"!#$%

&('*)+'-,/.0'12-34)658792:5<;>=@?A2CB:)D.07E)GFH3AI(2JFKI(2AL:B:)BALM5ON05P,QB6,RF6.)6?$?O)6I:3RBS=MFT2
U 2M3R2JVM26B:)(WHX'-2-3:2:5Y)S3Z'*)(B:)2JF U '@=01[I(2JF\-=@L, U )GFH3R,Z?Z\E3Z'*)G7TW
]A^-_a`cbedAfZgihkjlg:m nAoDp4qAb6rJsitAuv^:fwm/bDp$o>x yz8gAf {6m |}gJ~svp4d

This article discusses the use of the High Water mark by

Oracle and the impact that it can have on database
performance. It will possibly help to resolve some annoying
performance problems that have been difficult to trace.

R€JY‚Oƒ@„†…A‡6‰ˆŠƒ8€
x ‹G^(q:Œn6qp4qpOoegueg6t6|(o6r^Gq:ŒhŽm  D~vg6gCtS m/begCqe‹-~vg6tih"g6g6dAr(~ioeg:  ~tAbed>~}Œ(|eo+ m g
h"tJ~ioeg6dSŒJ‘t: qAbenpOoegC|Dq6tJ~’p$ m begA“vyloGm ~Žm ~”}beqihŽbtJ~cpOoeg•<oGm nAo"h–tep4gAf4—†˜t-f$DretAbed
m bed:m |Dtep4gJ~cp$o(gS gi{(g:ap4q”hŽoGm |eopOoeg”h"tep4gAfMf$m ~DgJ~"tep@oGm nAop$m d6gA“Jx b”q-fZd6gAf6p4q‘6fZgi{GgAbDpG^(q:ŒJf
 ŒJbe|(o‹OfZqA˜™ueg:m/ben”h"tJ~ioeg6dCtih"ti^Jrv^Gq:Œh–q:Œ6 d>~vgepMŒJ‘"^(q:Œ:f:d6g6|(c|eoet:m/fG‹$ŒJfQpOoegAf-ŒJ‘pOoeg
ueg6t6|(o"pOoet-b"pOoGm ~Ž m beguege‹4qAf4g”‹4t:  m/benCtJ~} g6g-‘m/b+m pO“
yo6m ~”oetJ~tAbtAbet: q6ni^>m bšf4t6|i gArvhŽoegAf4gpOoegoGm nAo"h"tep4gAf@˜tAf$cqe‹Atp4tAuG gfZgA‘6f4gJ~vgAbDpw~
pOoegS tJ~’p@uG q6|epOoetep@oetJ~”oeg: dSf4qih~"qe‹6pOoegp4tAuG gAreqAf6pOoeg˜te›Gm/˜+ŒJ˜œ gi{(g:ap4qŽh”oGm |eod6tep4t
oetJ~”f$m ~DgAb+m bpOoegp4tAuG gA“GQ`bed>~}m/˜+m  tAfw ^Ž‹4qAf:|e ŒG~’pZgAfw~"tAbedSm/bed6ge›egJ~e“ŠžJyloGm ~”˜tAfO"m ~
m ˜C‘eqAfQp4tAbDp6‹4qAf:tbGŒJ˜CuegAfAqe‹@fZg6tJ~DqAb(~iretAbed>~eoeq:Œ6 dueg˜qAbGm pZq-fZg6dp4qCgAb(~}Œ:fZgSm p@oetJ~t
f4g6tJ~vqAbetAuG g”{(t: Œ(gA“
Ÿ b6fZg6t: m ~’p$m |Dt:  ^>oGm nAo"{(t: Œ(gJ~‹4qAf6p$o(goGm nAo"h"tep4gAfM˜tAfOctAf4gfZg: tep$m {(g: ^g6tJ~a^Žp4qCt6|eoGm gi{(gAr
tAbedC|DtAb|}t:ŒG~vg‘6f4qAuG gA˜~cpOoetepAtAfZg>~DqA˜gep$m ˜gJ~"d:m ‹Q‹$m |iŒ6 p6pZqCge›J‘G t:m/b6“

