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Oracle® Database Administrator's Reference
11g Release 2 (11.2) for Linux and UNIX-Based Operating Systems
Part Number E10839-02
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A Administering Oracle Database on Linux

This appendix contains information about administering Oracle Database on Linux. From Oracle

It contains the following topics:

Note:

Starting with Oracle Database 11g release 2 (11.2), Linux x86-64 media does not contain Linux x86 binaries.You must use Linux x86 media to install 32-bit Oracle home.

A.1 Extended Buffer Cache Support

Note:

This section applies to Linux x86 only.

Oracle Database can allocate and use more than 4 GB of memory for the database buffer cache. This section describes the limitations and requirements of the extended buffer cache feature on Linux x86 systems.

See Also:

Oracle Database Concepts for more information about the extended buffer cache feature

In-Memory File System

To use the extended buffer cache feature, create an in-memory file system on the /dev/shm mount point equal in size or larger than the amount of memory that you intend to use for the database buffer cache. For example, to create an 8 GB file system on the /dev/shm mount point:

  1. Run the following command as the root user:

    # mount -t tmpfs shmfs -o size=8g /dev/shm

  2. To ensure that the in-memory file system is mounted when the system restarts, add an entry in the /etc/fstab file similar to the following:

    shmfs /dev/shm tmpfs size=8g 0 0

When Oracle Database starts with the extended buffer cache feature enabled, it creates a file in the /dev/shm directory that corresponds to the Oracle buffer cache.

Note:

If an in-memory file system is already mounted on the /dev/shm mount point, then ensure that its size equals or is larger than the amount of memory that is used for the database buffer cache.

USE_INDIRECT_DATA_BUFFERS Initialization Parameter

To enable the extended buffer cache feature, set the USE_INDIRECT_DATA_BUFFERS initialization parameter to TRUE in the parameter file. This enables Oracle Database to specify a larger buffer cache.

Dynamic Cache Parameters

If the extended cache feature is enabled, then you must use the DB_BLOCK_BUFFERS parameter to specify the database cache size.

Do not use the following dynamic cache parameters while the extended buffer cache feature is enabled:

Limitations

The following limitations apply to the extended buffer cache feature:

See Also:

Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for more information about the default block size used by the CREATE TABLESPACE command

Note:

The default VLM window size is 512 MB. This memory size is allocated to the address space of the process. To increase or decrease this value, set the VLM_WINDOW_SIZE environment variable to the new size in bytes. For example, to set the VLM_WINDOW_SIZE to 256 MB, run the following command: 
$ export VLM_WINDOW_SIZE=268435456

The value that you specify for the VLM_WINDOW_SIZE environment variable must be a multiple of 64 KB.

A.2 Using hugetlbfs on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4

To enable Oracle Database to use large pages (sometimes called huge pages) on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, set the value of the vm.nr_hugepages kernel parameter to specify the number of large pages that you want to reserve. You must specify a enough large pages to hold the entire SGA for the database instance. To determine the required parameter value, divide the SGA size for the instance by the size of a large page, then round up the result to the nearest integer.

To determine the default large page size, run the following command:

# grep Hugepagesize /proc/meminfo

For example, if /proc/meminfo lists the large page size as 2 MB, and the total SGA size for the instance is 1.6 GB, then set the value for the vm.nr_hugepages kernel parameter to 820 (1.6 GB / 2 MB = 819.2).

A.3 Increasing SGA Address Space

Note:

This section applies to Linux x86 only.

Depending on the distribution of Linux, apply the instructions in one of the following sections to increase the SGA address space:

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

To increase the SGA address space on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10:

  1. Log in as the oracle user.

  2. In the $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/lib directory, run the following commands:

    $ genksms -s 0x15000000 > ksms.s
$ make -f ins_rdbms.mk ksms.o
$ make -f ins_rdbms.mk ioracle

    Note:

    If Oracle Database does not start after completing this procedure, or if there are run-time memory errors, then increase the hexadecimal number specified in the first command. For example, if the 0x15000000 value prevents Oracle Database from starting, then specify the value 0x20000000. Lowering this value increases the SGA address space, but could decrease the PGA address space.

  3. Run the following command to determine the process ID of the oracle user's shell process:

    $ echo $$

    The number returned is the process ID.

