The checkpoint process (CKPT), at specific times, starts a checkpoint request by triggering the database writer process (DBWn) to read the database buffer cache and write modified buffers to data files. On completion of individual checkpoint requests, CKPT updates data file headers and control files to record the most recent checkpoint.

CKPT checks every three seconds to see whether the amount of memory exceeds the value of the PGA_AGGREGATE_LIMIT initialization parameter, and if so, takes action.

CKPT can run as a thread or an operating system process. In addition to database instances, CKPT also runs on Oracle Automatic Storage Management (Oracle ASM) instances.

• Background Processes
• Checkpoint Process (CKPT)