Performance Problems

x h"tJ~"qAbe|DgCtJ~e’g6duv^+tCd6gi{(g: qA‘egAfGp4qSm bv{GgJ~ap$m n6tep4gCt‘egAf ‹4qAfO˜tAbe|Dg‘6f4qAuG gA˜ hŽm pOopOoeg

|Dq6d6goeg”h"tJ~h–qAfOvm/benCqAb6“v`‹Qp4gAfGpOf4t6|im/benp$o(g+|}q6d6gCtAbedCtAbet: ^e¡em/benSm pOrJxv‹4q:ŒJbedpOoeg
qe‹Q‹4gAbed:m ben>~’p4tep4gA˜gAbDpA¢Ct‹wŒJ £p4tAuG g>~v|DtAb6“D¤[oegAb>xvp4q: doGm ˜Cr6oGm ~fZgA‘G ^h"tJ~c•¥]HŒ}p6pOoetep
|DtAb(¦ p@uegpOoeg‘6fZqAuG gA˜k¢pOoegpZt-uG gCqAbG ^SoetJ~"qAbegf4qih§ ¦

Page 1 of 4 © Labyrinth IT Services Ltd

 :¨ ©:ª «O¬e­AªM® ¯v°(­J±’«$® ²6³e«$® ´A¯±i¬e´iµ"­6¶«O¬e³e«6«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­C¶:® ¶A¹G®/¯º4³6»’«O¹e´A¯G¸ ¼S¬e³i°(­C´A¯e­ª4´iµŽ¹6·G©}«
«O¬e­º$©6¸ ¸a«Z³-·G¸ ­>±v»}³A¯"µ"³J±”ªZ­6³J¶:® ¯e²C½G¾M¿+·º4´Aª:­i°G­Aª ¼­eÀe­6»e©}«$® ´A¯6Áv¬(­Sª4­6³J±D´A¯ºZ´-ªG«O¬G® ±
·e­:® ¯(²”«O¬e³e«6«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­¬e³6¶Ã6ªZ­i°J® ´:©G±i¸ ¼>¬e­:¸ ¶Ä³A¯v¼>Ä´Aª4­ªZ´iµ±i¹e³A¯e¶C³:¸ ¸}·e³AªA´A¯e­¬e³6¶
·e­6­A¯¶6­:¸ ­e«4­6¶AÁ
Å ¯´AªZ¶J­AªG«4´C¶6´C³º$©6¸ ¸a«4³A·G¸ ­>±v»}³A¯6¹eƪ4³6»i¸ ­¯e­6­6¶:±«4´ªZ­6³6¶C³:¸ ¸£«O¬e­·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±c«O¬e³e«:»}´:©6¸ ¶
Ãe´e«4­A¯D«$® ³:¸ ¸ ¼S¬e´:¸ ¶C¶6³e«4³º4´AªG«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­AÁv¬G® ±”Ä­6³A¯(±”ª4­6³6¶:® ¯e²C³:¸ ¸£«O¬e­·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±cº$ª4´AÄÈ«O¬e­
·e­6²:®/¯6¯G® ¯e²C´eº6«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­S©Jë4´«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­Aª@ijAª$Ç}¹vµŽ¬e­e«O¬e­Aª6«O¬e­·G¸ ´6»(Ǭe´:¸ ¶:±"¶6³e«4³C´Aª
¯e´e«OÁ(É´A¯v°(­Aªw±v­:¸ ¼J¹6·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±"³A·e´e°(­«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­Aª@Ĕ³-ª$Çc¶6´¯e´(«M¯e­6­6¶«4´·e­ª4­6³6¶A¹e³J±
«O¬e­Aª4­C»D³A¯6¯e´e«@·e­C³A¯v¼¶6³e«4³S®/¯«O¬e­AÄCÁ
Ê ¬e­A¯¶6³e«4³S® ±”® ¯(±D­Aª «4­6¶S®/¯D«Z´C³«4³A·G¸ ­A¹e»D³:©G±i® ¯e²C³¯e­iµË·G¸ ´6»(Ç«4´·e­S©G±v­6¶A¹D«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬
[
µ"³e«4­AªMijAªOÇ"® ±"³6¶̉©G±’«4­6¶C³6»D»}´AªZ¶:®/¯e²:¸ ¼JÁJÅ º6«O¬e­C¶6³e«4³S® ±Ž±}©J·(±D­6Í:©(­A¯D«$¸ ¼¶6­:¸ ­e«4­6¶A¹e»D³:©G±i® ¯e²
«O¬e­·G¸ ´6»(Ç«4´·e­6»D´-Ä­+­-Ä+Ã}«Î¼:¹D«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­AªMijAªOÇ"® ±”¯e´e«A³6¶̉©G±’«4­6¶A¹6·G©}«@ªZ­Aij:®/¯(±
Ãe´:® ¯}«w®/¯e²«4´«O¬e­Ä³eÀG® Ä+©JÄk¶6³e«4³Ãe´J±i® «$® ´-¯"º4´Aª6«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­AÁ
ϺQ«4­AªA³”«4³A·G¸ ­¬e³J±”·e­6­A¯³A¯e³:¸ ¼eÐi­6¶A¹D«O¬e­ÑYÒ0ÓiƔɖÔ*Õ0Ö:º$® ­:¸ ¶S® ¯>×ØÕÚÙ8ÛHÜ6ÂMϖÒ0ÓJÙ*ÕEµŽ® ¸ ¸
»D´A¯D«4³:®/¯³”°(³:¸ ©(­AÁv¬G® ±°(³:¸ ©(­ªZ­AÃ6ª4­J±v­A¯D«w±c«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­Aª:´eº@·G¸ ´J»eǍ±c«O¬e³e«M¬(³i°(­C­i°(­Aª@¬e­:¸ ¶
¶6³e«4³S® ¯«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­CÝ«$¬(³e«-® ±i¹D«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­AªA´eºM·6¸ ´6»eÇv±”·e­e« µ"­6­A¯«O¬e­>±a«4³AªQ«A´eº6«$¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­
³A¯e¶«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­Aª@ijAª$Ç}Áv¬e­º$® ­:¸ ¶Ñ¥Ù8¿CÞAÂ*ß8܆Ò0ÓiƔɖԆÕ8ֆ¬e´:¸ ¶J±«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­AªA´eº
·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±³:¸ ¸ ´6»}³e«4­6¶«4´«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­«O¬e³e«A³AªZ­C³A·(´i°(­«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­AªM¸ ­i°(­:¸/Áv¬e­Aª4­S® ±”¯e´
­6³J±£¼SÄ­e«O¬e´6¶C´eºA¶6­e«4­Aª$Ä+®/¯G® ¯e²«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­AªA´eºA­AÄCÃD« ¼>·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±”·e­A¸ ´iµà«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ"³e«4­Aª
ijAªOÇDÁ
Å ¯´AªZ¶J­AªG«4´C»D³:¸ »i©6¸ ³e«4­«$¬(­S¯6©JÄC·e­Aª:´eºM©G±v­6¶·G¸ ´6»eÇv±”·e­:¸ ´iµ[«O¬e­¬G® ²A¬"µ–³e«4­Aª@ijAª$Ç
ª4­6Í:©6® ª4­J±"³º$©6¸ ¸a«4³A·G¸ ­>±v»}³A¯:á
select
count(
distinct dbms_rowid.ROWID_RELATIVE_FNO (rowid)||'_'||
dbms_rowid.ROWID_BLOCK_NUMBER(rowid) )
from
<<table_name>>;

