Simplified/automated datafile free disk space reclaim

Question

On Oracle version 11g:

After Googling, I can't find a simple way to reclaim free space after deleting a table.

I've found a lot of explanations, telling how the datafile becomes fragmented, the big stack of boring queries you have to run in order to move the "empty space" at end of the datafile (table by table... even when you have 200 tables !?).

Then you have to reduce the datafile size by "guessing" by how much you can reduce it, or you must know exactly what is your "block size"... And finally you should not forget to "rebuild the indexes".

See for example : http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?p=100:11:0::::P11_QUESTION_ID:54178027703899

and http://www.oracle-base.com/articles/misc/ReclaimingUnusedSpace.php

Is there a simple PL/SQL procedure which, given a tablespace name or datafile name, would to that job? Or any similar Oracle tool?

Answer 1

The short answer is No. Unfortunately the way to do this in Oracle does require the "big stack of boring queries". The articles you linked to are some of the best information available on the subject. The datafile does indeed become fragmented, so that even if free space exists below the highest segment, Oracle will not automatically consolidate it when a RESIZE is done.

To "defragment" the tablespace you need to move these segments to the start of the datafile rather than at the end. For tables this is an offline process meaning the table will be unavailable while the move is taking place. Indexes can be moved either offline or with Enterprise Edition they can be moved online. Since you have an outage window I recommend you follow these steps.

A. Shrink datafiles with free space beyond the high water mark. This can be done as follows (the query is similar to Frosty Z's procedure):

SELECT ceil( blocks*(a.BlockSize)/1024/1024) "Current Size",
   ceil( (nvl(hwm,1)*(a.BlockSize))/1024/1024 ) "Smallest Poss.",
   ceil( blocks*(a.BlockSize)/1024/1024) -
   ceil( (nvl(hwm,1)*(a.BlockSize))/1024/1024 ) "Savings",
   'alter database datafile '''|| file_name || ''' resize ' || 
      ceil((nvl(hwm,1)*(a.BlockSize))/1024/1024/100)*100  || 'm;' "Command"
FROM (SELECT a.*, p.value BlockSize FROM dba_data_files a 
JOIN v$parameter p ON p.Name='db_block_size') a
LEFT JOIN (SELECT file_id, max(block_id+blocks-1) hwm FROM dba_extents GROUP BY file_id ) b
ON a.file_id = b.file_id
WHERE ceil( blocks*(a.BlockSize)/1024/1024) - ceil( (nvl(hwm,1)*(a.BlockSize))/1024/1024 ) 
   > 100 /* Minimum MB it must shrink by to be considered. */
ORDER BY "Savings" Desc;

B. After shrinking things above the high water mark, find out what tablespaces would still benefit from having segments moved.

SELECT DISTINCT tablespace_name FROM
(      
    SELECT tablespace_name, block_id + blocks LastBlock,
       lead(block_id) OVER (PARTITION BY File_ID 
          ORDER BY tablespace_name, file_id, block_id) NextBlock
       FROM dba_free_space 
) WHERE LastBlock <> NextBlock AND NextBlock IS NOT NULL;

C. For each of these tablespaces determine which segments need to be moved. (Replace USERS with the name of your tablespace or join it with the previous query)

SELECT distinct de.segment_name
FROM dba_extents de
JOIN
(
   SELECT tablespace_name, file_id, MIN(block_id) LowestFreeBlock
   FROM dba_free_space
   WHERE tablespace_name = 'USERS'
  GROUP BY tablespace_name, file_id
) dfs ON dfs.tablespace_name = de.tablespace_name AND dfs.file_id = de.file_id
WHERE de.tablespace_name = 'USERS'
AND de.block_id > dfs.LowestFreeBlock;

D. Move each table and rebuild the indexes and statistics.

E. Repeat step A.

I just built most of these queries, so you will want to thoroughly test them before use. I suppose you could create a procedure that would use EXECUTE IMMEDIATE to create the actual statements to run dynamically, but because queries will receive ORA-08103: Object no longer exists while the move is in progress, I think it is best to control that process manually even if it does mean a bit more time/effort.

Answer 2

Before you try to shrink datafiles at all, ask yourself: Are you going to create new segments again inside the associated tablespace somewhen in the not so far future? If yes, there is no point in shrinking. The space will just get reused for your new segments and you save yourself and the system much effort by leaving it as it is.

Answer 3

Partial solution inspired from this page:

It does not reorganize free space but automatically detects available free space at end of datafiles and prints out the proper 'RESIZE' commands.

DECLARE
    BLKSIZE INTEGER;

BEGIN
    SELECT VALUE INTO BLKSIZE FROM V$PARAMETER WHERE NAME = 'db_block_size';

    FOR INDEX_ROW IN (
      SELECT 'ALTER DATABASE DATAFILE ''' || FILE_NAME || ''' RESIZE ' || CEIL( (NVL(HWM,1)*BLKSIZE)/1024/1024 ) || 'M;' SHRINK_DATAFILES FROM DBA_DATA_FILES DBADF,
            (SELECT FILE_ID, MAX(BLOCK_ID+BLOCKS-1) HWM FROM DBA_EXTENTS GROUP BY FILE_ID ) DBAFS
            WHERE DBADF.FILE_ID = DBAFS.FILE_ID(+) AND CEIL(BLOCKS*BLKSIZE/1024/1024)- CEIL((NVL(HWM,1)* BLKSIZE)/1024/1024 ) > 0
    ) LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(INDEX_ROW.SHRINK_DATAFILES);
    END LOOP;
END;