Oracle database Internals FAQ

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Oracle database Internals FAQ:

What is ORADEBUG and how does one use it?[edit]

ORADEBUG is a command that can be executed from SQL*Plus (or svrmgrl) to expose internal information.

To obtain a list of valid ORADEBUG commands, execute ORADEBUG HELP. Here are some examples -

Trace SQL statements with bind variables:

SQL> oradebug setospid 10121
Oracle pid: 91, Unix process pid: 10121, image: oracleorcl

SQL> oradebug EVENT 10046 trace name context forever, level 12
Statement processed.

SQL> ! vi /app/oracle/admin/orcl/bdump/ora_10121.trc

Trace Process Statistics:

SQL> oradebug setorapid 2
Unix process pid: 1436, image: ora_pmon_orcl

SQL> oradebug procstat
Statement processed.

SQL> oradebug TRACEFILE_NAME
/app/oracle/admin/orcl/bdump/pmon_1436.trc

List semaphores and shared memory segments in use:

SQL> oradebug ipc

Dump Error the Stack:

SQL> oradebug setospid <pid>
SQL> oradebug event immediate trace name errorstack level 3

Dump Parallel Server DLM locks:

SQL> oradebug lkdebug -a convlock
SQL> oradebug lkdebug -a convres
SQL> oradebug lkdebug -r <resource handle> (i.e 0x8066d338 from convres dump)

It looks like one can change memory locations with the ORADEBUG POKE command. Anyone brave enough to test this one for us?

Previously the above functionality was available with the ORADBX command. The command sequence to link this utility was:

ls -l $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/lib/oradbx.o;
make -f oracle.mk oradbx

How does one dump internal database structures?[edit]

The following (mostly undocumented) commands can be used to obtain information about internal database structures.

Dump control file contents:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name CONTROLF level 10';

Dump file headers:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name FILE_HDRS level 10';

Dump redo log headers:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name REDOHDR level 10';

Dump the system state. One should take 3 successive SYSTEMSTATE dumps, with 10 minute intervals:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name SYSTEMSTATE level 10';

Dump process state:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name PROCESSSTATE level 10';

Dump Library Cache details:

alter session set events 'immediate trace name library_cache level 10';

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';

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';

Note: if you get ORA-02194, use this command instead:

alter system dump datafile 4 block 20;

What Kernel Subsystems are available?[edit]

Listed below are some of the important subsystems in the Oracle kernel. This table might help you to read those dreaded trace files and internal messages. For example, if you see messages like this, you will at least know where they come from:

OPIRIP: Uncaught error 447. Error stack:
KCF: write/open error block=0x3e800 online=1

Kernel Subsystems:

OPI Oracle Program Interface
KK Compilation Layer - Parse SQL, compile PL/SQL
KX Execution Layer - Bind and execute SQL and PL/SQL
K2 Distributed Execution Layer - 2PC handling
NPI Network Program Interface
KZ Security Layer - Validate privs
KQ Query Layer
RPI Recursive Program Interface
KA Access Layer
KD Data Layer
KT Transaction Layer
KC Cache Layer
KS Services Layer
KJ Lock Manager Layer
KG Generic Layer
KV Kernel Variables (eg. x$KVIS and X$KVII)
S or ODS Operating System Dependencies

What are in all those X$ tables?[edit]

The following list attempts to describe some of the x$ tables. The list may not be complete or accurate, but represents an attempt to figure out what information they contain. One should generally not write queries against these tables as they are internal to Oracle, and Oracle may change them without any prior notification.

X$K2GTE2 Kernel 2 Phase Commit Global Transaction Entry Fixed Table
X$K2GTE Kernel 2 Phase Commit Global Transaction Entry Fixed Table
X$BH Buffer headers contain information describing the current contents of a piece of the buffer cache.
X$KCBCBH Cache Buffer Current Buffer Header Fixed Table. It can predict the potential oss of decreasing the number of database buffers. The db_block_lru_statistics parameter has to be set to true to gather information in this table.
X$KCVFH File Header Fixed Table
X$KDNCE SGA Cache Entry Fixed Table
X$KDNST Sequence Cache Statistics Fixed Table
X$KDXHS Histogram structure Fixed Table
X$KDXST Statistics collection Fixed Table
X$KGHLU One-row summary of LRU statistics for the shared pool
X$KGLBODY Derived from X$KGLOB (col kglhdnsp = 2)
X$KGLCLUSTER Derived from X$KGLOB (col kglhdnsp = 5)
X$KGLINDEX Derived from X$KGLOB (col kglhdnsp = 4)
X$KGLLC Latch Clean-up state for library cache objects Fixed Table
X$KGLPN Library cache pin Fixed Table
X$KGLTABLE Derived from X$KGLOB (col kglhdnsp = 1)
X$KGLTR Library Cache Translation Table entry Fixed Table
X$KGLTRIGGER Derived from X$KGLOB (col kglhdnsp = 3)
X$KGLXS Library Cache Access Table
X$KKMMD Fixed table to look at what databases are mounted and their status
X$KKSBV Cursor Cache Bind Variables
X$KSMSP Each row represents a piece of memory in the shared pool
X$KSQDN Global database name
X$KSQST Enqueue statistics by type
X$KSUCF Cost function for each Kernel Profile (join to X$KSUPL)
X$KSUPL Resource Limit for each Kernel Profile
X$KSURU Resource Usage for each Kernel Profile (join with X$KSUPL)
X$KSQST Gets and waits for different types of enqueues
X$KTTVS indicate tablespace that has valid save undo segments
X$KVII Internal instance parameters set at instance initialization
X$KVIS Oracle Data Block (size_t type) variables
X$KVIT Instance internal flags, variables and parameters that can change during the life of an instance
X$KXFPCDS Client Dequeue Statistics
X$KXFPCMS Client Messages Statistics
X$KZDOS Represent an os role as defined by the operating system
X$KZSRO Security state Role: List of enabled roles
X$LE Lock Element : each PCM lock that is used by the buffer cache (gc_db_locks)
X$MESSAGES Displays all the different messages that can be sent to the Background processes
X$NLS_PARAMETERS NLS database parameters