¬(­+¶A® ºQº4­AªZ­A¯e»}­·e­e« µ"­6­A¯«O¬G® ±”¯G©JÄC·e­AªO¹e³A¯e¶«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­AªA²:® °(­A¯C·v¼ÑYÒ0ÓiƔÉ"Ô*Õ8Ö*®/¯

©G±v­Aª ÜJ«4³A·G¸ ­:±µŽ® ¸ ¸D±i¬e´iµà«O¬e­¯G©JÄC·e­Aª:´eºM©J¯6¯e­J»D­J±D±D³AªÎ¼S·G¸ ´6»(Ǎ±”·e­:®/¯e²ªZ­6³6¶C­6³6»(¬«$® Ä­C³
º$©6¸ ¸a«4³A·G¸ ­>±v»}³A¯+® ±Ãe­Aª º4´AªOÄ­6¶C´A¯«O¬e­«4³A·G¸ ­AÁ

Storage Considerations

Page 2 of 4 © Labyrinth IT Services Ltd

 â ãCäZå:æ å6çJèvåSéJêeëäZç6ìeæ åSí ãDîOä4ï6ð:ñ(ìDå6ðîOòeåCçAóGí æ í îÎô”î4ïCð6å6ç:æ æ ï6ìDçeî4åSñJãGñGèvå6ð>èeõeç6ìDåöOä4ïA÷ÈîOòeå
åAãeðCïeöAç>èvå6øA÷åAãDîAçAãeðõGæ ç6ìDåSí îMóeç6ì(ùcïAãDî4ïîOòeåöOä4å6åSæ í è’îwèö4ïAä-ñ6èvåóvôïeîOòeåAä-èvå6øA÷åAãDîwè
í ãîOòeåî4çAóGæ åJèiõeç6ì}åAúûlòGí è”í è"ç>è’î4åAõö4ïAäÎü"çAä4ðöOäZïA÷ÈîOòeåõ6ä4åiý6í ï:ñGèŽè}í îwñGçeî$í ïAã6êeçAãeð
ä4åA÷ïiý(å6ðîOòeåãeå6ìDåJè}è}í î ôŽî4ïCðAäZïAõçAã(ðSä4å6þOìeä4å6çeî4åCç>èvå6øA÷åAãDî6îOòeçeî@òeç6ðóeå6åAãìeä4å6çeî4å6ð
üŽí îOò+í ãeþOçAõ6õ6ä4ïAõ6äwí çeî4å>èaî4ïAä4ç6ø6åõeçAäZçA÷åeî4åAäwèiúJâ îMí èŽèaî$í æ ævèvïA÷åiü”òeçeî@ä4åJèaîOä$í ì’î$í ý(åAê6òeïiü"åiý(åAäOê
çJè"ïAãGæ ô+èeõeç6ìDåCçAóeïiýGåî$òeåòGí øAò"ü"çeî4åAäM÷çAäOùcìDçAãCó(å+ðJå6ç:æ æ ï6ì}çeî4å6ðSí ãîOòGí èü"çiôJú
Alter table <<table_name>> deallocate unused;

SQL*Loader considerations

ÿ[òeåAãð6çeî4çSí è”æ ï6ç6ð6å6ðSí/ãDî4ïCçî4çAóGæ åSñGè}í/ãeøîOòeå
iïJç6ð6åAä:ð:í/äZå6ìîMõeçeîOòïAõDî$í ïAã6êDîOòeå

ð6çeî4ç>èaîOä$ñ(ì’î$ñJä4åJèŽí/ãî$ò( å 
 çAä4åóvôJõeçJè}èvå6ðSí ãïAä4ð6åAäGî4ïCç6ì(òGí åiýGåõeåAä ö4ïAäO÷çAãeìDåCø6ç:í/ã(èiú
ûHïóeåCç-óGæ åî4ïCð6ïîOòGí èeê iï6ç6ð6åAä@óGñ6í æ ðJè"ð6çeî4çAóeçJèDåóGæ ï6ìeùvèŽí îwèDå:æ öOêeçAãeð”ü”äwí î4åJèîOòeåA÷
ð:í ä4å6ì’î$æ ôŽî4ïîOòeåCð6çeî4çAóeçJèvåAúvûlòeåJèvåóGæ ï6ìeùvè”÷+ñGèaî6îOòeåAä4åeö4ïAäZåóeåCåA÷CõDî ôSóeåeö4ïAäZå
