How to enable Archivelog mode in Oracle database 11g

Mode of Logging
There are two types of logging modes in Oracle database :1. ARCHIVELOG :- In this type of logging whatever oracle writes in a redo log file related to
transactions in database, saved to another location after a log file has been filled . This location
is called Archive location. if database is in Archive log mode then in case of any disaster, we can
recover our database upto the last commit and user don't have to reenter their data. Until a redo
log file is not written to the Archive location it cannot be reused by oracle to write redo related
data.
2. NOARCHIVELOG :- In this type of logging whatever oracle writes in a redo log file related to
transactions in database must be overwritten when all the log files have been filled. In this type
of logging we can recover our database upto the last consistent backup we have with us, after
that users have to reenter their data.
How to check log mode in Oracle database 11g :[cognos@rac1 u02]$ sqlplus
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.1.0 Production on Thu Oct 25 23:03:44 2012
Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Enter user-name: /as sysdba
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production
With the Partitioning, Automatic Storage Management, OLAP, Data Mining
and Real Application Testing options
SQL> archive log list
Database log mode
No Archive Mode
Automatic archival
Disabled
Archive destination
/backup/orcl/
Oldest online log sequence 1
Current log sequence
1
SQL> select name,log_mode from v$database;
NAME
LOG_MODE
--------- - ----------ORCL
NOARCHIVELOG
Currently the ORCL database is in NOARCHIVELOG mode
To change the Oracle database in ARCHIVELOG mode. PFB below mentioned steps:1. If needed set the archive log destination where you want to save your archive logs whether to
a single location or to multiple location. If this is not set then Oracle save archive log files in
DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST location if set. If you have not set

your DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST location then you have to set your archive location before
changing your database to ARCHIVELOG mode.
SQL> alter system set log_archive_dest_1='LOCATION=/u02/archive' scope=spfile;
System altered.
Note -- To change this parameter while database is open, your database has to run with
SPFILE, if running through PFILE then shut down your database and make changes in
your PFILE and then start the database in MOUNT mode using that changed PFILE
2. After this you need to shut down your database and start again in MOUNT mode
SQL> shu immediate;
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup mount;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1025298432 bytes
Fixed Size
1341000 bytes
Variable Size
322963896 bytes
Database Buffers
696254464 bytes
Redo Buffers
4739072 bytes
Database mounted.
SQL> alter database archivelog;
Database altered.
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.
SQL> archive log list
Database log mode
Archive Mode
Automatic archival
Enabled
Archive destination
/u02/archive
Oldest online log sequence 1
Next log sequence to archive 1
Current log sequence
1
SQL> select name,log_mode from v$database;
NAME
--------ORCL

LOG_MODE
-----------ARCHIVELOG

Database changed to ARCHIVELOG mode.

Note :- After you changed your database to ARCHIVELOG mode, take a backup of your

database immediately because in recovery scenarios you can recover your database
from the last backup taken in this mode.
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To change the Oracle database in NOARCHIVELOG mode. PFB below mentioned steps:1.Shutdown your running database.
SQL> shu immediate
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
2. Start your database in MOUNT mode.
SQL> startup mount
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1025298432 bytes
Fixed Size
1341000 bytes
Variable Size
322963896 bytes
Database Buffers
696254464 bytes
Redo Buffers
4739072 bytes
Database mounted.
SQL> alter database noarchivelog;
Database altered.
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.
SQL> archive log list
Database log mode
No Archive Mode
Automatic archival
Disabled
Archive destination
/u02/archive
Oldest online log sequence 1
Current log sequence
1
SQL> select name,log_mode from v$database;
NAME
--------ORCL

LOG_MODE
-----------NOARCHIVELOG

Database changed to NOARCHIVELOG mode.

I hope this article helped you.
Regards,
Amit Rath