11.4. Exam Essentials

Identify the initialization parameters used to tune instance recovery. Be able to define the possible values for FAST_START_MTTR_TARGET, FAST_START_IO_TARGET, and LOG_CHECKPOINT_ TIMEOUT. Show the relationship between these parameters and in which situations each is most appropriately used.

List the phases of instance startup. Show how the database instance moves from SHUTDOWN to NOMOUNT to MOUNT to OPEN, and describe the conditions required in each step before the instance can proceed to the next phase.

Be able to list the types of failures that can occur in a database. Identify the six types of failures: statement, user process, network, user errors, instance, and media.

List the features supported by Oracle to help users fix their own errors. Describe each type of user error recovery solution: Flashback Query, Flashback Table, and Flashback Drop.

Be able to use Flashback Query to retrieve previous table data. Show how Flashback Query can help a user look at the contents of a table at some point of time in the past. Demonstrate the flexibility in specifying the date at which the Flashback Query is executed.

Describe how Flashback Drop is used. Describe the components of Flashback Drop, such as the recycle bin, and show how it can store a deleted table unless space pressure occurs in the tablespace. Be able to identify the restrictions on the types of objects that can be saved in the recycle bin.

List the steps required to allow Flashback Table to be used on a table. If a user wants to change the contents of a table to reflect a point of time in the past, show how Flashback Table works and contrast it with Flashback Query. Identify the additional commands needed to allow a table to be flashed back.

Understand how LogMiner works and when it is used. Identify which database files are used in a LogMiner query. Give an example of when a LogMiner query is the only option for retrieving data changed, deleted, or inserted in a previous transaction.

Identify the three types of database files affected by media failures. Compare and contrast the loss of control files, redo log file group members, and datafiles, and describe how to recover from the loss of each of these files. Understand how the loss of certain types of datafiles may have a larger impact on availability and recoverability than others.