ASM Background Processes in 11.2
(Doc ID 1641678.1)
Last updated on JULY 29, 2021
Applies to:
Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition - Version 11.2.0.2 to 11.2.0.4 [Release 11.2]Oracle Database Cloud Schema Service - Version N/A and later
Gen 1 Exadata Cloud at Customer (Oracle Exadata Database Cloud Machine) - Version N/A and later
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - Database Service - Version N/A and later
Oracle Database Cloud Exadata Service - Version N/A and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.
• ASMB - ASM Background Process
Communicates with the ASM instance, managing storage and providing statistics
ASMB runs in ASM instances when the ASMCMD cp command runs or when the database instance first starts if the server parameter file is stored in ASM.
ASMB also runs with Oracle Cluster Registry on ASM.
• RBAL - ASM Rebalance Master Process
Coordinates rebalance activity
In an ASM instance, it coordinates rebalance activity for disk groups and performs a global open on ASM disks.
In a database instances, it manages ASM disk groups.
• ARBn - ASM Rebalance Process
Rebalances data extents within an ASM disk group
Possible processes are ARB0-ARB9 (ARB0, ARB1, ..) and ARBA.
• DBWR - Database Writer Process
Manages ASM buffer cache
• SMON - System Monitor Process
System monitor and communication to CSSD
• CKPT - Checkpoint Process
Manages cross instance calls in cluster setup
• PSP0 - Process Spawner Process
Spawns other ASM background processes after initial instance startup
• GMON - ASM Disk Group Monitor Process
GMON monitors all the disk groups mounted in an ASM instance
It is responsible for maintaining consistent disk membership and status information. It updates partnership and status table
Membership changes result from adding and dropping disks, whereas disk status changes result from taking disks offline or bringing them online.
Advances disk group compatibility
• MARK - Mark AU for Resynchronization Coordinator Process
Marks ASM allocation units as stale following a missed write to an offline disk
MARK essentially tracks which extents require resynchronization for offline disks.
This process runs in the database instance and is started when the database instance first begins using the ASM instance.
If required, MARK can also be started on demand when disks go offline in the ASM redundancy disk group.
• VKTM - Virtual Keeper of Time Process
Provides a wall clock time and reference time for time interval measurements
VKTM acts as a time publisher for an Oracle instance.
VKTM publishes two sets of time: a wall clock time using a seconds interval and a higher resolution time (which is not wall clock time) for interval measurements.
The VKTM timer service centralizes time tracking and offloads multiple timer calls from other clients.
• LGWR - Log Writer Process
Copies logging information to an ASM diskgroup.
• Onnn - ASM Connection Pool Process
Maintains a connection to the ASM instance for metadata operations
Onnn slave processes are spawned on demand. These processes communicate with the ASM instance.
Represents the server side of a client/server connection.
These processes will appear the moment the instance is started, and
will disappear after that.
• bnnn - ASM Blocking Slave Process for GMON
Performs maintenance actions on ASM disk groups.
Slave used to process offline disks.
Bnnn performs actions that require waiting for resources on behalf of GMON. GMON must be highly available and cannot wait.
A Bnnn slave is spawned when a disk is taken offline in an ASM disk group. Offline timer processing and drop of the disk are performed in this slave.
Up to five process (B000 to B004) can exist depending on the load.
• xnnn - ASM Disk Expel Slave Process
Performs ASM post-rebalance activities
This process expels dropped disks at the end of an ASM rebalance.
• VDBG - Volume Driver Process
Forwards ASM requests to perform various volume-related tasks
VDBG handles requests to lock or unlock an extent for rebalancing, volume resize, disk offline, add or drop a disk, force and dismount disk group to the Dynamic Volume Manager driver.
• VBGn - Volume Background Process
Communicates between the ASM instance and the operating system volume driver
VBGn handles messages originating from the volume driver in the operating system and sends them to the ASM instance.
VBGn can run as multiple processes, where n is 0-9.
Opens or closes an ASM volume for mount/dismount operations.
• VMB Volume Membership Process
Maintains cluster membership on behalf of the ASM volume driver
This process membership in the cluster as an I/O-capable client on behalf of the ASM volume driver.
Purpose
The note provides reference for ASM background processes
Scope
This note is intended for dbas, and system administrators
Details
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