Some handy X$table queries:

Some handy queries based on the X$ memory tables:

Largest number of blocks one can write at any given time:

select kviival write_batch_size
from   x$kvii where kviitag = 'kcbswc';

See the gets and waits for different types of enqueues:

select * from x$ksqst 
where  KSQSTSGT /*col name was ksqstget before 10g*/ > 0;

What is the difference between locks, latches, enqueues and semaphores?[edit]

A latch is an internal Oracle mechanism used to protect data structures in the SGA from simultaneous access. Atomic hardware instructions like TEST-AND-SET are used to implement latches. Latches are more restrictive than locks in that they are always exclusive. Latches are never queued, but will spin or sleep until they obtain a resource, or time out.

Enqueues and locks are different names for the same thing. Both support queuing and concurrency. They are queued and serviced in a first-in-first-out (FIFO) order.

Semaphores are an operating system facility used to control waiting. Semaphores are controlled by the following Unix parameters: semmni, semmns and semmsl. Typical settings are:

  • semmns = sum of the "processes" parameter for each instance (see init<instance>.ora for each instance)
  • semmni = number of instances running simultaneously;
  • semmsl = semmns

What is a deadlock and how does one fix deadlock errors?[edit]

A deadlock occurs when two or more users are waiting for data locked by each other. See ORA-00060 for more information.

How does one diagnose and fix 'library cache pin' waits?[edit]

Oracle uses library cache pins to manage library cache concurrency. This FAQ outlines a method to deal with "library cache pin" wait events that are blocking other users:

The first step is to see who is waiting for Library Cache Pins:

SQL> COL event FORMAT a20 TRUNC
SQL>
SQL> tti "Users Waiting for Library Cache Pins"
SQL> SELECT sid, event, p1raw, seconds_in_wait, wait_time
  2    FROM sys.v_$session_wait
  3   WHERE event = 'library cache pin'
  4     AND state = 'WAITING'
  5  /

Wed Aug 11                                                             page    1
                      Users Waiting for Library Cache Pins

       SID EVENT                P1RAW            SECONDS_IN_WAIT
---------- -------------------- ---------------- ---------------
       374 library cache pin    000000051862E5F0            1531
       944 library cache pin    000000051862E5F0           10383
      1057 library cache pin    000000051862E5F0           10554
       776 library cache pin    000000051862E5F0            2405

4 rows selected.

P1raw is the "Handle Address" of the object that is blocking. Execute the following query to get the object's owner and name:

SQL> tti "Object that is Blocking"
SQL> COL owner format a8
SQL> COL object format a70
SQL> SELECT kglnaown AS owner, kglnaobj as Object
  2    FROM sys.x$kglob
  3   WHERE kglhdadr='&P1RAW'
  4  /
Enter value for p1raw: 000000051862E5F0
old   3:  WHERE kglhdadr='&P1RAW'
new   3:  WHERE kglhdadr='000000051862E5F0'

Wed Aug 11                                                             page    1
                            Object that is Blocking

OWNER    OBJECT
-------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
         begin SP_EMP.PROC1@orcl(:a,:b,:c); end;

Identify the users that are waiting/ blocking:

SQL> tti "Blocking/Waiting Users"
SQL> col SID_SERIAL format a12
SQL> SELECT s.sid||','||s.serial# SID_SERIAL, kglpnmod "Mode Held", kglpnreq "Request"
  2    FROM sys.x$kglpn p, sys.v_$session s
  3   WHERE p.kglpnuse = s.saddr
  4     AND kglpnhdl   = '&P1RAW'
  5  /
Enter value for p1raw: 000000051862E5F0
old   4:    AND kglpnhdl   = '&P1RAW'
new   4:    AND kglpnhdl   = '000000051862E5F0'

Wed Aug 11                                                             page    1
                             Blocking/Waiting Users

SID_SERIAL    Mode Held    Request
------------ ---------- ----------
374,1390              0          2
776,2906              0          2
944,2193              0          2
991,59496             3          0
1057,1966             0          2

5 rows selected.

In the above example, session 991 is blocking the other sessions listed. Killing session 911 should solve the problem. However, before killing the session, you may want to collect evidence of the problem so you can log a TAR. To do so, collect 3 SYSTEMSTATE dumps at 30 seconds intervals, then submit them to Oracle support for further analysis.

Where can one get a list of all hidden Oracle parameters?[edit]

Oracle initialization or INIT.ORA parameters with an underscore in front are hidden or unsupported parameters. One can get a list of all hidden parameters by executing this query:

select * 
from   SYS.X$KSPPI
where  substr(KSPPINM,1,1) = '_';

The following query displays parameter names with their current value:

select a.ksppinm  "Parameter", b.ksppstvl "Session Value", c.ksppstvl "Instance Value"
  from x$ksppi a, x$ksppcv b, x$ksppsv c
 where a.indx = b.indx and a.indx = c.indx
   and substr(ksppinm,1,1)='_'
order by a.ksppinm;

Remember: Thou shall not play with undocumented parameters! Using undocumented parameters without the consent of Oracle Support will make your database "un-supported". You will be on your own if the parameters you've set cause problems or data corruption.