Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR)

Your Database’s Health Dashboard

🗄️ What is ADR?

The Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR) is a central, system-wide place where Oracle stores all diagnostic and tracing data. It helps DBAs and Oracle Support troubleshoot and fix problems efficiently.

📂 Key Components of ADR

Component	Description
Background trace files 🖥️	Logs from background database processes. They record internal errors and info useful for DBAs and Oracle Support. Example: mytest_reco_10355.trc (RECO process).
Foreground trace files 💻	Logs from server processes. When errors occur, details are saved here. File names include Oracle SID, ora, and OS process ID. Example: mytest_ora_10304.trc.
Dump files 🗃️	Detailed snapshots of specific states or errors. Usually generated once per event (unlike continuous trace files).
Health monitor reports ❤️	Reports from automated health checks that find issues like file corruptions, block corruptions, undo/redo errors, etc. Includes suggestions to fix problems.
Incident packages 📦	Bundles of metadata and diagnostic files prepared for Oracle Support upload. Includes problem info, incident data, and diagnostic files.
Incident dumps 💥	Diagnostic data files created when an incident happens. Named with incident numbers for easy tracking.
Alert log file 📜	A running chronological log of important messages and errors. DBAs should check this regularly for issues.

💡 DBA Tip

Regularly review the alert log and health monitor reports to catch and fix problems early before they affect users.