Oracle Flashback technology |
Logical Flashback (do not depend on RMAN, rely on undo data)
Physical flashback |
- Oracle Flashback features use the Automatic Undo Management to obtain metadata and transaction historical data.
- Undo data is persistent and survives database shutdown.
- You can use the Flashback options to
- recover data from user errors,
- compare table data at two points in time,
- view transaction actions (the set of actions performed in a given transaction).
- Undo table drops
- Revert the entire database to a previous point in time.
| Configuring the database for Flashback options |
Database must be configured for
Automatic Undo Management (default on 11g).
For this you need:
- (1) Size undo tablespace; and
- (2) Enable automatic undo management
(Step 1) Create or resize the undo tablespace appropriately
The Undo tablespace must have enough space to keep the data required for flashback operations
(a) check the size of the existing undo tablespaces
SQL> select t.tablespace_name, t.status, t.contents, t.extent_management,
t.allocation_type, t.retention, s.sizemb
from dba_tablespaces t,
(select tablespace_name, sum(bytes)/1024/1024 sizemb
from dba_data_files
group by tablespace_name) s
where t.tablespace_name = s.tablespace_name
and t.contents = 'UNDO';
TABLESPACE_NAME STATUS CONTENTS EXTENT_MANAGEMENT ALLOCATION_TYPE RETENTION SIZEMB
------------------------------ --------- --------- ----------------- --------------- --------- ----------------------
UNDOTBS1 ONLINE UNDO LOCAL SYSTEM NOGUARANTEE 60
(b) Check the current retention period:
Query v$undostat to check the amount of time (seconds) for which undo will not be recycled.
SQL> select to_char(begin_time, 'dd-MON hh:mi') begin_time,
to_char(end_time, 'dd-MON hh:mi') end_time,
tuned_undoretention undoretention_sec
from v$undostat;
BEGIN_TIME END_TIME UNDORETENTION_SEC
------------- ------------- ----------------------
19-OCT 09:51 19-OCT 09:58 1911 -- At current workload, undo is preserved for about 30 minutes
19-OCT 09:41 19-OCT 09:51 1608
...
19-OCT 03:11 19-OCT 03:21 1787
19-OCT 03:01 19-OCT 03:11 1183
(Step 2) Enable automatic undo management (undo parameters)
- UNDO_MANAGEMENT = [ AUTO (default) | MANUAL ]
- UNDO_TABLESPACE - specifies the name of the undo tablespace
- UNDO_RETENTION - specifies the minimum amount of time that Oracle attempts to retain old undo information before overwriting it.
- The value for UNDO_RETENTION is ignored for a fixed size undo tablespace
- If AUTOEXTEND is enabled, database attempts to honor UNDO_RETENTION.
- 'snapshot too old' errors indicate that undo retention is not enough for flashback operations.
- To accomodate Oracle Flashback features, you can set the UNDO_RETENTION parameter to a value equal to the longest expected Oracle Flashback operation.
- If retention is very important, use ALTER TABLESPACE...RETENTION GUARANTEE. Here the database never overwrites unexpired undo data even if it means that transactions fail due to lack of undo space.
- To set: ALTER SYSTEM SET UNDO_RETENTION = 2400;
(a) check instance parameters
SQL> select name, value, isdefault, description
from v$parameter
where name like '%undo%';
NAME VALUE ISDEFAULT DESCRIPTION
--------------- ------ --------- ---------------------------------------------------
undo_management AUTO TRUE instance runs in SMU mode if TRUE, else RBU mode -- default: AUTO (11g), Manual (before 11g).
undo_tablespace UNDOTBS1 FALSE use/switch undo tablespace
undo_retention 900 TRUE undo retention in seconds
Notes on Flashback Query |
- Flashback query can be used with remote tables (table@dblink)
- Queries on V$ views ALWAYS return current data
- Flashback query can be used with static dictionary views
- To query past data at a precise time, use an SCN.
