ORA-03113: end-of-file on communication channel

Recently I shut down one of my test database. After 10 mins there is no progress so I decided to check the alert log for any info there. I was surprised to see that the recovery path is filled almost 100%. My TEST database runs in archive mode and the db_recovery_file_dest_size is 20 GB.

So I manually deleted some files under the archive location to check if space is freed up so that my DB can go down. 

It is not so, since I need to crosscheck the archive logs via RMAN after manual deletion of the same. Now I was trapped with no other option left except for SHUT ABORT.

I cancelled my shut immediate and initiated shut abort for the database. DB went down, when I tried to bring up the DB, I was in trouble... facing the ORA-03113 error.

Here the thing is my DB can go upto mount state, which means the control file is still intact. Now it is clear that that due to unavailability of space for db_recovery_file_dest the issue persists. So obvious solutions would be 

1. Clearing the archive logs through RMAN
2. Clearing the archive logs manually and then crosscheck and delete the same via RMAN
3. Change the size of db_recovery_file_dest_size using the alter system command

Since I already made my DB down and trapped myself in an inconsistent state the above normal methods cannot help me out.

 I followed the below steps to overcome the situation.

• Mount the database
• Cleared the unarchived log files to free up some space
• Shutdown and start the database
• Change the size of recovery destination

Finally I connected to RMAN and delete the expired archive logs.

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