How to Enable ARCHIVELOG Mode in Oracle 9i

In this post, I will show you how to enable archivelog mode in 9i. For those who are using Oracle 10g onwards, you may take a look at my post for more: How to Enable Archivelog Mode in Oracle

Create archive log destination directory and enter sqlplus

[oracle@test ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/archivelog/oracle9i/
[oracle@test ~]$ sqlplus "/ as sysdba"

SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.8.0 - Production on Thu Apr 14 18:59:03 2012

Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Connected to an idle instance.

Startup the database and see if there's any problem.

SQL> startup;
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  235999648 bytes
Fixed Size                   450976 bytes
Variable Size             201326592 bytes
Database Buffers           33554432 bytes
Redo Buffers                 667648 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.

Check the current status of archive mode before enabling archivlog

SQL> archive log list;
Database log mode              No Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Disabled
Archive destination            /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/dbs/arch
Oldest online log sequence     11
Current log sequence           13

Bounce the database to mount

SQL> shutdown immediate;
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup mount;
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  235999648 bytes
Fixed Size                   450976 bytes
Variable Size             201326592 bytes
Database Buffers           33554432 bytes
Redo Buffers                 667648 bytes
Database mounted.

Set necessary parameters in SPFILE

SQL> alter system set log_archive_start=TRUE scope=spfile;

System altered.

SQL> alter system set log_archive_dest_1='location=/u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/archivelog/oracle9i/' scope=spfile;

System altered.

SQL> alter system set log_archive_format='arch_%t_%s.arc' scope=spfile;

System altered.

Bounce the database to mount again

SQL> shutdown immediate;
ORA-01109: database not open


Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup mount;
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  235999648 bytes
Fixed Size                   450976 bytes
Variable Size             201326592 bytes
Database Buffers           33554432 bytes
Redo Buffers                 667648 bytes
Database mounted.

Start and enable archive log

SQL> archive log start;
Statement processed.
SQL> alter database archivelog;

Database altered.

Open the database

SQL> alter database open;

Database altered.

Check the current status of archive mode after enabling archivelog

SQL> archive log list;
Database log mode              Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Enabled
Archive destination            /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/archivelog/oracle9i/
Oldest online log sequence     11
Next log sequence to archive   13
Current log sequence           13

Force redo log file to switch

SQL> alter system switch logfile;

System altered.

SQL> alter system switch logfile;

System altered.

SQL> alter system switch logfile;

System altered.

SQL> alter system switch logfile;

System altered.

Check the log archive destination

[oracle@oracle9i ~]$ ll /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/archivelog/oracle9i/
total 896
-rw-r-----  1 oracle oinstall 871424 Apr 14 19:13 arch_1_13.arc
-rw-r-----  1 oracle oinstall  32256 Apr 14 19:13 arch_1_14.arc
-rw-r-----  1 oracle oinstall   3072 Apr 14 19:13 arch_1_15.arc
-rw-r-----  1 oracle oinstall   1024 Apr 14 19:13 arch_1_16.arc

We're done.

Note: LOG_ARCHIVE_START is deprecated since 10g.