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.