Avamar - Oracle RAC database backups fail with "ORA-19511: non RMAN...sbtpvt_update_semfile"

Summary: Oracle RAC database backups started failing after monthly patching of Oracle Linux 7.4 with OS updates. Key Oracle error message: ORA-19511: non RMAN, but media manager or vendor specific failure, error text: Issue Summary: Oracle RAC database backups began failing after the monthly patching of Oracle Linux 7.4 with operating system updates. Key Error Message: ORA-19511: non-RMAN, but media manager or vendor-specific failure. Error text: sbtpvt_update_semfile: Could not get semaphore set ID.sbtpvt_update_semfile: Couldnot get sem set id. ...

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Symptoms

Environment Info: 
Oracle Linux 7.4 running UEK 4.1.12-124.48.5
Oracle Database 19c with Clusterware 19.8.0.0
Avamar Client and Plugin version, 19.3.100-149

No changes were made to the RMAN scripts before the backups started to fail. The scripts all use the optional parameter --taskfile.

The RMAN Error Message Stack showed below messages. 
ORA-19559: error sending device command: "--prefix=19/orcl10/
ORA-19557: device error, device type: SBT_TAPE, device name:
ORA-27194: skgfdvcmd: sbtcommand returned error
ORA-19511: non RMAN, but media manager or vendor specific failure, error text:
sbtpvt_update_semfile: Couldnot get sem set id.

Some lines seen in the sbtio.log indicating the issue. 
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtpvt_get_avoracle_cmd: start
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtpvt_get_avoracle_cmd: successful return
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtpvt_get_avoracle_cmd: start
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtpvt_get_avoracle_cmd: successful return
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtpvt_update_semfile: avoracleCmd from taskfile [--no_of_channels=1 --operation=backup]
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 error 7501: sbtpvt_update_semfile: Couldnot get sem set id.
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 sbtcommand: updatesemfile fail.
SBT-302899 03/22/21 20:10:18 Avamar : sbtend

Cause

Checking the configured values in /etc/sysctl.conf showed the expected value.

kernel.sem="400 150000 400 500"


However, this was not being observed by Oracle Linux 7.4 post patching.

Value post-patching - kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
Configured value not being observed - kernel.sem = 400 150000 400 500

Resolution

The customer manually reset the kernel.sem parameter to match the value configured in /etc/sysctl.conf. This change resolved the issue, and backups began running successfully once the correct value was applied.

Affected Products

Avamar Plug-in for Oracle
Article Properties
Article Number: 000184995
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 18 Jul 2025
Version:  4
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