- With timestamp, the actual time queried might be up to 3 seconds earlier than the time you specify.
- Oracle Flashback Drop - Reverse the effects of DROP TABLE
|
- Use
SELECT.. AS OF [ TIMESTAMP timestamp| SCN scn ]
- The query returns committed data as it existed at that point.
- To use flashback query on a table, the user needs to have
FLASHBACK
and SELECT
privileges on that object.
Case:
(1) Some
rows from
emp
table are
deleted by mistake at 11 AM.
(2)
Error discovered at 11:20AM.
(3)
Use Flashback query to see the data as it was before the 11am delete.
(1) Check table rows at 11:00AM
SQL> select current_scn, to_char(systimestamp, 'mm-dd-yy HH24:mi:ss') time
from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN TIME
---------------------- ------------------
1385809 12-08-10 11:00:22
SQL> select employee_id, last_name, salary
from hr.emp
where department_id =30;
EMPLOYEE_ID LAST_NAME SALARY
---------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------
114 Raphaely 11000
...
119 Colmenares 2500
(2) At 11:20, rows are incorrectly deleted from emp.
SQL> delete from hr.emp where department_id=30;
SQL> commit;
SQL> select current_scn, to_char(systimestamp, 'mm-dd-yy HH24:mi:ss') time
from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN TIME
---------------------- ------------------
1386301 12-08-10 11:20:03
SQL> select employee_id, last_name, salary
from hr.emp
where department_id =30;
EMPLOYEE_ID LAST_NAME SALARY
---------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------
(3) Use flashback query to see emp as it was at 11 AM
SQL> select employee_id, last_name, salary
from hr.emp AS OF TIMESTAMP to_timestamp('12-08-10 11:00:00', 'mm-dd-yy HH24:MI:SS')
where department_id = 30;
EMPLOYEE_ID LAST_NAME SALARY
---------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------
114 Raphaely 11000
...
119 Colmenares 2500
(4) Alternatively you can use the SCN
SQL> select employee_id, last_name, salary
from hr.emp AS OF SCN 1385809
where department_id = 30;
EMPLOYEE_ID LAST_NAME SALARY
---------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------
114 Raphaely 11000
...
119 Colmenares 2500
(5) Restore the data copying it from the earlier version of the table:
SQL> insert into hr.emp
(select *
from hr.emp AS OF TIMESTAMP to_timestamp('12-08-10 11:00:00', 'mm-dd-yy HH24:MI:SS')
where department_id = 30 );
6 rows inserted.
- You can retrieve the different versions of a given row that existed during a given time interval.
- Use
VERSIONS { BETWEEN {SCN | TIMESTAMP} start AND end}
- Returns one row for each version of the existed at any time in the specified interval
(a) check the initial values of the row data, current scn and timestamp
SQL> select employee_id, first_name, last_name, salary, commission_pct
from hr.emp
where employee_id = 116;
EMPLOYEE_ID FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME SALARY COMMISSION_PCT
---------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
116 Shelli Baida 2900
SQL> select current_scn, to_char(systimestamp, 'mm-dd-yy HH24:mi:ss') time
from v$database;
URRENT_SCN TIME
---------------------- ------------------
1400261 12-08-10 16:15:20
(b) update salary, and commission
SQL> update hr.emp
set salary = salary*1.5
where employee_id = 116;
SQL> commit;
SQL> update hr.emp
set commission_pct = .12
where employee_id = 116;
SQL> commit;
(c) Query table emp pseudocolumns (generated by the supplemental logging)
SQL> select versions_startscn as ver_startscn,
versions_starttime as ver_startime,
versions_endscn as ver_endscn,
versions_endtime as ver_endtime,
versions_xid as ver_xid,
versions_operation as oper,
employee_id as emp_id, salary, commission_pct as comm_pct
from hr.emp
versions between timestamp
to_timestamp('12-08-10 16:14:00', 'mm-dd-yy HH24:MI:SS')
and to_timestamp('12-08-10 16:16:30', 'mm-dd-yy HH24:MI:SS')
where employee_id = 116;
VER_STARTSCN VERS_STARTTIME VER_ENDSCN VER_ENDTIME VER_XID OPER EMP_ID SALARY COMM_PCT
------------ --------------------- ----------- ---------------------- ---------------- ---- ------- -------- --------
1400294 08-DEC-10 04.16.13 PM 1400301 08-DEC-10 04.16.25 PM 0A00100044030000 U 116 4350 0.12
1400273 08-DEC-10 04.15.49 PM 1400294 08-DEC-10 04.16.13 PM 0A00030043030000 U 116 4350
1400273 08-DEC-10 04.15.49 PM 116 2900
The pseudo columns are:
VERSIONS_[ STARTSCN | STARTTIME ] | Display the SCN or TIMESTAMP when row took on this value.
