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Oracle Troubleshooting

The problems summarised on this page have been divided into two categories:

1. Numbered Errors - those errors that have an error number associated with them.
2. Symptomatic Problems - those errors that do not have an error number associated with them.

Everything on these pages represents a problem that I have previously encountered and the solution at that time. I believe the information to be complete and correct, but if you find any errors or omissions then please let me know (brian@cryer.co.uk).

Because every system is different, please review the advice on these pages carefully. My experience of Oracle is limited to Windows NT - there may be differences on other platforms. If in doubt, Oracle support should always be regarded as the final authority for any problem.

Oracle Numbered Errors

• DBV-00100: Specified file (XXXX) not accessible
• LRM-00109: Could not open parameter file
• ORA-00001: unique constraint violated
• ORA-00942: table or view does not exist
• ORA-01000: Maximum open cursors exceeded
• ORA-01004: default username feature not supported
• ORA-01013: user requested cancel of current operation
• ORA-01017: Invalid username/password
• ORA-01034: ORACLE not available
• ORA-01078: failure in processing system parameters
• ORA-01102: cannot mount database in exclusive mode
• ORA-01113: file n needs media recovery
• ORA-01418: specified index does not exist
• ORA-01466: unable to read data - table definition has changed
• ORA-01555: Snapshot too old
• ORA-01631: max # of extents nnn reached in table xxxx
• ORA-01691: unable to extend lob segment ...
• ORA-01843: not a valid month
• ORA-01990: Error opening password file ...
• ORA-01991: Invalid password file ...
• ORA-02170: FREELIST GROUPS storage option not allowed
• ORA-03121: no interface driver connected
• ORA-04030: out of process memory
• ORA-04031: unable to allocate ... shared memory
• ORA-04043: object SSS.NNN does not exist
• ORA-09352: OracleService(SID) has not been started
• ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve service name
• ORA-12203: TNS: unable to connect to destination
• ORA-12224: TNS: no listener
• ORA-12505: TNS: listener could not resolve SID given in connection description
• ORA-12516: TNS:listener could not find available handler with matching protocol stack
• ORA-12541: TNS: no listener
• ORA-12545: Connect failed because target host or object does not exist
• ORA-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error
• ORA-12571: TNS:packet writer failure
• ORA-27102: out of memory
• RMAN-06089: archive log XXX not found or out of sync with catalog
• TNS-01169: The Listener has not recognised the password

Note: Some TNS related errors may be reported as ‘TNS-nnnnn’ rather than ‘ORA-nnnnn’. This seems to vary according to the tool that is reporting the error. They are listed above according to how I first encountered the error.

I also have a small collection of errors that I've either not had time to write up or have not been able to investigate thoroughly. My notes for these are available here: "Other errors"

Oracle Symptomatic Problems

• Checkpoint intervals are more than LOG_CHECKPOINT_TIMEOUT
• Database instance failure
• Database instance locks up
• Datafile recovery needed
• Excessive disk activity
• Oracle Instance NNNN - Cannot allocate log. Archival required
• Oracle will not start-up automatically
• Oracle will not shut down
• Thread N cannot allocate log

This page represents one page of many pages of notes I made whilst working with Oracle 7 through to 10i. I now no longer work with Oracle databases, but hope that these notes will continue to be of benefit to others.