  4. Run the following command to switch user to root:

    $ sudo sh

  5. Run the following commands to change the mapped base setting for the oracle user's shell process, where pid is the process ID identified in step 3:

    # echo 268435456 > /proc/pid/mapped_base

  6. Run the exit command to return to the oracle user's shell process, and start Oracle Listener and Oracle Database.

Note:

All Oracle processes must get this modified mapped base value. Starting the listener from the shell that has the modified mapped base enables client connections to connect properly.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

To increase the SGA address space on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5:

  1. Log in as the oracle user.

  2. In the $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/lib directory, run the following commands:

    $ genksms -s 0x15000000 > ksms.s
$ make -f ins_rdbms.mk ksms.o
$ make -f ins_rdbms.mk ioracle

  3. Start Oracle Database.

A.4 Asynchronous Input-Output Support

Oracle Database supports kernel asynchronous Input-Output. Asynchronous Input-Output is enabled by default on raw volumes. Automatic Storage Management uses asynchronous Input-Output by default.

By default, the DISK_ASYNCH_IO initialization parameter in the parameter file is set to TRUE. To enable asynchronous Input-Output on file system files:

  1. Ensure that all Oracle Database files are located on file systems that support asynchronous Input-Output.

  2. Set the FILESYSTEMIO_OPTIONS initialization parameter in the parameter file to ASYNCH or SETALL.

    Note:

    If the file system files are managed through ODM library interface or dNFS, asynchronous Input-Output is enabled by default. There is no need to set FILESYSTEMIO_OPTIONS to enable asynchronous Input-Output in these environments.

A.5 Simultaneous Multithreading

If Simultaneous Multithreading is enabled, then the v$osstat view reports two additional rows corresponding to the online logical (NUM_LCPUS) and virtual CPUs (NUM_VCPUS).

A.6 Allocating Shared Resources

To use the MEMORY_TARGET or MEMORY_MAX_TARGET feature, the following kernel parameters must be potentially modified.

A.7 Database Migration from 32-Bit Linux to 64-Bit Linux

To migrate an Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) for 32-bit Linux to an Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) for 64-bit Linux, you must perform the following steps:

A.7.1 Online Backup of Database With RMAN

Online backup enables to take a backup of the database without having to shutdown the database. To achieve this, perform the following steps:

  1. Connect to the database instance as SYSDBA:

    SQL> CONNECT / AS SYSDBA;

  2. Run the following commands to ensure that the database is in ARCHIVELOG mode:

    SQL> SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE
Database closed
Database dismounted
Oracle instance shutdown

SQL> STARTUP MOUNT
Oracle instance started

Total System Global Area  272629760 bytes
Fixed Size                   788472 bytes
Variable Size             103806984 bytes
Database Buffers          167772160 bytes
Redo Buffers                 262144 bytes
Database mounted

SQL>ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG;
Database altered

SQL> ALTER DATABASE OPEN;
Database altered

  3. Run the following command to start RMAN, which is located under $ORACLE_HOME/bin directory:

    RMAN>connect target

  4. To backup the 32-bit database and all the archived redo log files, run the following command:

    RMAN>backup database plus archivelog delete input;

    Note:

    Archive redo logs are very important to recover the database. Oracle recommends that you back them up along with your database. You can backup the archive redo logs from time to time by issuing the following command: 
    RMAN>backup archivelog all delete input;

A.7.2 Migrating 32-Bit Linux Database to 64-Bit Linux Database

This section covers the following topics:

A.7.2.1 Migrating 32-Bit Database to 64-Bit Database With the Same Directory Structure for Data Files

If the control file, data file, redo log files have the same structure on the target computer as in the source computer, then perform the following steps:

  1. Perform an online backup of the database before starting the migration process. Refer to Online Backup of Database With RMAN for more information.

  2. Install Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) for 64-bit Linux in a new Oracle Database home. It is recommended that you use the same version of Oracle Database home as on the 32-bit computer.

    See Also:

    Oracle Database Installation Guide for Linux

  3. Copy init.ora, data files, control file, and the redo log files from the 32-bit Linux computer to the corresponding locations on the 64-bit Linux computer.

  4. Edit init.ora file to include the following changes:

    • Update the memory requirements included in the file.

    • Edit the control file location if necessary.

    Note:

    Oracle recommends that you double the values of shared pool, java pool, sga_target and large pool listed in the init.ora file.

