Oracle monitoring, without the bloat
Practical guides for Oracle DBAs — written by people who run databases. Monitoring without Enterprise Manager, capacity forecasting, V$ views, RMAN, and how to spend a lot less on observability.
Oracle database monitoring: the complete guide (2026)
What to watch, the SQL behind each metric, and how to do it without Enterprise Manager or the Diagnostic Pack — with links to every deep-dive in this series.
Read the guide →Oracle database health check: the complete 2026 checklist (with SQL)
The daily, weekly and monthly routine with the exact read-only SQL — no Enterprise Manager or Diagnostic Pack. Script included.
Read →How to monitor Oracle sessions & blocking locks — the exact SQL
The four queries that turn V$SESSION into a clear picture of who's connected, working, and blocked.
Read →Oracle wait events explained: the 12 that actually matter
The twelve wait events worth knowing, what causes each, and the SQL to see them live — no AWR.
Read →Find your worst SQL in Oracle without the Tuning Pack
Rank your heaviest queries and pull the real execution plan using always-licensed V$ views.
Read →The best Oracle monitoring tools in 2026
8 tools compared by the job they solve — OEM, DPA, Foglight, Prometheus and more — including when NOT to buy each one (ours included).
Read →Rarexa vs SolarWinds DPA
Performance forensics vs fleet health: architecture, pricing models and which to pick for your actual problem — with full disclosure.
Read →Rarexa vs Quest Foglight
Enterprise platform vs focused tool: the platform tax spelled out, and when each purchase makes sense.
Read →Oracle Enterprise Manager alternatives in 2026 (and when you don't need OEM)
OEM is powerful — and heavy. Here's an honest look at when it's overkill, the real alternatives, and how to monitor Oracle without the Diagnostic Pack.
Read →How much does the Oracle Diagnostic Pack really cost?
The Diagnostic Pack is the gate to AWR, ADDM and most of OEM's performance screens — and it's licensed per core. We break down the math and the cheaper paths.
Read →How to monitor Oracle tablespaces without Enterprise Manager
The exact queries to track tablespace usage, autoextend headroom and free space — plus how to turn them into alerts before you run out of space.
Read →How to predict when an Oracle tablespace will fill up
Knowing a tablespace is 90% full is not enough. Here's how to compute days-to-full from real growth history so you act before the page at 3 a.m.
Read →How to create a read-only Oracle monitoring user (with the exact GRANTs)
A safe monitoring account needs SELECT on the right V$ and DBA_ views — and nothing more. Copy-paste the GRANTs, for both non-CDB and multitenant.
Read →Rarexa vs Oracle Enterprise Manager
Two very different tools for very different jobs. A side-by-side on scope, cost, setup time and who each one is actually for — written without the marketing fog.
Read →See it instead of reading about it
Rarexa Oracle Health Dashboard does everything in these guides — automatically. Try it free for 15 days.