Release 8.0
A54625_01
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This chapter gives you general information and helpful tips about messages. The following topics are covered:
These messages are generated by the Oracle Server when running any Oracle program. This manual documents messages that are common across Oracle products and tools.
These messages are specific to one product and are documented in manuals for that product. For example, if you are working with SQL*Net on a Macintosh, you would need to refer to the messages contained in the SQL*Net documentation, SQL*Net for Macintosh Manual.
These messages are specific to one operating system. A range of message code numbers is reserved for each operating system. For example, the range
ORA-07500 to ORA-07999 is for DEC VAX/VMS messages; these messages are listed in the appropriate operating system-specific documentation.
The prefix of the message indicates where to find information about the message. For example, some messages in this manual have the prefix "ORA". If you encounter a message without a prefix, first check the manuals for the Oracle Server you are using, then check this manual.
The accuracy of the messages in this manual is our primary concern. Occasionally, an enhancement to a message is not incorporated into the Oracle software. Should you encounter a message generated on your system that differs from the message in this book, be assured the improved message text is usually incorporated in the next release of the software. If you should encounter a discrepancy, please contact us using the information contained in the Reader Comment Form at the back of this manual.
All messages you see displayed are prefixed by text that indicates which program issued the message. For example, the prefix "ORA" shows that the message was generated by the Oracle products. The location of messages in this book depends on the prefix of the message. The following table lists the prefixes of messages that you may encounter and the location of the message in this book.
All messages are listed in order by the message code number. To look up a message, use the message code number.
To help you find and fix errors, Oracle embeds object names, numbers, and character strings in some messages. These embedded variables are represented by name, num, str and so on. For example, the message
ORA-00020: maximum number of processes (num) exceeded
might actually appear as follows:
ORA-00020: maximum number of processes (50) exceeded
Occasionally, you may see a "message stack." This is simply a series of related messages issued at different levels of Oracle.
The following message stack is a generic example:
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error
ORA-06512: at "SCOTT.VALUE_ERR", line 1
ORA-06512: at line 1
The following message stack is a VAX/VMS example:
ORA-01034: Oracle not available
ORA-07625: smsget: $MGBLSC failure
%SYSTEM-W-NOSUCHSEC, no such (global) section
In this example, notice that the message at the bottom of the stack is issued by the VMS operating system. Seeing the messages at each level in the system may help you trace the originating event. For example, in this case, Oracle may not be available simply because it has not been started, and consequently there is no system global area (SGA). If you need the help of customer support, be sure to report all the messages in the stack.
Some messages recommend calling Oracle's customer support to report a problem. When you call customer support, please have the following information at hand:
1 = Program not usable. Critical impact on operations.
2 = Program usable. Operations severely restricted.
3 = Program usable with limited functions. Not critical to overall operations.
4 = Problem circumvented by customer. Minimal effect, if any, on operations.
Also, you will be expected to give your
Oracle's extensive self-checking helps detect internal errors. Rather than frustrate you with cryptic messages, Oracle uses the following catchall message for Oracle internal exceptions:
ORA-00600: internal error code, arguments: [num], [], [],[],[],[]
An actual message might appear as follows:
ORA-00600: internal error code, arguments: [1042], [3],[upilam], [], [],[]
Notice that the message text is followed by up to six arguments, which indicate the origin and attributes of the error. The first argument is the internal error number. Other arguments are various numbers, names, and character strings. Empty brackets may be ignored.
In addition to being returned to the user, internal errors are also written to the Alert file along with additional information about the event causing the message. The Alert file also lists any trace files that may have been generated because of an internal error. See the following sections for descriptions of the trace and alert files.
If you receive an ORA-00600 message, report it as a software bug to customer support.
A trace file is created each time an Oracle instance starts or an unexpected event occurs in a user process or background process. The name of the trace file includes the instance name, the process name, and the Oracle process number. The file extension or file type is usually TRC, and, if different, is noted in your operating system-specific Oracle documentation. The contents of the trace file may include dumps of the system global area, process global area, supervisor stack, and registers.
Two initialization parameters specify where the trace files are stored:
BACKGROUND_DUMP_DES
Specifies the location for trace files created by the Oracle background processes PMON, DBWR, LGWR, and SMON.
USER_DUMP_DEST
Specifies the location for trace files created by user processes such as SQL*DBA, SQL*Plus, or Pro*C.
The Alert file also describes the location of trace files generated when internal errors occur. See the next section for a description of the Alert file.
You may need to format the trace file before using it to diagnose problems. To format a trace file, use the DUMPFMT utility, which is available on most systems and is described in your operating system-specific Oracle documentation. Customer support may ask you for a formatted trace file to help solve a problem.
For more information about trace files, see the Oracle8 Server Administrator's Guide.
The Alert file is a log file that records information about internal errors and administrative activities, such as backups. When an internal error occurs, the message is sent to the terminal screen as well as written to the Alert file. Oracle also writes additional information about internal errors to the Alert file, such as the location and name of any trace files generated because of the error and so forth.
The name of the Alert file is operating system-specific. The location of the Alert file is the same as the location of the background process trace files. This location is specified by the BACKGROUND_DUMP_DEST initialization parameter. For more information, see your Oracle operating system-specific documentation.
If your system uses an operator's console, some messages from Oracle may appear on the console. All important messages are written to the Alert file as well as the operator's console. Because non-Oracle messages also appear on this console, the Alert file is a better record for tracing all Oracle administrative activity and errors than the console log.
The Alert file also records information about administrative activities, such as backups and archiving online redo log files. For more information about the Alert file, see the Oracle8 Server Administrator's Guide.
