Oracle Server Architecture

Oracle database consist of instance and database itself

Oracle Instance:
Oracle Instance is a combination of Memory structures and Background
Processes used to manage the Database.
There are two basic Memory structures in Oracles Instance.
1. SGA (System Global Area)
2. PGA (Program Global Area)

1. SGA:

SGA is a group of shared memory areas that are dedicated to an Oracle
instance.
Oracle allocates SGA is allocates when an instance starts up. De-
allocates, when the instance shut down.
The SGA consists of several memory structures

a. Buffer Cache.
b. Shared Pool.
c. Redolog Buffer.


a. Buffer Cache:

The database buffer cache stores copies of data blocks that have been
recently retrieved from the data files.
It enables great performance gains when you obtain an update data.
It is managed through a least recently used (LRU)algorithm.
When a query is being executed, the server process looks in the database
buffer cache for any blocks it needed. If the blocks are not found in the
buffer cache, then it reads the data from the dbf files and places a copy
in the buffer cache. If any subsequent same requests are issued by the
user, oracle gives the data from the buffer cache itself.

b. Shared Pool:

The shared pool is used to store the most recently executed SQL
statements and the most recently used data definitions.



It consists of two memory structures:

The Library Cache
The library cache is used to store shared SQL. Here the parse tree and
the execution plan for every unique SQL statement are cached.Managed
by Least Recently Used (LRU) algorithm.
Size is determined by the Shared Pool sizing



Data Dictionary Cache.

Oracle stores information here about the logical and physical structure
of the database. The data dictionary contains information such as the
following:
User information, such as user privileges
Integrity constraints defined for tables in the database
Names and data types of all columns in database tables
Information on space allocated and used for schema objects

c. Redolog Buffer:

Records all changes made to the database data blocks.
Primary purpose is recovery.
Changes recorded within are called redo entries.


1. Java Pool : Used to store Java Code.
2. Large Pool : Used to store large memory structures not
Directly related to SQL statements processing,
Such as data blocks copied during the backup and
Restore operations.

2.PGA:
1. PGA Stands for Program Global Area.
2. PGA is allocated when a server process starts up.
3. PGA contains data and control information for server process.
4. PGA is used for user connects to an Oracle database and also session is
created.
5. Oracle creates one or more server process for users connected to
database


PGA Contains
Sort area Used for any sorts required by SQL processing
Session information Includes user privileges.
Cursor state Indicates stage of SQL processing.
Stack space Contains session variables.

Background Processes
PMON
Pmon means Process Monitor.
Pmon automatic Process recovery.
Pmon mostly cleans up client-side failures.
Pmon performs process recovery when a user process fails.
Pmon cleans up (If user abnormally terminated) unwanted process.
Pmon also checks dispatcher process and server process and restarts
them if they failed.
Pmon registers information about instance and dispatcher
Process with network listener.
Note :
Performs
Automatically resolves terminated Processes.
Detects both user and server aborted database processes.
Rolls back non committed (current)transactions of aborted
process.