Process Manager (PMAN)
🧠 What Is PMAN?
The Process Manager (PMAN) is a background process in Oracle that manages and monitors other background processes, especially those that are dynamic — meaning they are started or stopped based on workload.
🛠️ What PMAN Oversees
| Process Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Dispatchers & Shared Servers 🚦 | For handling many user sessions efficiently in a shared server environment. |
| Connection Brokers & Pooled Servers 🌐 | Manages Database Resident Connection Pooling (DRCP) for highly scalable connection management. |
| Job Queue Processes (CJQ0, Jnnn) 🕒 | Spawns and manages scheduled jobs using the Oracle Job Queue infrastructure. |
| Restartable Background Processes 🔁 | Handles processes that can automatically restart after failures, maintaining resilience. |
⚙️ Where PMAN Runs
- 🧩 Database Instances – Orchestrates dynamic background processes.
- 💾 Oracle ASM Instances – Supports background task management for ASM.
- 📡 Oracle ASM Proxy Instances – Extends PMAN responsibilities to proxy-managed storage environments.
💡 DBA Tip of the Day
Keep an eye on job queues and connection pools in performance diagnostics. PMAN’s activity is closely tied to load balancing and background job efficiency — especially in multi-user or DRCP environments.