Ok I see there is a n in the >>

ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_n = 'DEFER';

it seems that the n represent a log destination,

below is the results of show parameter log_archive_dest

--------

NAME TYPE VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
log_archive_dest string
log_archive_dest_1 string location=/ap01/oracle/admin/sm
prod1/arch
log_archive_dest_10 string
log_archive_dest_2 string SERVICE=standby_rpt lgwr optio
nal async=20480 affirm reopen=
120 net_timeout=30
log_archive_dest_3 string SERVICE=standby_dr lgwr option
al async=20480 affirm reopen=1
20 net_timeout=30
log_archive_dest_4 string SERVICE=standby_06 lgwr option

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


so do this mean when I do the defer I use the following:

ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_1 = 'DEFER';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_2 = 'DEFER';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_3 = 'DEFER';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_4 = 'DEFER';

then to re-enable use:

ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_1 = 'ENABLE';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_2 = 'ENABLE';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_3 = 'ENABLE';
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_state_4 = 'ENABLE';


Thanks