Post originally written at April 2, 2017 updated at October 19, 2019.
One of the possible ways of configuring to reduce costs while performing any incremental backup of a database is to enable the Block Change Tracking feature. Thus, when there is the execution of this type of backup the RMAN uses the file that was created when this feature is enabled only to save the blocks that have been changing in the database and then increasing the performance saving costs during the execution. Therefore, in this post, I will show how to enable this option (All commands below were executed inside of SQLPLUS utility):
1- Check if the option is enabled or not:
set pages 2000 set lines 200 SELECT status, filename FROM V$BLOCK_CHANGE_TRACKING 2 ; STATUS FILENAME DISABLED
2- Configure the DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST parameter:
ALTER SYSTEM SET DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST = '/u01/app/oracle/oradata';
3- Enable block change tracking for the database:
ALTER DATABASE ENABLE BLOCK CHANGE TRACKING;
4- See the option enabled:
SELECT status, filename FROM V$BLOCK_CHANGE_TRACKING; STATUS FILENAME ENABLED /u01/app/oracle/oradata/TECHDB/changetracking/o1_mf_gtptrbp4_.chg
*The views expressed here are my own and do not represent those of my employer.*
Hello, I’m Bruno — a dual citizen of Brazil and Sweden. I bring a global perspective shaped by experiences in both South America and Europe, with a strong focus on collaboration and innovation across cultures. I am a Computer Scientist, PhD Candidate in Information and Communication Technologies, focusing on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and hold dual Master’s degrees in Data Science and Cybersecurity. With over fifteen years of international experience spanning Brazil, Hungary, and Sweden, I have collaborated with global organizations such as IBM, Playtech, and Oracle, as well as contributed remotely to projects across multiple regions. My professional interests include Databases, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Data Engineering, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Programming, and Software Engineering, all driven by a deep passion for transforming data into strategic business value.