Oracle Database Discussions

Hi everyone,

I have an 11.2.0.3 SE database running in ARCHIVELOG mode. The following parameters are set:

log_archive_dest = /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/ORCL/archivelog
log_archive_format = %t_%s_%r.arc

According to the official docs (http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e25494/archredo004.htm#i1006405) I expect that log files will go in /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/ORCL/archivelog. The database, however, creates a subdirectories within /archivelog with the current date and puts the logfiles there.

[oracle@el5-prd archivelog]$ pwd
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/ORCL/archivelog
[oracle@el5-prd archivelog]$ ls
2011_12_15
[oracle@el5-prd archivelog]$ ls -l 2011_12_15/
total 15372
-rw-r----- 1 oracle oinstall 14181376 Dec 15 07:13 o1_mf_1_6_7gm0h3b1_.arc
-rw-r----- 1 oracle oinstall 14848 Dec 15 07:14 o1_mf_1_7_7gm0llt8_.arc
-rw-r----- 1 oracle oinstall 1513984 Dec 15 07:31 o1_mf_1_8_7gm1k5tw_.arc
[oracle@el5-prd archivelog]$

This is a behavior I would expect from a database with default log destination being the FRA. I checked the destination by running 'archive log list' and it revealed the following:

SQL> archive log list
Database log mode Archive Mode
Automatic archival Enabled
Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
Oldest online log sequence 7
Next log sequence to archive 9
Current log sequence 9
SQL>

In my understanding setting log_archive_dest should override USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST. Why is USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST still in effect? I am getting this wrong?

Thanks in advance.