Yuan Yao, An Oracle ACE's Blog

The ORA-01152 error is a common headache for DBAs, particularly after a database restore operation or when recovering from a backup control file. It essentially tells you that your database files are “newer” than your control file expects.

Below is a guide on how to diagnose the issue and resolve it when you don’t have a newer backup available.

The Symptoms

You attempt to start the database, mount it successfully, but when you try to open it (even with RESETLOGS), you hit a wall:

SQL> startup;
ORACLE instance started.
Database mounted.
ORA-01589: must use RESETLOGS or NORESETLOGS option for database open

SQL> alter database open resetlogs;
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-01152: file 1 was not restored from a sufficiently old backup
ORA-01110: data file 1: '/u01/app/oracle/oradata/ORCL/datafile/o1_mf_system_f0c9gj4x_.dbf'

The Root Cause: SCN Mismatch

The error indicates that the Checkpoint SCN in the datafile header (File 1, usually SYSTEM) is higher than the recovery point defined in the control file.

In simple terms: The Control File thinks the database time is at T1, but the Datafile is already at T2. Since Oracle cannot roll a datafile backwards (without Flashback), it flags this file as being “from the future.”

Diagnosis

To confirm the extent of the discrepancy, we need to bypass the Control File and look directly at the physical headers of the datafiles on the disk.

Run the following query to compare the Datafile Header SCN against what the Control File expects:

set linesize 200
col name format a50
select h.file#, h.name, h.checkpoint_change#, h.fuzzy, f.checkpoint_change# as cf_checkpoint
from v$datafile_header h, v$datafile f
where h.file# = f.file#
and h.file# = 1;

Sample Output:

Plaintext

     FILE# NAME                                               CHECKPOINT_CHANGE# FUZ CF_CHECKPOINT
---------- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------ --- -------------
         1 /u01/.../o1_mf_system_f0c9gj4x_.dbf                           2508843 NO        2507829

The Analysis:

• Datafile SCN: 2508843
• Control File SCN: 2507829

The datafile is ahead. In a perfect world, you would restore an older backup of the datafile (taken before SCN 2507829) and recover forward. However, in the real world, you might not have that backup.

The Solution: Recreate the Control File

If you do not have an older backup, your only option is to recreate the control file. This discards the outdated control file and creates a new one that accepts the current, higher SCNs of your physical datafiles.

Step 1: Verify Datafile Consistency

Before destroying your current control file, you must ensure your datafiles are in a healthy state. We check V$DATAFILE_HEADER for consistency.

set linesize 200 pagesize 200
col name format a50
col error format a15
col fuzzy format a5
col status format a10

SELECT con_id,
       file#,
       name,
       status,
       checkpoint_change# as CP_SCN,
       fuzzy,
       error
FROM v$datafile_header
ORDER BY con_id, file#;

Output Analysis:

Plaintext

    CON_ID      FILE# NAME                                               STATUS         CP_SCN FUZZY ERROR
---------- ---------- -------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ----- ---------------
         1          1 /u01/.../o1_mf_system_f0c9gj4x_.dbf                ONLINE        2508843 NO
         1          3 /u01/.../o1_mf_sysaux_f0c9j7yc_.dbf                ONLINE        2508843 NO
         ...
         3          9 /u01/.../o1_mf_system_f0c9wvqs_.dbf                ONLINE        2508641 NO

What to look for:

1. FUZZY = NO: This is excellent. It means the files are consistent (cleanly closed).
2. ERROR is Empty: If you see errors like WRONG RESETLOGS, those specific files cannot be included in the new control file.
3. SCN Consistency: The SCNs within each Container (CDB/PDB) align.

Step 2: Generate the Trace Script

Use the existing (albeit outdated) control file to generate the creation script. This saves you from typing out file paths manually.

SQL> ALTER DATABASE BACKUP CONTROLFILE TO TRACE AS '/tmp/recreate_ctl.sql';

Step 3: Edit and Execute

Open /tmp/recreate_ctl.sql and perform the following edits:

1. Remove Header: Delete all lines above the STARTUP NOMOUNT command.
2. Set Mode: Ensure the command uses CREATE CONTROLFILE REUSE DATABASE "ORCL" RESETLOGS.
3. Sanitize File List: If you found any files with errors in Step 1, remove them from the DATAFILE list in the script.
4. Execute:
   • Shutdown the database (shutdown immediate or abort).
   • Run the script: @/tmp/recreate_ctl.sql.
   • Recover the database: RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE UNTIL CANCEL;
   • Open the database: ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS;

Key Takeaway

ORA-01152 isn’t a death sentence for your database. It simply means your metadata (Control File) is lagging behind your physical data. By verifying the physical headers first, you can safely recreate the control file and bring the database back online.