archive log mode removal

[sirhaggus]

I have an oracle 8.1.6 database with archive log mode enabled and configured. I went into DBA studio and removed archive log mode and hit the apply button. DBA studio then attempts to bounce my database but has been on the same screen for about two hours, stuck at the "shutting down database" step. I don't want to end task because I will leave the database in an unknown state. And I don't have a dump file to restore from. How do I know if this operation is going to go through or not? What do I do if it just sits here?

[marist89]

What's the database doing? Are the disks spinning? Is there an error in the alert.log? Are any oracle processes using CPU?

[sirhaggus]

The database doesn't appear to be doing anything... The RAID array isn't doing anything either... the image with the gears is still going though and I can move the box around... Task manager reports that the application is running but all the cpu cycles are dedicated to idle processes.

[marist89]

I would guess it is hung. To take your DB out of archivelog mode:
svrmgrl
connect internal
shutdown immediate
startup mount exclusive
alter database noarchivelog
shutdown immediate
startup

[sirhaggus]

here is the error I got in the windows 2000 application log

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Oracle.ewpd
Event Category: None
Event ID: 20
Date: 2/1/2002
Time: 10:53:45 AM
User: N/A
Computer: EWPD01
Description:
Archive process error: ORACLE Instance ewpd - Can not allocate log, archival required
.

[sirhaggus]

I can't log into server manager because it says that my database is in the process of shutting down.

[marist89]

Check your log_archive_dest, it may be full. Also, make sure you have automatic archiving turned on by checking the init.ora parameter log_archive_start=true.

[sirhaggus]

I know I didn't have auto archiving turned on and since DBA studio is still doing something I can't make any changes at all. What would happen if I end tasked on DBA studio and restarted the server. Could I get my data back?

[raghud]

Same thing happened to me while I am using DBA studio for shutdown immediate , but not alter database noarchlog ;

That time I loggged as internal into svrmgrl .. I issued shutdown abort .. I know I don't have any transactions pending .. In your case if any transactions pending , they won't rollback .. It should allow you to logon as internal saying connected idle instance or some message ...

[sirhaggus]

Thanks again Jeff... that's two in one day... lol

I did an end task and then a shutdown abort, removed archivelog and then restarted the db... everything seems to be working fine. Is there anything else I need to do now that the db is back up?