Re: Archive logs removal question

From: <sybrandb_at_hccnet.nl>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:17:14 +0200
Message-ID: <ssc315hpoetbomknrdhc3lnd6duik02pnt_at_4ax.com>

On Mon, 18 May 2009 08:29:20 -0700 (PDT), Richard <RSL101_at_gmail.com> wrote:

>This should be fairly common question I hope. I like to know if it is
>safe to remove these old archive log files. Oracle is 9i RAC (2 nodes
>dr_1,dr_2). It seems to tell me oldest log is 1086. So I can remove
>anything up to and including "....1086.arc" ? It also has 2 directory
>locations. Please help a newbie. Thank you in advance.
>
>
>SQL> archive log list
>Database log mode Archive Mode
>Automatic archival Enabled
>Archive destination /oracle/product/92/oradata/archive2
>Oldest online log sequence 1086
>Next log sequence to archive 1087
>Current log sequence 1087
>SQL>
>
> 1* select 'rm '||substr(name,1,50) from v$archived_log where
>completion_time < (sysdate - 10 ) order by 1
>SQL> /
>
>'RM'||SUBSTR(NAME,1,50)
>-----------------------------------------------------
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_1_1066.arc
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_1_1067.arc
>....
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_1_1077.arc
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_2_1452.arc
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_2_1453.arc
>....
>rm /oracle/product/92/dbs/dr/archive1/dr1_2_1463.arc
>rm /oracle/product/92/oradata/archive2/dr1_1_1065.arc
>....
>rm /oracle/product/92/oradata/archive2/dr1_1_1077.arc
>rm /oracle/product/92/oradata/archive2/dr1_2_1452.arc
>....
>rm /oracle/product/92/oradata/archive2/dr1_2_1463.arc
>
>49 rows selected.

I think you should read more about backup and recovery concepts. There is a difference between *online* redo logs and *archived* redo logs. Online redologs are required to protect your database against server crashes, archive redologs are required to be able to recover everything since the last backup.
In other words, without further information, chances are very high deleting the *archived* redologs will compromise *recoverability*. But maybe you are looking for a new job.

-- 
Sybrand Bakker
Senior Oracle DBA

Received on Mon May 18 2009 - 14:17:14 CDT