ORA-38701: Flashback database log 1 seq 1 thread 1:
Cause:
I accidentally deleted the flashback files for housekeeping activity in my test system and ended up with the below error
SQL> startup force;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1553305600 bytes
Fixed Size 2253544 bytes
Variable Size 956304664 bytes
Database Buffers 587202560 bytes
Redo Buffers 7544832 bytes
Database mounted.
ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database
These are the flashback files which were deleted
-bash-4.2$ cd flashback/
-bash-4.2$ ls
o1_mf_jk5mkqfr_.flb o1_mf_jktp7jlb_.flb o1_mf_jmwn5vf8_.flb o1_mf_jmyor0ls_.flb o1_mf_jmyy2g2c_.flb
o1_mf_jk5mkvgk_.flb o1_mf_jmwmgfjj_.flb o1_mf_jmwndqt9_.flb o1_mf_jmyoro7d_.flb o1_mf_jmyy2w5n_.flb
o1_mf_jk75s177_.flb o1_mf_jmwmnfgg_.flb o1_mf_jmwnkj26_.flb o1_mf_jmyy099l_.flb o1_mf_jmyycoqk_.flb
o1_mf_jk7ythqs_.flb o1_mf_jmwmnzsf_.flb o1_mf_jmyojktm_.flb o1_mf_jmyy0plv_.flb o1_mf_jmyyd734_.flb
o1_mf_jk86q9rk_.flb o1_mf_jmwmz8p2_.flb o1_mf_jmyonx4l_.flb o1_mf_jmyy16xp_.flb
o1_mf_jk9t7bm4_.flb o1_mf_jmwmzjwk_.flb o1_mf_jmyooj78_.flb o1_mf_jmyy1jtb_.flb
o1_mf_jkbm5vkx_.flb o1_mf_jmwn0mlw_.flb o1_mf_jmyoqbyk_.flb o1_mf_jmyy1ybj_.flb
I removed all the files manually
-bash-4.2$ rm -rf *.flb
Workaround:
This error occur due to inaccessibility of the flashback files on the filesystem by the database.
When i checked the flashback status , it is in restore point only mode
SQL> select flashback_on from v$database;
FLASHBACK_ON
------------------
RESTORE POINT ONLY
I was trying to fetch the restore point name to drop it for opening the database
SQL> select * from v$restore_point;
select * from v$restore_point
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-38701: Flashback database log 1 seq 1 thread 1:
"/data01/base/fast_recovery_area/ORCL11X/flashback/o1_mf_jk5mkqfr_.flb"
ORA-27037: unable to obtain file status
Linux-x86_64 Error: 2: No such file or directory
Additional information: 3
You can drop the restore point
SQL> drop restore point a;
Restore point dropped.
Post drop of restore point, database got opened without errors
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.