Using Oracle Managed Files

What Are Oracle Managed Files?

Using?Oracle Managed Files simplifies the administration of an Oracle Database. Oracle Managed Files eliminate the need for you, the DBA, to directly manage the operating system files that comprise an Oracle Database. With Oracle Managed Files, you specify file system directories in which the database automatically creates, names, and manages files at the database object level. For example, you need only specify that you want to create a tablespace; you do not need to specify the name and path of the tablespace's data file with the?DATAFILE?clause. This feature works well with a logical volume manager (LVM).

The database internally uses standard file system interfaces to create and delete files as needed for the following database structures:

• Tablespaces

• Redo log files

• Control files

• Archived logs

• Block change tracking files

• Flashback logs

• RMAN backups

Through initialization parameters, you specify the file system directory to be used for a particular type of file. The database then ensures that a unique file, an Oracle managed file, is created and deleted when no longer needed.

This feature does not affect the creation or naming of administrative files such as trace files, audit files, alert logs, and core files.