If the row was created before the lower bound SCN ot TIMESTAMP, a NULL is returned. |
VERSIONS_[ ENDSCN | ENDTIME ] | Display the last SCN and TIMESTAMP when row had this value.
If the value is still current at the upper bound SCN or TIMESTAMP a NULL is returned.
|
VERSIONS_XID | ID of the transaction that created the row version. |
VERSIONS_OPERATION | Operation performed by the transaction ((I)nsert, (U)pdate or (D)elete) |
- Extension to the Flashback Query Version option
- Used to retrieve information for a given transaction or for all transactions in a given time interval.
- The transaction IDs (listed in the
VERSIONS_XID
column) are used to query the FLASHBACK_TRANSACTION_QUERY
view
- The database must have at least minimal supplemental logging enabled
(a) Query the transaction that updated salary of employee_id 116.
col logon_user format a10
col table_name format a10
col table_owner format a10
col operation format a10
col undo_sql format a50
SQL> select logon_user, operation, table_name,
to_char(start_timestamp, 'mm-dd-yy hh24:MI:ss') time, row_id, undo_sql
from flashback_transaction_query
where xid = hextoraw('0A00030043030000');
LOGON_USER OPERATION TABLE_NAME TIME ROW_ID UNDO_SQL
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------------ ------------------- --------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM UPDATE EMP 12-08-10 16:15:46 AAASNxAAEAAAAJHAAB update "HR"."EMP" set "SALARY" = '2900' where
ROWID = 'AAASNxAAEAAAAJHAAB';
SYSTEM BEGIN
Example: check the various actions performed by a given transaction
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1424010
SQL> create table emp
(empno number,
empname varchar2(10),
salary number);
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
SQL> insert into emp values (1, 'John', 20000);
SQL> commit;
SQL> update emp set salary = salary*1.2 where empno=1;
SQL> commit;
SQL> delete from emp where empno = 1;
SQL> commit;
SQL> insert into emp values (1, 'Jack', 45000); -- transaction performs multiple actions
SQL> update emp set salary = salary*1.05;
SQL> commit;
SQL> update emp set salary = salary + 3320;
SQL> commit;
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1424312
(a) To retrieve the various versions of the row:
SQL> select versions_xid xid, versions_startscn start_scn,
versions_endscn end_scn, versions_operation operation,
empname, salary
from emp
versions between scn minvalue and maxvalue
where empno = 1;
/
XID START_SCN END_SCN OPERATION EMPNAME SALARY
---------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- --------- ---------- ----------------------
0200060044040000 1424201 U Jack 50570
0600080064040000 1424197 1424201 I Jack 47250
05000A006F040000 1424192 D John 24000
1424192 John 24000
(b) The transaction '0600080064040000' inserted the new record with a wrong name.
