ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted

 “ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted” This is not a common error message means we don’t receive/see this very often.  Data block corruption is a serious issue, and it is crucial to address it promptly. Always perform regular backups and ensure the integrity of your database to minimize the risk of data corruption.

"ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted" on  INDEX

If it occurs on INDEX that means you are lucky :) to fix this simply dropping/recreating the index will solve the issue.

Let's say it's not INDEX, Which is scary but then you have mainly two options

1. Restore the backup to avoid losing data.
2. You don't have a backup or the restore is not working or you just want to extract as much data as possible. 

 As mentioned "ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted" is not common but very serious issue which mostly relates to your storage as well. Here are the possible 8 solutions for "ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted"

1. Restore from Backup
2. Use Data Recovery Advisor
3. Run DBVERIFY Utility
4. Use RMAN Utility
5. Check Disk and Storage
6. Check for Software Bugs
7. Perform Block-Level Recovery
8. Engage Oracle Support

Restore from Backup

   If you have a valid and recent backup of the database, you can restore the corrupted data block from the backup. This requires performing a point-in-time recovery or a complete database restore.

Use Data Recovery Advisor

   Oracle provides the Data Recovery Advisor (DRA) tool to diagnose and repair data block corruption issues. You can use the DRA to analyze the corruption and generate repair recommendations. Follow the instructions provided by the DRA to repair the corrupted data block.

Run DBVERIFY Utility

   The DBVERIFY utility is a built-in Oracle tool used to check the logical and physical integrity of data blocks. Run DBVERIFY against the affected data files to identify the corrupt blocks. If possible, restore the corrupted blocks from a backup or recreate them using the RECOVER command.

 Use RMAN Utility

   If you are using Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN), you can use its block media recovery feature to repair the corrupted data blocks. RMAN can restore the corrupted blocks from a backup or perform block recovery using online redo logs.

Check Disk and Storage

   Verify that the disk or storage system where the corrupted data block resides is functioning correctly. Check for any hardware failures, disk errors, or storage issues that might have caused the corruption. Correct any underlying problems before attempting to repair the data block.

Check for Software Bugs

   Consult the Oracle Support website, bug database, or community forums to check if the corruption issue is a known bug. There might be specific patches or workarounds available to address the problem.

Perform Block-Level Recovery

   In some cases, it might be necessary to perform a block-level recovery. This involves using RMAN to restore and recover individual data blocks from a backup. Exercise caution when performing block-level recovery as it can be complex and may require expert guidance.

Engage Oracle Support

   If none of the above solutions resolve the issue, it is recommended to contact Oracle Support for further assistance. Provide them with the error details, associated trace files, and any relevant diagnostic information for analysis.

 

Note that data block corruption is a serious issue, and it is crucial to address it promptly. Always perform regular backups and ensure the integrity of your database to minimize the risk of data corruption. If you want to add more please comment. 

Here are a few solutions and studies by oracle support.

• Bug 7381632 - ORA-1578 Free corrupt blocks may not be reformatted when Flashback is enabled (Doc ID 7381632.8)
• Content Reset fails with "java.sql.SQLException: ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted " (Doc ID 2119387.1)
• Data Collections failing with ORA-01578: ORACLE data block corrupted error (Doc ID 2752761.1)
• ORA-1578 / ORA-26040 Corrupt blocks by NOLOGGING - Error explanation and solution (Doc ID 794505.1)
• Use RMAN to format corrupt data block which is not part of any object (Doc ID 1459778.1)
• ORA-1578 Methods to Skip Block Corruption (Doc ID 2199133.1)