  5. Connect to the database instance as SYSDBA:

    SQL> CONNECT / AS SYSDBA;

  6. Set the system to spool results to a log file for later verification of success. For example:

    SQL> SPOOL /tmp/utlirp.log

  7. Start the 64-bit Oracle Database as follows:

    SQL> STARTUP UPGRADE pfile=init.ora;

    Note:

    Oracle Database Upgrade Guide for more information on changing from 32-bit to 64-bite

  8. Run the following command on the 64-bit Oracle Database, to invalidate all the PL/SQL modules:

    SQL> @$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/utlirp.sql

  9. Shut down the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL>shutdown immediate;

  10. Start the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL> STARTUP pfile=init.ora;

  11. Revalidate all the existing PL/SQL modules in the format required by the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL>$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/utlrp.sql;

A.7.2.2 Migrating 32-Bit Database to 64-Bit Database With Different Directory Structure for Data Files

If the control file, data file, redo log files have different structure on the target computer as compared to the source computer, then perform the following steps:

  1. Perform an online backup of the database before starting the migration process. Refer to Online Backup of Database With RMAN for more information.

  2. Install Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) for 64-bit Linux in a new Oracle Database home. It is recommended that you use the same version of Oracle Database home as on the 32-bit computer.

    See Also:

    Oracle Database Installation Guide for Linux

  3. Edit init.ora file on the 64-bit computer to include the following changes:

    • Update the memory requirements included in the file.

    • The init.ora file still contains the 32-bit control file path. You must manually update control_files parameter value to include the 64-bit control file location.

    Note:

    Oracle recommends that you double the values of shared pool, java pool, sga_target and large pool listed in the init.ora file.

  4. If the 64-bit target computer contains a different structure for data files, then you must re-create the control file or mount database on 64-bit computer. Refer to Re-aligning Data File Path and Name for more information.

    Note:

    Oracle recommends not to use the RESETLOGS option to re-create control files.

  5. Set the system to spool results to a log file for later verification of success. For example:

    SQL> SPOOL /tmp/utlirp.log

  6. Run the following command on the 64-bit Oracle Database, to invalidate all the PL/SQL modules:

    SQL> @$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/utlirp.sql

  7. Turn off the spooling of script results to the log file:

    SQL> SPOOL OFF;

  8. Shut down the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL>shutdown immediate;

  9. Start the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL> STARTUP pfile=init.ora;

  10. Revalidate all the existing PL/SQL modules in the format required by the 64-bit Oracle Database:

    SQL>$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/utlrp.sql;

Re-aligning Data File Path and Name

The following are some methods to realign the data file names and path to point to the correct location:

Re-creating Control File

Perform the following steps to re-create the control file:

  1. Run the following command to backup the control file to trace. The trace file is located under the diagnostic_dest directory on the 32-bit Linux computer. The following command generates a trace file which contains the necessary sql to re-create the control file:

    SQL> alter database backup controlfile to trace;

    Note:

    Ensure that you open the Oracle Database in the UPGRADE mode after the control file is created.

  2. Rename the trace file generated into .sql format on the 32-bit Linux computer. For example:

    $ cp trace.ora control.sql

    The contents of the control file are as follows, for example:

    • Re-creating control files with NORESETLOGS option.

      32-bit control file with NORESETLOGS option:

      STARTUP NOMOUNT pfile=t_init1.ora
CREATE CONTROLFILE REUSE DATABASE "L32" NORESETLOGS  NOARCHIVELOG
    MAXLOGFILES 32
    MAXLOGMEMBERS 2
    MAXDATAFILES 32
    MAXINSTANCES 1
    MAXLOGHISTORY 454
LOGFILE
     GROUP 1 '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_log1.f'  SIZE 25M,
     GROUP 2 '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_log2.f'  SIZE 25M
DATAFILE
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_ax1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_undo1.f'
CHARACTER SET WE8DEC;
RECOVER DATABASE;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN UPGRADE;
ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP ADD TEMPFILE '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_tmp1.f' SIZE 41943040  REUSE AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 8192  MAXSIZE 32767M;

      Now, let us consider the modified 64-bit control file:

      STARTUP NOMOUNT pfile=t_init1.ora
CREATE CONTROLFILE REUSE DATABASE "L32" NORESETLOGS  NOARCHIVELOG
    MAXLOGFILES 32
    MAXLOGMEMBERS 2
    MAXDATAFILES 32
    MAXINSTANCES 1
    MAXLOGHISTORY 454
LOGFILE
     GROUP 1 '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_log1.f'  SIZE 25M,
     GROUP 2 '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_log2.f'  SIZE 25M
DATAFILE
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_ax1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_undo1.f'
CHARACTER SET WE8DEC;
RECOVER DATABASE;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN UPGRADE;
ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP ADD TEMPFILE '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_tmp1.f' SIZE 41943040  REUSE AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 8192  MAXSIZE 32767M;

