
– Includes information about database files, tables,
indexes, columns, users, privileges, and other
database objects
– During the parse phase, the server process looks
at the data dictionary for information to resolve
object names and validate access
– Caching data dictionary information into memory
improves response time on queries and DML
– Size determined by the Shared Pool sizing
Database Buffer Cache
– Stores copies of data blocks that have been
retrieved from the datafiles
– Enables great performance gains when you
obtain and update data
– Managed through an LRU algorithm
– DB_BLOCK_SIZE determines primary block
size

Database Buffer
Cache
Database Buffer Cache

– Consists of independent sub-caches:

 DB_CACHE_SIZE
 DB_KEEP_CACHE_SIZE
 DB_RECYCLE_CACHE_SIZE
– Can be dynamically resized
ALTER SYSTEM SET DB_CACHE_SIZE = 96M;

– DB_CACHE_ADVICE set to gather statistics

for predicting different cache size behavior
– Statistics displayed by V$DB_CACHE_ADVICE
Redo Log Buffer

– Records all changes made to the database data

blocks
– Primary purpose is recovery
– Changes recorded within are called redo entries
– Redo entries contain information to reconstruct
or redo changes
– Size defined by LOG_BUFFER
Redo Log
Buffer
Large Pool
– An optional area of memory in the SGA
– Relieves the burden placed on the Shared Pool
– Used for:
 Session memory (UGA) for the Shared Server
 I/O server processes
 Backup and restore operations or RMAN
 Parallel execution message buffers
­ PARALLEL_AUTOMATIC_TUNING set to TRUE
– Does not use an LRU list
– Sized by LARGE_POOL_SIZE
Java Pool

– Services parsing requirements for Java

commands
– Required if installing and using Java
– Sized by JAVA_POOL_SIZE parameter
Program Global Area

– Memory reserved for each

user process connecting to PGA
Server
an Oracle database process
– Allocated when a process is
created
User
– Deallocated when the process
process is terminated
– Used by only one process
Process Structure

 Oracle takes advantage of various types of processes:

– User process: Started at the time a database user requests
connection to the Oracle server
– Server process: Connects to the Oracle Instance and is
started when a user establishes a session
– Background processes: Started when an Oracle Instance is
started
User Process

– A program that requests interaction with the

Oracle server
– Must first establish a connection
– Does not interact directly with the Oracle server

Server
process
User
process
Connection
established

Database user
Server Process

– A program that directly interacts with the Oracle

server
– Fulfills calls generated and returns results
– Can be Dedicated or Shared Server
Server
Connection process
established Session created
User Oracle server
process

Database user
Background Processes

 Maintains and enforces relationships between

physical and memory structures
– Mandatory background processes:
 DBWn PMON CKPT
 LGWR SMON
– Optional background processes:
 ARCn LMDn RECO
 CJQ0 LMON Snnn
 Dnnn Pnnn
 LCKn QMNn
Database Writer (DBWn)
 DBWn writes when:
Instance – Checkpoint occurs
SGA – Dirty buffers reach
Database threshold
Buffer – There are no free buffers
Cache – Timeout occurs
– RAC ping request is made
– Tablespace OFFLINE
DBWn
– Tablespace READ ONLY
– Table DROP or TRUNCATE
– Tablespace BEGIN
Redo BACKUP
Datafiles Control Log
files files

Database
Log Writer (LGWR)
Instance  LGWR writes:
SGA – At commit
Redo Log
– When one-third full
Buffer
– When there is 1 MB
of redo
DBWn LGWR – Every three seconds
– Before DBWn writes

Redo
Datafiles Control Log
files files

Database
System Monitor (SMON)
Instance  Responsibilities:
SGA
– Instance recovery
 Rolls forward
changes in redo
logs
 Opens database for
SMON user access
 Rolls back
uncommitted
Redo transactions
Datafiles Control Log
files files – Coalesces free space
– Deallocates temporary
segments
Database
Process Monitor (PMON)
Instance  Cleans up after
SGA
 failed processes by:
– Rolling back the
transaction
– Releasing locks
PMON – Releasing other
resources
– Restarting dead
dispatchers
PGA area
Checkpoint (CKPT)
Instance  Responsible for:
SGA – Signaling DBWn at
checkpoints
– Updating datafile
headers with
checkpoint information
DBWn LGWR CKPT – Updating control files
with checkpoint
information
Redo
Datafiles Control Log
files files

Database
Archiver (ARCn)

– Optional background process

– Automatically archives online redo logs when
ARCHIVELOG mode is set
– Preserves the record of all changes made to the
database