To audit all the changes made by this transaction:
SQL> select xid, start_scn, commit_scn, operation, logon_user, undo_sql
from flashback_transaction_query
where xid = hextoraw('0600080064040000')
XID START_SCN COMMIT_SCN OPERATION LOGON_USER UNDO_SQL
---------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------------------------------------------------
0600080064040000 1424195 1424197 UPDATE SYSTEM update "SYSTEM"."EMP" set "SALARY" = '45000' where
ROWID = 'AAASXdAABAAAVBJAAB';
0600080064040000 1424195 1424197 INSERT SYSTEM delete from "SYSTEM"."EMP" where ROWID = 'AAASXdAA
BAAAVBJAAB';
0600080064040000 1424195 1424197 BEGIN SYSTEM
Flashback Table x Flashback Drop |
FLASHBACK TABLE to SCN uses undo data to revert DMLs:
- Delete rows inserted since scn_num
- Update back rows modified since scn_num
- Insert rows deleted since scn_num
FLASHBACK TABLE to BEFORE DROP uses a recycle bin to restore dropped table.
- None of them, however, recover TRUNCATED rows.
- For this you need to use
FLASHBACK DATABASE
|
Allows point-in-time recovery for a table:
- restore point specified by timestamp or SCN
- table can stay online while operation executes
- maintains all table attributes (indexes, triggers, constraints, etc)
- maintains any remote state in a distributed environment
- maintains data integrity specified by constraints
Requisites:
- User must have
FLASHBACK ANY TABLE
or FLASHBACK
object privilege on the table
- Must have
SELECT, INSERT, DELTE and ALTER
privileges on the table
- Must have
SELECT ANY DICTIONARY
or FLASHBACK ANY TABLE
system privilege or SELECT_CATALOG_ROLE
role
For an object to be eligible to be flashed back:
- Object MUST NOT be: part of a
cluster, materialized views, AQ tables, static data dictionary tables, system tables, remote tables, object tables, nested tables, or individual partitions or subpartitions
.
- Table structure must not have been changed between now and the point of restore
- Row movement must be enabled (rowids will change)
- Enough undo data to perform flashback exists on the undo tablespaces.
(a) enable row movement
SQL> alter table emp enable row movement;
SQL> select * from emp;
EMPNO EMPNAME SALARY
---------------------- ---------- ----------------------
1 Jack 50570
(b) check current scn (before flashback)
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1426179
(c) Insert and update data row data
SQL> Insert into emp values (2, 'Mary', 2000);
SQL> commit;
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1426185
SQL> insert into emp values(100, 'Joseph', 450);
SQL> commit;
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1426200
SQL> update emp set salary = salary*2;
SQL> commit;
SQL> select current_scn from v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------------------
1426208
(d) ensure that enough undo data exists to flashback the table
SQL> select name, value/60 minutes_retained
from v$parameter
where name = 'undo_retention';
NAME MINUTES_RETAINED
----------------- ----------------------
undo_retention 80
(e) determine whtehr the table has dependencies on other tables.
If dependencies exist, these may need to be flashbacked also
SQL> select other.owner, other.table_name
from sys.all_constraints this
sys.all_constraints other
where this.owner = 'SYSTEM'
and this.table_name = 'EMP'
and this.r_owner = other.owner
and this.r_constraint_name = other.constraint_name
and this.constraint_type = 'R';
(f) Check new data
SQL> select * from emp;
EMPNO EMPNAME SALARY
---------------------- ---------- ----------------------
2 Mary 4000
1 Jack 101140
100 Joseph 900
(g) flashback table to point in time (SCN) before data modification
SQL> flashback table emp to scn 1426179;
SQL> select * from emp;
EMPNO EMPNAME SALARY
---------------------- ---------- ----------------------
1 Jack 50570
(h) flashback table forward to after data modification
SQL> flashback table emp to scn 1426208;
SQL> select * from emp;
EMPNO EMPNAME SALARY
---------------------- ---------- ----------------------
2 Mary 4000
1 Jack 101140
100 Joseph 900