iï6ç6ð6åAä(ü”ä$í î4åJèî4ïîOòeåA÷CêeïAäMí îGü"ï:ñ6æ ðCïiýGåAäÎü”äwí î4åCå Gí èaî$í ãeøî4çAóGæ åCð6çeî4çAúvûHïóeåCçAóGæ å
î4ïCåAã(è}ñJä4åîOòeåAä4å>í è”ãeïCð6çeî4çCç:æ/äZå6ç6ðiô>í ãîOòeåóGæ ï6ì(ùè”ó(å:í ãeø”ü”äwí îQî4åAã6êiðAí äZå6ìî@õeçeîOò
iï6ç6ð6åAä:ïAã6æ ôü”ä$í î4åJè"çAóeïiýGåîOòeåòGí øAò"ü"çeî4åAäM÷çAäOùcïeöAçî4çAóGæ å-ú
iï6ç6ð:í/ãeøCçAóeïiý(åîOòeåòGí øAò"ü"çeî4åAä@÷çAä$ù–ð6ï6åJè”ãeïeîMí ÷Cõeç6ìîO÷+ñ(ì(òMïAãîOòeåõeåAäQö4ïAä$÷çAãeì}å
ïeö6îOòeåSæ ï6ç6ðAê6óGñ}îAì}ï:ñ6æ ðòeçiý(å>èDåiý(åAä4åSí ÷CõGæ í ìDçeî$í ïAã(èö4ïAä6î$ò(åSõJäZï6ì}åJèDè}í/ãeøCïeö6îOòeåCð6çeî4ç
çeöQî4åAäGîOòeåSæ ï6ç6ðAú
 ïAã(è}í ð6åAä:ç>èií î$ñ(çeî$í ïAã"ü”òeåAä4åCð6çeî4çSí èŽæ ï6ç6ð6å6ðSí ãDî4ïCç”ü"ïAäOùî4çAóGæ åAê6õ6ä4ï6ìDåJè}èvå6ðSí ãèDïA÷å
ü"çiôJêeçAãeðîOòeåAãC÷ïiýGå6ðîZïîOòeåö$í/ãeç:æð6åJè’îwí/ãeçeî$í ïAã6úvûlòeåö$í ä4è’î6î$í ÷åîOòGí èõ6äZï6ì}åJèDèŽí è
ìDçAäOä$í å6ðCï:ñ}îOêDîOòeåî4çAóGæ åSí èåA÷CõDî ôJê(èvïCð6çeî4çSí èŽæ ï6çJð6å6ðSí ãDî4ïîOòeåóeå6ø:í ã6ãGí/ãeøCïeö6îOòeåö$í äwèaî
å Dî4åAãDîAçAãeðõ6ä4ï6ìDåJè}èvå6ðAúvûlòeåãeå Dî6î$í ÷åîOòeåõ6ä4ï6ìDåJè}è”ä$ñJã(èiêeð6çeî4çSí è”æ ï6ç6ð6å6ðSí ã}îZïîOòeå
î4çAóGæ å>è’î4çAä î$í/ãeøCçeîGîOòeåö$í/ä4è’î@óGæ ï6ìeù–çAóeïiý(åîOòeåõeïJèií î$í ïAã"ü”òeåAä4åîOòeåõ6äZåiýJí ï:ñGèŽæ ï6ç6ð
ö$í ãGí èiòeå6ðAúvûlòeåö$ñ6æ ævèDìDçAãïeö6îOòeåî4çAóGæ åî4ïCì}ïA÷CõGæ åeî4åîOòeåõ6äZï6ì}åJèDèií ãeøîOòeåAä4åeö4ïAäZåä4å :ñ6í ä4åJè
î üŽí ìDåCçJè÷çAãvô>óGæ ï6ìeùècî4ïóeåäZå6ç6ðAúJâ ãîOòeå>èvçA÷å”ü"çiô:êvîOòeåãeå }î@äwñJãî4çAùåJèŽæ ïAã(ø6åAä:çAãeð
èvïCïAã6úvûlòeå>èvå6øA÷åAãDîAç:æ èvïCìDïAãDî$í/ãGñ(åJèî4ïCøAä4ïiü”êiçJècîOòeå>èiõeç6ì}åö$ä4å6å6ðóvôŽîOòeåCð6å:æ åeî4åJèŽí è
ãeåiý(å-äMä4å:ñGèvå6ðóvô+èiñJó(èvå :ñ(å-ãDî-æ ï6ç6ðJèiú

