5 Oracle background processes are required, and several background processes are optional depending on

Oracle feature. Each performs a specific job in helping to manage the instance.

Performs instance recovery following an instance crash,

SMON System Monitor coalesces free space in the database, and manages space
used for sorting
PMON Process Monitor Cleans up failed user database connections.
Writes modified database blocks from the SGA’s Database Required Oracle
DBWn Database Writer Background
Buffer Cache to the datafiles on disk
Process
Writes transaction recovery information from the SGA’s Redo
LGWR Log Writer
Log Buffer to the online Redo Log files on disk
Updates the database files following a Checkpoint Event.
CKPT Checkpoint Update each of database files as needed, keeping the
contents of all copies of the control synchronized.
Copies the transaction recovery information written to disk by
LGWR (log writer) to the online Redo Log files and to a Optional Oracle
ARCn Archiver
secondary location in case it is needed for recovery. Nearly all Background Process
production databases use this optional process
Recovers failed transactions that are distributed across
RECO Recoverer Distributed database
multiple databases
CJQn Job Queue Monitor Assigns jobs to the Job Queue processes
Job scheduling
Jnnn Job Queue Executes database jobs that have been scheduled
QMNn Queue Monitor Monitors the messages in the message queue Advanced Queuing
Qnnn Parallel Query Slave Used to carry out portions of a larger overall query Parallel Query
Assigns user’s database requests to a queue where they are
Dnnn Dispatcher
then serviced by Shared Server processes Shared Server
Snnn Shared Server Server Processes that are shared among several users
Automatic Shared
MMAN Memory Manager Manages the size of each individual SGA component Memory
Management
MMON Memory Monitor Gathers and analyzes statistics Automatic Workload
MMNL Memory Monitor Light Gathers and analyzes statistics Repository
Flashback Database
RVWR Recovery Writer Writes recovery information to disk
Recovery
Change Tracking Incremental
CTWR Keeps track of which database blocks have changed
Writer Recovery Manager

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