Pradip
17 Nov, 2025
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Can Data Pump Export to ASM Storage?

Can Data Pump Export to ASM Storage? (Solved for Oracle 19c/21c)

When working with Oracle databases, especially on OCI Base DB Systems or Exadata, most high-performance storage resides in ASM (Automatic Storage Management). Recently, while preparing benchmark tests for a Data Pump session, a common question came up:

Can Oracle Data Pump export dumps directly into ASM storage?

Yes, Data Pump can write dump files to ASM
But it cannot write the log file to ASM

This limitation often surprises DBAs trying to fully leverage ASM for backup and export operations. Let’s walk through a working example and the right way to configure it.

Exporting to ASM Storage – Step-by-Step

1. Create an ASM Directory

Start in ASMCMD:

This prepares a dedicated ASM directory for Data Pump dump files.

2. Create a Database Directory Object Pointing to ASM

This tells Oracle where Data Pump should write the dump files.

3. Start Data Pump Export

You may try:

But this will fail with:

Why Does It Fail?

Because ASM storage does not support regular OS log file writes.
Data Pump can create dump files inside ASM, but the log file must be placed on a traditional filesystem (EXT4, XFS, NFS, etc.).

This is an internal restriction in Data Pump’s logging mechanism.

4. Create a Directory for the Log File

Point it to a normal filesystem, like /tmp or /u01/app/oracle:

5. Run Data Pump Export Again (Correctly)

Now your Data Pump export writes:

Dump files → ASM
Log file → OS filesystem

Perfectly valid and fully supported.

Additional Tips

1. If You Don’t Need a Log File

If your environment (e.g., OCI Base DB System) restricts OS directories:

Useful for scripted executions or when you only monitor job progress from DBA views.

2. Always Apply the Data Pump Bundle Patch (19c)

Oracle’s 19c Data Pump updates include 150+ bug fixes related to:

Directory handling
Performance
Parallel execution
Transportable tablespaces
ASM handling

For 19c users (especially 19.20+), installing the Data Pump bundle patch is strongly recommended for stability and performance.

Final Thoughts

Yes, exporting Data Pump dump files directly into ASM is absolutely possible, and it works smoothly once you separate:

Dump files → ASM
Log files → Regular filesystem

This gives you the advantage of fast ASM performance while maintaining Data Pump compatibility. It’s a best practice for OCI, Exadata, and RAC environments.

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