How to understand entire structure of Present Database when new to the job?

Question

Hello friends,
I got a question this morning, which I was not able to answer myself to the satisfaction!
If ever I need to find out the entire structure of my database, what should be the method that can be implemented?
We can see the init<SID>.ora file, and we can use some dynamic vies like V$DATABASE, V$DATAFILE and etc.
But how to put the final structure of the database which can be understood by everyone?
Can somebody help me out in this?
Thanks in advance
Himanshu

Answer 1

Hello Himanshu,
1. Oracle Instance
Look in v$parameter: Here you would get the structure of the SGA and what optional background processes are configured.
- check for the database block size
- check for the size of shared pool
- check for the size of database buffer cache
- check for the size of redo log buffer
- check for the size of sort area size
- check if the control files are mirrored on separate disk
- check if the Oracle server is in shared mode
- check for the number of DB writers
- check if the undo management is auto
- check if archiving is on
2. Oracle Database
Look in dba_tablespaces, dba_data_files, v$log, v$logfile
- look for the total database size
- look for the log files and log file mirroring
- look for the total size of rollback/undo segment
- look for the size of temporary tablespace
- look for the total number of schemas
Using the above information you should be able to sketch the Oracle server structure
Regards
Sudhanshu