Master SQL PROFILE for Oracle DBA
Master SQL PROFILE for Oracle DBA
Workaround
An SQL Profile in Oracle is a set of auxiliary information collected by the SQL Tuning
Advisor to improve the execution plan of a SQL statement without changing the code.
Unlike optimizer hints or plan baselines, it influences the query optimizer's decision-
making process without hard-coding the plan.
Problem: A query performing a full table scan instead of using an index due to outdated
statistics.
Steps to Address Using SQL Profile:
1. Identify the SQL ID of the problematic query from AWR or ASH reports.
2. Run the SQL Tuning Advisor for the SQL ID using DBMS_SQLTUNE.
3. Accept the recommended SQL Profile generated by the advisor.
Example Steps:
sql
-- 3. View Recommendations
SELECT DBMS_SQLTUNE.report_tuning_task('sql_tuning_task1') FROM DUAL;
Pinning an SQL Profile ensures that a specific plan remains consistent for a given query.
Steps to Pin the SQL Profile:
5. Create/Apply Indexes:
a. If recommended, create indexes to improve query performance.
6. Use SQL Plan Baselines:
a. If the execution plan keeps changing, create and use SQL Plan Baselines.
7. Create SQL Profiles:
a. Follow the steps mentioned above to apply SQL Profiles for specific queries.
8. Monitor Results:
a. After applying fixes, monitor the query performance again using AWR
snapshots or SQL tracing.
1. What is an SQL Profile, and how does it differ from SQL Plan Baselines?
2. Explain a real-time scenario where you used an SQL Profile to resolve a
performance issue.
3. Can SQL Profiles force the optimizer to use a specific plan? Why or why not?
4. How do you handle SQL statements with fluctuating performance without modifying
the code?
5. What tools and views in Oracle help identify poorly performing SQL queries?
6. Describe how to monitor the impact of an SQL Profile once applied.
7. What are the challenges of using SQL Profiles in a production environment?
• Always back up SQL Tuning Sets (STS) and profiles before modifying them.
• Use DBMS_SQLDIAG to troubleshoot when SQL Profiles are ignored.
• Continuously monitor the database after applying fixes to ensure no regression
occurs.
• Regularly review AWR/ASH reports to identify new bottlenecks.
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To create and pin a SQL profile for optimizing execution plans in Oracle 19c, you can follow
these steps using the coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql script. This script is part of Oracle's SQLT
package, often used for transferring and enforcing optimal execution plans between
environments or within the same database.
Step-by-Step Process:
sqlplus / as sysdba
SQL> @coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql
The script will create another SQL file, named something like
coe_xfr_sql_profile_<SQL_ID>_<PHV>.sql.
Use Cases:
Advantages:
Key Considerations:
To use the coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql script for managing SQL Profiles and pinning the
best execution plan, the following My Oracle Support (MOS) documents will guide you with
the steps and details:
This is the foundational document for downloading and setting up SQLT, which includes
the coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql script. It provides step-by-step instructions to use the
SQLT tool for diagnosing SQL performance issues and managing profiles. Explore this here.
Steps Summary:
1. Download SQLT: Refer to Document 215187.1 to get the SQLT tool and locate the
coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql script in the /sqlt/utl directory.
2. Identify SQL ID and Plan Hash Value: Obtain these from the shared pool or AWR
using views like V$SQL or DBA_HIST_SQL_PLAN.
3. Run the Script: Execute coe_xfr_sql_profile.sql to extract the profile. This
will generate a custom script
(coe_xfr_sql_profile_<SQL_ID>_<PLAN_HASH_VALUE>.sql).
4. Apply the Profile: Run the generated script on the target database to enforce the
desired plan.
5. Verify: Use views such as DBA_SQL_PROFILES to confirm the application and
monitor performance improvements.
Licensing Note: Using the SQLT tool and the related scripts requires an Oracle Tuning Pack
license if you rely on the Diagnostic Pack or AWR data.
These documents provide further clarity and specific examples to ensure you can resolve
performance issues effectively.