Redo ARCn
Datafiles Control Log Archived
files files Redo Log
files
Logical Structure

– Dictates how the physical space of a database is

used
– Hierarchy consisting of tablespaces, segments,
extents, and blocks
Tablespace
Datafile
Segment Segment

Extent Blocks
Tablespaces and Datafiles

 Oracle stores data logically in tablespaces and

physically in datafiles.
– Tablespaces:
 Can belong to only one database at a time
 Consist of one or more datafiles
 Are further divided into logical units of storage
– Datafiles: Database
 Can belong to only one
tablespace and one database Tablespace
 Are a repository for schema
object data Datafiles
Types of Tablespaces

– SYSTEM tablespace
 Created with the database
 Contains the data dictionary
 Contains the SYSTEM undo segment
– Non-SYSTEM tablespace
 Separate segments
 Eases space administration
 Controls amount of space allocated to a user
Creating Tablespaces

 A tablespace is created using the command:

 CREATE TABLESPACE
CREATE TABLESPACE userdata
DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/userdata01.dbf' SIZE 100M
AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 5M MAXSIZE 200M;
Space Management in
Tablespaces
– Locally managed tablespace:
 Free extents managed in the tablespace
 Bitmap is used to record free extents
 Each bit corresponds to a block or group of blocks
 Bit value indicates free or used
– Dictionary-managed tablespace:
 Free extents are managed by the data dictionary
 Appropriate tables are updated when extents are
allocated or deallocated
Locally Managed Tablespaces

– Reduced contention on data dictionary tables

– No undo generated when space allocation or
deallocation occurs
– No coalescing required
CREATE TABLESPACE userdata
DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/userdata01.dbf' SIZE 500M
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL UNIFORM SIZE 128K;
Dictionary-Managed
Tablespaces
– Extents are managed in the data dictionary
– Each segment stored in the tablespace can have
a different storage clause
– Coalescing required
CREATE TABLESPACE userdata
DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/userdata01.dbf'
SIZE 500M EXTENT MANAGEMENT DICTIONARY
DEFAULT STORAGE
(initial 1M NEXT 1M PCTINCREASE 0);
Undo Tablespace

– Used to store undo segments

– Cannot contain any other objects
– Extents are locally managed
– Can only use the DATAFILE and EXTENT
MANAGEMENT clauses
CREATE UNDO TABLESPACE undo1
DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/undo01.dbf' SIZE 40M;
Temporary Tablespaces

– Used for sort operations

– Cannot contain any permanent objects
– Locally managed extents recommended
CREATE TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp
TEMPFILE '/u01/oradata/temp01.dbf' SIZE 500M
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL UNIFORM SIZE 4M;
Default Temporary Tablespace

– Specifies a database-wide default temporary

tablespace
– Eliminates using SYSTEM tablespace for storing
temporary data
– Can be created by using:
 CREATE DATABASE
­ Locally managed
 ALTER DATABASE
ALTER DATABASE
DEFAULT TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp;
Creating a Default Temporary
Tablespace
– During database creation:
CREATE DATABASE DBA01
LOGFILE
GROUP 1 ('/$HOME/ORADATA/u01/redo01.log') SIZE 100M,
GROUP 2 ('/$HOME/ORADATA/u02/redo02.log') SIZE 100M,
MAXLOGFILES 5
MAXLOGMEMBERS 5
MAXLOGHISTORY 1
MAXDATAFILES 100
MAXINSTANCES 1
DATAFILE '/$HOME/ORADATA/u01/system01.dbf' SIZE 325M
UNDO TABLESPACE undotbs
DATAFILE '/$HOME/ORADATA/u02/undotbs01.dbf' SIZE 200
DEFAULT TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp
TEMPFILE '/$HOME/ORADATA/u03/temp01.dbf' SIZE 4M
CHARACTER SET US7ASCII
Creating a Default Temporary
Tablespace
– After database creation:
ALTER DATABASE
DEFAULT TEMPORARY TABLESPACE default_temp2;

– To find the default temporary tablespace for

the database query DATABASE_PROPERTIES
SELECT * FROM DATABASE_PROPERTIES;
Restrictions on Default
Temporary Tablespace
 Default temporary tablespaces cannot be:
– Dropped until after a new default is made available
– Taken offline
– Altered to a permanent tablespace
Read Only Tablespaces

– Use the following command to place a tablespace

in read only mode
ALTER TABLESPACE userdata READ ONLY;