Resetting the High Water mark

Page 3 of 4 © Labyrinth IT Services Ltd

 !#"%$ #&'()+*%#!,.- /0!12+- /35461#"%$ 
27- 8+2:9/;##;)- 604<14=>?A@B@+1;##0C1#/ "
+*#60C#&5D"E
9%27-F/354=GIHKJKLIMNPOQ#C4R- #/S(6#4=$ 1;#T- 2U071)9%22 4=
;1461#"12C
2#V*#%4654=R9/0C14654=5461#"%$ D"(6#!54=$ 1;)- /354=D/+WX;1461#T
R9/0714R- /3 15461#"%$ D6#&5+*2S1)$ $Y4= ;14615(=6#&Z4=5461#"%$  1#/;D624[2 4=D6)$ +*%1#/C4
)- /74!#[2+\%-F/0+$ 9%;)- /354=D%- 3#UWU146#<&51#R]7T^_#/51G461#"$ - 2`4RR9/0714!;#\4=
12C2C0+- 146;- /;a2U1#6A1#$ 2D6,b-F/%- 4R- 1)$ - 8+;#T
cD624%4=D%- 3#UWd14!e&51#=]PW:- 4=)974<6#&5+*- /354= ;1461D6f)9- 62U1D6#"%9- $ ;#\12:- /)g
Alter table <<table_name>> move …

Conclusion

- 3#UWU146#&51#=]`#/515461#"%$  071#/ 1+* 1
2+- 3#/%- ([- 0C1#/C4-F&A104##/S4=

#h(6#R&51#/07 (%(R9$ $Y461#"%$  2C0C1#/2\12KWU)$ $i1)2U1(h(604R- /3 246#!13A07#/27- ;#!14R- #/2+Tj 4
4=#6(6#!D/;2`46D"D&Ge/%- 46#!;G46 #/2+9!54=14- 4- 2U1#6#R- 1465(6#%4=9%2C (4R
461#"%$ #T>- 3#/%- (R- 0C1#/C4#;)- 2]`10C072C2:21+*-F/32U071#/ "D&51;D"E
]#%- /354=D%- 3#UWU146#
&51#=]`12U0$ 254654= #/; (4= 10i4R91)$i;1461 12G2727-F"%$ #T

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