    • Re-creating control files with RESETLOGS option:

      32-bit control file with RESETLOGS option:

      STARTUP NOMOUNT pfile=t_init1.ora
CREATE CONTROLFILE REUSE DATABASE "L32" RESETLOGS  NOARCHIVELOG
    MAXLOGFILES 32
    MAXLOGMEMBERS 2
    MAXDATAFILES 32
    MAXINSTANCES 1
    MAXLOGHISTORY 454
LOGFILE
     GROUP 1 '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_log1.f'  SIZE 25M,
     GROUP 2 '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_log2.f'  SIZE 25M
DATAFILE
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_ax1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_undo1.f'
CHARACTER SET WE8DEC;
RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS UPGRADE;
ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP ADD TEMPFILE '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_tmp1.f' SIZE 41943040  REUSE AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 8192  MAXSIZE 32767M;

      Now, let us consider the modified 64-bit control file:

      STARTUP NOMOUNT pfile=t_init1.ora
CREATE CONTROLFILE REUSE DATABASE "L32" RESETLOGS  NOARCHIVELOG
    MAXLOGFILES 32
    MAXLOGMEMBERS 2
    MAXDATAFILES 32
    MAXINSTANCES 1
    MAXLOGHISTORY 454
LOGFILE
     GROUP 1 '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_log1.f'  SIZE 25M,
     GROUP 2 '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_log2.f'  SIZE 25M
DATAFILE
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_ax1.f'
     '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_undo1.f'
CHARACTER SET WE8DEC;
RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS UPGRADE;
ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP ADD TEMPFILE '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_tmp1.f' SIZE 41943040  REUSE AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 8192  MAXSIZE 32767M;

  3. Based on the method employed to realign the file paths to point to the correct locations, you must copy the necessary files from the source 32-bit Linux computer to the target 64-bit Linux computer:

    • NORESETLOGS option: Copy init.ora, data files, re-created control files (control.sql), and the redo log files from the 32-bit Linux computer to the corresponding locations on the 64-bit Linux computer

    • RESETLOGS option: Copy init.ora, data files, and re-created control files (control.sql) from the 32-bit Linux computer to the corresponding locations on the 64-bit Linux computer

  4. Connect to the database instance as SYSDBA:

    SQL> CONNECT / AS SYSDBA;

  5. To change from 32-bit to 64-bit, run the following command from the Linux 64-bit Oracle Database home:

    sql>set echo on
sql>@control.sql

Mounting Database on a 64-Bit Computer

Perform the following steps to mount the database on a 64-bit computer:

  1. Copy init.ora, data files, control file and the redo log files from the 32-bit Linux computer to the corresponding locations on the 64-bit Linux computer

  2. Connect to the database instance as SYSDBA:

    SQL> CONNECT / AS SYSDBA;

  3. Start the 64-bit Oracle Database as follows:

    SQL> STARTUP mount pfile=init.ora;

  4. Update all the 32-bit data file locations to include the 64-bit data file locations. For example:

    sql> alter database rename file '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f' to '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_db1.f'
sql> Database altered.

  5. Update all the 32-bit log file locations to include the 64-bit log file locations. For example:

    sql> alter database rename file '/ade/aime_l32/oracle/dbs/t_log.f' to '/ade/aime_l64/oracle/dbs/t_log.f'
sql> Database altered.

  6. To change from 32-bit to 64-bit, run the following command from the Linux 64-bit Oracle Database home:

    sql> ALTER DATABASE OPEN UPGRADE;

    Note:

    Refer to Oracle Database Upgrade Guide for more information on changing from 32-bit to 64-bit

A.7.3 Migrating Data To and From ASM

To take advantage of Automatic Storage Management (ASM), you can migrate an Oracle 11g Release 2 (11.2) database into and out of an ASM disk group using Recovery Manager (RMAN). This migration is performed using RMAN even if you are not using RMAN for your primary backup and recovery strategy.

See Also:

Chapter 8, "Performing ASM Data Migration with RMAN", in Oracle Database Storage Administrator's Guide for more information on migrating databases.
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