 Causes a checkpoint
 Data available only for read operations
 Objects can be dropped from tablespace
Taking a Tablespace Offline

– Not available for data access

– Tablespaces that cannot be taken offline:
 SYSTEM tablespace
 Tablespaces with active undo segments
 Default temporary tablespace
– To take a tablespace offline:
ALTER TABLESPACE userdata OFFLINE;

– To bring a tablespace online:

ALTER TABLESPACE userdata ONLINE;
Changing Storage Settings

– Using ALTER TABLESPACE command to

change storage settings:
ALTER TABLESPACE userdata MINIMUM EXTENT 2M;

ALTER TABLESPACE userdata

DEFAULT STORAGE (INITIAL 2M NEXT 2M
MAXEXTENTS 999);

– Storage settings for locally managed

tablespaces cannot be altered.
Resizing a Tablespace

 A tablespace can be resized by:

– Changing the size of a datafile:
 Automatically using AUTOEXTEND
 Manually using ALTER TABLESPACE
– Adding a datafile using ALTER TABLESPACE
Enabling Automatic Extension

of Datafiles
– Can be resized automatically with the following
commands:
 CREATE DATABASE
 CREATE TABLESPACE
 ALTER TABLESPACE … ADD DATAFILE
– Example:
CREATE TABLESPACE user_data
DATAFILE
'/u01/oradata/userdata01.dbf' SIZE 200M
AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 10M MAXSIZE 500M;

– Query the DBA_DATA_FILES view to determine

whether AUTOEXTEND is enabled.
Manually Resizing a Datafile

– Manually increase or decrease a datafile size

using ALTER DATABASE
– Resizing a datafile adds more space without
adding more datafiles
– Manual resizing of a datafile reclaims unused
space in database
– Example:
ALTER DATABASE
DATAFILE '/u03/oradata/userdata02.dbf'
RESIZE 200M;
Adding Datafiles to a
Tablespace
– Increases the space allocated to a tablespace
by adding additional datafiles
– ADD DATAFILE clause is used to add a datafile
– Example:
ALTER TABLESPACE user_data
ADD DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/userdata03.dbf'
SIZE 200M;
Methods for Moving Datafiles

– ALTER TABLESPACE
 Tablespace must be offline
 Target datafiles must exist
ALTER TABLESPACE userdata RENAME
DATAFILE '/u01/oradata/userdata01.dbf'
TO '/u02/oradata/userdata01.dbf';
– Steps to rename a datafile:
 Take the tablespace offline.
 Use an OS command to move or copy the files.
 Execute the ALTER TABLESPACE RENAME
DATAFILE command.
 Bring the tablespace online.
 Use an OS command to delete the file if necessary.
Methods for Moving Datafiles

– ALTER DATABASE
 Database must be mounted
 Target datafile must exist
ALTER DATABASE RENAME
FILE '/u01/oradata/system01.dbf'
TO '/u03/oradata/system01.dbf';
Dropping Tablespaces

– Cannot drop a tablespace if it:

 Is the SYSTEM tablespace
 Has active segments
– INCLUDING CONTENTS drops the segments
– INCLUDING CONTENTS AND DATAFILES
deletes datafiles
– CASCADE CONSTRAINTS drops all referential
integrity constraints
DROP TABLESPACE userdata
INCLUDING CONTENTS AND DATAFILES;
Managing Tablespaces Using
OMF
– Define the DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST parameter in
one of the following ways:
 Initialization parameter file
 Set dynamically using ALTER SYSTEM command

ALTER SYSTEM SET

db_create_file_dest
– When creating the = '/u01/oradata/dba01';
tablespace:
 Datafile is automatically created and located in
DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST
 Default size is 100 MB
 AUTOEXTEND is set to UNLIMITED
Managing Tablespaces with
OMF
– Creating an OMF tablespace:

CREATE TABLESPACE text_data DATAFILE SIZE 20M;

– Adding an OMF datafile to an existing tablespace:

ALTER TABLESPACE text_data ADD DATAFILE;

– Dynamically changing default file location:

ALTER SYSTEM SET

db_create_file_dest = '/u01/oradata/dba01';
– Dropping a tablespace includes deleting OS files:
Obtaining Tablespace Information
 Obtaining tablespace and datafile information can be obtained by
querying the following:
– Tablespaces:
 DBA_TABLESPACES
 V$TABLESPACE
– Datafile information:
 DBA_DATA_FILES
 V$DATAFILE
– Temp file information:
 DBA_TEMP_FILES
 V$TEMPFILE