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The Daily Insight

How do I clear a redo log

Author

Rachel Hickman

Published Feb 26, 2026

If you want to clear an unarchived redo log that is needed to bring an offline tablespace online, use the UNRECOVERABLE DATAFILE clause in the ALTER DATABASE CLEAR LOGFILE statement. If you clear a redo log needed to bring an offline tablespace online, you will not be able to bring the tablespace online again.

What are the archived redo log used for?

Archived redo logs are used to recover a database or update a standby database. Before you restore, you must locate the file. When you locate the files, ensure that the database is in the Open state.

What is the difference between archive log and redo log?

Archive logs are archived redo(online) log files. In redo log files are all changes that happened to your data. If your database is in archivelog mode, than redo logs can’t be overwritten, they are archived in some other location when they are full. Redo and archive logs are used in various database recovery scenarios.

How do I back up files and archive log files?

  1. RMAN> backup archivelog all; Additionally, backup of archived redo log files may be done after every backup command. …
  2. SQL> select. …
  3. RMAN> backup tablespace users plus archivelog; Starting backup at 17-AUG-09.

How do you make a redo log inactive?

Ensure your redo log group is INACTIVE by querying V$LOG. If ACTIVE, switch the log (ALTER SYSTEM SWITCH LOGFILE) and wait until the status is INACTIVE. Next, drop the online redo log (with the ALTER DATABASE DROP LOGFILE GROUP x) command.

How do you rename redo log file online or offline give the command?

Startup the database, mount, but do not open it. Rename the redo log members. Use the ALTER DATABASE statement with the RENAME FILE clause to rename the database redo log files. ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE ‘/diska/logs/log1a.

Can we delete redo log files?

It is permissible to drop redo log files so that a multiplexed redo log becomes temporarily asymmetric. For example, if you use duplexed groups of redo log files, you can drop one member of one group, even though all other groups have two members each.

How redo log files work in Oracle?

Oracle Database assigns each redo log file a new log sequence number every time a log switch occurs and LGWR begins writing to it. When the database archives redo log files, the archived log retains its log sequence number. A redo log file that is cycled back for use is given the next available log sequence number.

How do I find my archive log list?

  1. Issue the archive log list command: SQL> archive log list.
  2. Issue the show parameter command: SQL> show parameter db_recovery_file_dest.
  3. Query the v$archive_dest view: SQL> select dest_name, status, destination from v$archive_dest;
Which is the correct command to back up the database back up the archived redo logs and then remove the backed up archived redo logs?

To back up archived redo logs, use the BACKUP ARCHIVELOG command at the RMAN prompt.

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How do I automatically archive event logs?

Navigate to Computer Configuration → Policies → Administrative Templates: Policy Definitions → Windows Component → Event Log Service → Security. Check the following: For Windows server 2012 and later, the following options must be enabled: Back up log automatically when full.

What is archive log backup?

ARCHIVELOG mode is a mode that you can put the database in for creating a backup of all transactions that have occurred in the database so that you can recover to any point in time. NOARCHIVELOG mode is basically the absence of ARCHIVELOG mode and has the disadvantage of not being able to recover to any point in time.

Does rollback generate archive logs?

In a word: yes.

How many redo logs are needed in Oracle?

Oracle Database uses only one redo log files at a time to store redo records written from the redo log buffer. The redo log file that LGWR is actively writing to is called the current redo log file. Redo log files that are required for instance recovery are called active redo log files.

What is Lgwr?

LGWR (LoG WRiter) is an Oracle background process created when you start a database instance. The LGWR writes the redo log buffers to the on-line redo log files. If the on-line redo log files are mirrored, all the members of the group will be written out simultaneously.

How do I redo multiplex logs?

To multiplex your redo log, you must add members to each redo log group. It is not required that redo log groups be symmetrical, but Oracle recommends that your groups all have the same number of members. A database must have a minimum of two redo log groups.

How do you find the frequency of a redo log switch?

Ideally redo log switch frequency should be 4-5 log switches per hour. If there is frequent log switches then check the size of redo logs and increase accordingly. V$LOG_HISTORY is used to check history of redo log generation in Oracle. V$LOGFILE is used to check the file name and location of redo logs.

How we can force a log switch?

By default, a log switch occurs automatically when the current redo log file group fills. This option is useful in configurations with large redo log files that take a long time to fill. To force a log switch, you must have the ALTER SYSTEM privilege. Use the ALTER SYSTEM statement with the SWITCH LOGFILE clause.

How do I move the redo log in Oracle 12c?

  1. Shut down the database.
  2. Copy the online redo log files to the new location. …
  3. Startup the database in mount mode, but do not open it. …
  4. Rename the online redo log members. …
  5. Open the database for normal operation.

How do I change the archive log destination?

  1. Description:-
  2. Step:-1 Check archivelog location before change.
  3. Check Current Archivelog Location:
  4. SQL> archive log list. …
  5. Step:-2 Change archivelog location.
  6. Note:- 1st set the FRA value before changing.
  7. Step:-3 Check the status of archivelog location.
  8. SQL> archive log list.

Can I change the archive log destination while the database is running?

Expand Databases. Expand your database. Expand Instance and select Configuration. You can change the archive destination on the Recovery page.

What is archive log list?

LIST. Requests a display that shows the range of redo log files to be archived, the current log file group’s sequence number, and the current archive destination (specified by either the optional command text or by the initialization parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST).

How do I restore a redo log in Oracle?

  1. Run the following code to check to see what log is currently in use. set lines 180. …
  2. Make a note of the current log file group.
  3. Drop and recreate logfile group 1. …
  4. Repeat the process for logfile group 2 and 3.
  5. Switch log file group to free up log file group 4. …
  6. Drop and recreate logfile group 4.

Where are Oracle standby redo logs?

How to identify standby redo logs ? SQL> select * from v$logfile where type=’STANDBY’; .

How do I restore a control file?

  1. If the instance is still running, shut it down: SHUTDOWN ABORT.
  2. Correct the hardware problem that caused the media failure.
  3. Restore the backup control file to all locations specified in the CONTROL_FILES parameter. …
  4. Start a new instance and mount the database.

How do I change event log retention?

Navigate to Event Viewer tree → Windows Logs, right-click Security and select Properties. Make sure Enable logging is selected. In the Maximum log size field, specify the size you need. Make sure Do not overwrite events (Clear logs manually) is cleared.

Can I delete archive logs manually?

How do I delete archive logs? In order to delete them you can do: RMAN>crosscheck archivelog all; RMAN>delete noprompt expired archivelog all; , you can also include the delete input clause when you back them up, and they will be deleted after they have been backed up (it is up to you).

What is difference between redo and undo?

The undo function is used to reverse a mistake, such as deleting the wrong word in a sentence. The redo function restores any actions that were previously undone using an undo. … For example, if you typed a word, and then deleted it using an undo, the redo function restores the word you deleted (“undid”).

Can you undo/redo in SQL?

In contrast to an UNDO operation (which creates SQL statements to back out problem transactions) a REDO operation creates SQL statements that you can use to reapply the valid transactions after a recovery action, while omitting the problem transactions defined by your time frame and filter.