Question

How can I delete archived redo logs not needed to flash back to a guaranteed restore point?

Asked by: cholman

In a test environment, we set guaranteed restore points at various points in an update process, so we can flash the database back to a selected state and re-test a portion of the code.  I had two restore points established, both created with the 'guarantee flashback database' option.

 We are short on disk space on this particular test server, and I needed to clean up the old, unneeded redo logs.  I selected the 'current_scn' from v$restore_point, and used RMAN to 'delete archivelog until SCN', and gave it an SCN a little earlier than the earliest 'current_SCN' from v$restore_point.  

We had flashed back to the second restore point point several times.  Each time, I dropped and re-created that restore point so subsequent flashbacks would go quicker.  (Necessary?  I have no idea.  I'm still learning how all this works.)  

Finally we wanted to start again from the top, so I issued the command to flash back to the first restore point.  It failed due to a missing redo log.  I checked the archived redo logs, and there are tons out there older than the timestamp I was trying to flash back to.  That's odd, and I still don't understand it.

Here's my question:  How can I reliably determine which redo logs are needed to support a guaranteed restore point, and which ones I can safely remove?

One thing that may be important here:  We have the archive log destination configured separate from the db_recovery_file_dest.  I won't muddy the waters with why, although I'm happy to go into it if it will help answer my question.

Thanks for your help -

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Asked On
2009-09-03 at 20:11:27ID24706720
Tags

oracle 10g

,

flashback database

,

delete redo logs

Topic

Oracle 10.x

Participating Experts
1
Points
250
Comments
5

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Answers

 

Assisted Solution

by: mrjoltcolaPosted on 2009-09-03 at 23:07:13ID: 25257114

Rank: Genius

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Expert Comment

by: cholmanPosted on 2009-09-04 at 03:42:29ID: 25258205

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Expert Comment

by: mrjoltcolaPosted on 2009-09-04 at 10:00:16ID: 25261421

Rank: Genius

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Expert Comment

by: cholmanPosted on 2009-09-04 at 10:17:49ID: 25261596

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Accepted Solution

by: cholmanPosted on 2009-09-07 at 05:15:02ID: 25274484

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