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How can one dump internal database structures? (for DBA

ORACLE Interview Questions and Answers (Part 2)


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320. How can one dump internal database structures? (for DBA

The following (mostly undocumented) commands can be used to obtain information about internal database structures.
o Dump control file contents
alter session set events 'immediate trace name CONTROLF level 10'
/
o Dump file headers
alter session set events 'immediate trace name FILE_HDRS level 10'
/
o Dump redo log headers
alter session set events 'immediate trace name REDOHDR level 10'
/
o Dump the system state
NOTE: Take 3 successive SYSTEMSTATE dumps, with 10-minute intervals alter session set events 'immediate trace name SYSTEMSTATE level 10'
/
o Dump the process state
alter session set events 'immediate trace name PROCESSSTATE level 10'
/
o Dump Library Cache details
alter session set events 'immediate trace name library cache level 10'
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o Dump optimizer statistics whenever a SQL statement is parsed (hint: change statement or flush pool) alter session set events '10053 trace name context forever, level 1'
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o Dump a database block (File/ Block must be converted to DBA address) Convert file and block number to a DBA (database block address).
Eg: variable x varchar2;
exec :x := dbms_utility.make_data_block_address(1,12);
print x
alter session set events 'immediate trace name blockdump level 50360894'
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