Skip Headers
Oracle® Database Reference
10g Release 2 (10.2)

Part Number B14237-02
Go to Documentation Home
Home
Go to Book List
Book List
Go to Table of Contents
Contents
Go to Index
Index
Go to Master Index
Master Index
Go to Feedback page
Feedback

Go to previous page
Previous
Go to next page
Next
View PDF

SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE

Property Description
Parameter type Integer
Default value Derived from SORT_AREA_SIZE
Modifiable ALTER SESSION, ALTER SYSTEM ... DEFERRED
Range of values From the value equivalent of two database blocks to the value of SORT_AREA_SIZE


Note:

Oracle does not recommend using the SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE parameter unless the instance is configured with the shared server option. Oracle recommends that you enable automatic sizing of SQL working areas by setting PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET instead. SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE is retained for backward compatibility.

SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE specifies (in bytes) the maximum amount of the user global area (UGA) memory retained after a sort run completes. The retained size controls the size of the read buffer, which Oracle uses to maintain a portion of the sort in memory. This memory is released back to the UGA, not to the operating system, after the last row is fetched from the sort space.

Oracle may allocate multiple sort spaces of this size for each query. Usually, only one or two sorts occur at one time, even for complex queries. In some cases, however, additional concurrent sorts are required, and each sort keeps its own memory area. If the shared server is used, allocation is to the SGA until the value in SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE is reached. The difference between SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE and SORT_AREA_SIZE is allocated to the PGA.


Note:

The default value as reflected in the V$PARAMETER dynamic performance view is 0. However, if you do not explicitly set this parameter, Oracle actually uses the value of the SORT_AREA_SIZE parameter.


See Also: