Expanded controlfile section n from nnn to nnn records

Hello everyone,

I have been already write revealing information that control file stores: https://mustafakalayci.me/2020/08/11/control-file-content-and-the-limits/.

Data in control file is separated into “SECTIONS” and you can see those sections name (type) via V$CONTROLFILE_RECORD_SECTION view. for example, database separates a section for “BACKUP SET”s. every section has a record size limit . All those information can be queried via v$controlfile_record_section of course.

RECORDS_TOTAL number of records allocated for that section.
RECORDS_USED number of used records.

You might encounter an alert log message from time to time like “Expanded controlfile section 11 from 100 to 200”. this is a message that database need to store more data in control file and currently allocated space is not enough, so oracle expands the control file. in this sample message, 100 is current RECORDS_USED and RECORDS_TOTAL. since all records are filled, it expands to 200, so RECORDS_TOTAL become 200. how about the section? what is section 11? unfortunately there is no SECTION_ID but V$controlfile_record_section always return rows in specific order and you can use this select to learn section ids:

So, 11 is ARCHIVED LOG. which means to be able to store currently required (based on your deletion policy in rman) database need to increase number of records in control file.

Database needs to increase those sections when required data to be stored increase. You can see the alert log messages above when this occur.

wish you all good, healthy days.

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