Very good morning Norman, Thanks for the reply first of all! I asked this question because this came up at two different places, one in a conversation with an oracle professional and the 2nd, in a book which I have just purchased. Before replying to the author, I wanted to be sure that I am not missing anything but despite checking at various places, I didn't find any explanation for this term that data buffers can be stored in the PGA. Yes, there is a change from 10g(10.2 I guess) that the data buffers can be stored in the shared pool but that's all what I at least know. I never heard/read that PGA can be used for the same. Thank you so much for the reply and clarification once again Norman! Regards Aman.... On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 12:30 PM, Dunbar, Norman (Capgemini) < norman.dunbar.capgemini@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Morning Aman, > > >> Is it a correct thing to say that when the data buffer is > >> being read from the disk, its first kept in the PGA and then > >> later on, it would be copied from the PGA memory to the > >> standard buffer cache? > Not quite. > > >> If no, then its alright but if yes, why such behaviour is there? > It isn't - unless of course Oracle changed things recently! > > <SNIP> > > >> If anyone can explain and > >> clear this confusion, it would be just great! > The disc buffer(s) are read from disc - assuming that they are not > already in the buffer cache - and placed into the buffer cache directly. > Your server process then returns the block or blocks you requested to > your user process. > > Now, I have to say that the last time I dealt with this was way back at > Oracle 8.0 (!!!) so I'm now looking forward to being (a) corrected and > (b) educated by those who know better than me! > > > Cheers, > Norman. > > > Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally > privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the > sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have > checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still > check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and > any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, > Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent > to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone > other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent > you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions > which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the > Environment Agency at www.environment-agency.gov.uk > > Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally > privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the > sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. > > We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should > still check any attachment before opening it. > We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to > under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. > Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency > address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, > for business purposes. > > If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our > terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find > out more about the Environment Agency at www.environment-agency.gov.uk > -- _________________________________________________