Trace a RAC deadlock

Question:  In my RAC database I am getting the ORA-0600 deadlock detected error:

ORA-00060: deadlock detected while waiting for resource

The problem is deadlock trace file is not being generated.  How do I create a trace for for a RAC deadlock condition?

Answer:  First, see my notes on how to create and analyze trace files.  I would set a trace event, using any of these alter session commands, as needed:

SQL> alter session set max_dump_file_size=unlimited;
SQL> alter session set events 'deadlock trace name hanganalyze_global';
SQL> alter session set events '10046 trace name context forever, level 12';

Or this example.  A deadlock is event 60:

SQL> alter session set events '60 trace name hanganalyze level 4';

For RAC, you may want systemstate=266:

SQL> alter session set events '60 trace name hanganalyze_global ; name systemstate level 266'

The docs note that Oracle deadlocks are transient:

ORA-00060: deadlock detected while waiting for resource

Cause: Transactions deadlocked one another while waiting for resources.
 
Action: Look at the trace file to see the transactions and resources involved. Retry if necessary.

Hence, your final solution might be trying to avoid the deadlocks.

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