Recovery process applies old archivelogs on standby database

Question

Right now my standby database is in sync with my primary database and is waiting for the archived log sequeuence# 8378 to arrive.
But when I stop the recovery process (alter database recover managed standby database cancel;) and re-start it (alter database recover managed standby database disconnect), it starts all over again and starts applying archive logs starting from the sequence# 5739 (looks like its scanning thru the logs). To catchup with primary it takes 2+ hours as it need to skim thru all the logs starting from 5739 to 8377.
Please let me know if you need any further information to fix this.
Thank you
Sunny boy
Details:
Database version: 11.2.0.3
OS : RHEL 5
On Standby Database
SQL> SELECT THREAD#, MAX(SEQUENCE#) AS "LAST_APPLIED_LOG"
FROM V$LOG_HISTORY
GROUP BY THREAD#; 2 3
THREAD# LAST_APPLIED_LOG
1 8377
Alert log
alter database recover managed standby database disconnect
Attempt to start background Managed Standby Recovery process (MNODWDR)
Tue May 08 16:13:09 2012
MRP0 started with pid=28, OS id=26150
MRP0: Background Managed Standby Recovery process started (MNODWDR)
started logmerger process
Tue May 08 16:13:15 2012
Managed Standby Recovery not using Real Time Apply
Parallel Media Recovery started with 8 slaves
Waiting for all non-current ORLs to be archived...
All non-current ORLs have been archived.
Completed: alter database recover managed standby database disconnect
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/arch/mnodw_1_5739_765032423.arc
Tue May 08 16:13:48 2012
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5740.1466.781015749
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5741.1468.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5742.1474.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5743.1473.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5744.1477.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5745.1478.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5746.1472.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5747.1475.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5748.1469.781017203
Media Recovery Log +MNODW_FRA_GRP/mnodwdr/archivelog/2012_04_19/thread_1_seq_5749.1470.781017203
Tue May 08 16:13:57 2012
Edited by: Sunny boy on May 8, 2012 5:29 PM

Answer 1

Hello;
V$LOG_HISTORY is the information from the control file. I would use a different query to check :
From the Primary :
SET PAGESIZE 140
COL DB_NAME FORMAT A10
COL HOSTNAME FORMAT A14
COL LOG_ARCHIVED FORMAT 999999
COL LOG_APPLIED FORMAT 999999
COL LOG_GAP FORMAT 9999
COL APPLIED_TIME FORMAT A14
SELECT
   DB_NAME, HOSTNAME, LOG_ARCHIVED, LOG_APPLIED, APPLIED_TIME, LOG_ARCHIVED-LOG_APPLIED LOG_GAP
FROM
( SELECT
   NAME DB_NAME
FROM
   V$DATABASE
SELECT
   UPPER(SUBSTR(HOST_NAME,1,(DECODE(INSTR(HOST_NAME,'.'),0,LENGTH(HOST_NAME), (INSTR(HOST_NAME,'.')-1))))) HOSTNAME
FROM
   V$INSTANCE
SELECT
   MAX(SEQUENCE#) LOG_ARCHIVED
FROM
   V$ARCHIVED_LOG
WHERE
   DEST_ID=1
AND
   ARCHIVED='YES'
SELECT
   MAX(SEQUENCE#) LOG_APPLIED
FROM
   V$ARCHIVED_LOG
WHERE
   DEST_ID=2
AND
   APPLIED='YES'
SELECT
   TO_CHAR(MAX(COMPLETION_TIME),'DD-MON/HH24:MI') APPLIED_TIME
FROM
   V$ARCHIVED_LOG
WHERE
   DEST_ID=2
AND
   APPLIED='YES'
);Change DEST_ID as needed for your system. I would also bump the parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_MAX_PROCESSES assuming its set to default to a higher value up to 30.
Maybe instead of stopping the recovery process you should DEFER on the Primary
alter system set log_archive_dest_state_2=defer;Change the _n from 2 to what your system requires. I use this and have watch DG catch up 200 archives in about 15 minutes.
You have Standby Redo setup and are using the same size as your redo right?
Have never seen the Standby try to apply twice.
ORA-600 [3020] "Stuck Recovery" [ID 30866.1] ( But I do not see your issue )
Metalink Note 241438.1 Script to Collect Data Guard Physical Standby Diagnostic Information
Metalink Note 241374.1 Script to Collect Data Guard Primary Site Diagnostic Information
Best Regards
mseberg
Edited by: mseberg on May 8, 2012 5:16 PM