In oracle v $ archived_log, the creator is rman.

Q: $ archived_log shows many creator types. If it is FGRD, it may be alter system archive log current. Then we can see that it is RMAN. How does this happen?

A: It may be that these archives have been used by rman catalog. See the following testcase:

[Oracle10g @ testdb archivelog] $ cd 2014_09_28
[Oracle10g @ testdb 2014_09_28] $ ls
O1_mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc 1__. arc o1_mf_1_53_b2g467rk _. arc o1_mf_1_54_b2g469qm _. arc o1_mf_1_55_b2g46fqr _. arc
[Oracle10g @ testdb 2014_09_28] $ mkdir-p/tmp/arctmp
[Oracle10g @ testdb 2014_09_28] $ mv *. arc/tmp/arctmp/
[Oracle10g @ testdb 2014_09_28] $ cd/tmp/arctmp
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $ ls
O1_mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc 1__. arc o1_mf_1_53_b2g467rk _. arc o1_mf_1_54_b2g469qm _. arc o1_mf_1_55_b2g46fqr _. arc
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $ rman target/
 
Recovery Manager: Release 10.2.0.5.0-Production on Sun Sep 28 03:34:06 2014
 
Copyright (c) 1982,200 7, Oracle. All rights reserved.
 
Connected to target database: ORA10G (DBID = 4148492656)
 
RMAN> crosscheck archivelog all;
 
Using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
Allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
Channel ORA_DISK_1: sid = 142 devtype = DISK
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_17/o1_mf_1_3_9wfokdfm _. arc recid = 3 stamp = 853127084
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_17/o1_mf_4244_9wfokddk _. arc recid = 1 stamp = 853127084
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_17/o1_mf_rj5_9wfokdds _. arc recid = 2 stamp = 853127084
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_18/o1_mf_000000009wjs3np7 _. arc recid = 4 stamp = 853229047
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_18/o1_mf_1_2_9wjs7h24 _. arc recid = 5 stamp = 853229167
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_24/o1_mf_1_3_9x0bpc79 _. arc recid = 6 stamp = 853738571
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_24/o1_mf_4244_9x0pnnfx _. arc recid = 7 stamp = 853750807
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_07_24/o1_mf_rj5_9x0pnt67 _. arc recid = 8 stamp = 853750813
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_04/o1_mf_20176_9xxrcb9z _. arc recid = 9 stamp = 854702835
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_12/o1_mf_20177_9yl8c2j5 _. arc recid = 10 stamp = 855374564
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_20/o1_mf_rj8_9z7vvndx _. arc recid = 11 stamp = 856082678
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_rj9_9zqk95rq _. arc recid = 12 stamp = 856596133
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/ow.mf_201710_9zqkhdc0 _. arc recid = 13 stamp = 856596333
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_201711_9zqlbb40 _. arc recid = 14 stamp = 856597196
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_201712_9zqlbkyg _. arc recid = 15 stamp = 856597205
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_13_9zqlby4.7 _. arc recid = 16 stamp = 856597219
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_14_9zqlcnrt _. arc recid = 17 stamp = 856597236
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_15_9zqlcofb _. arc recid = 18 stamp = 856597237
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_201716_9zqlcoyv _. arc recid = 19 stamp = 856597237
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_17_9zqlcpjc _. arc recid = 20 stamp = 856597238
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_18_9zqlcq1p _. arc recid = 21 stamp = 856597239
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_19_9zqlcqjb _. arc recid = 22 stamp = 856597239
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_201720_9zqld0n4 _. arc recid = 23 stamp = 856597250
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_21_9zqldjv8 _. arc recid = 24 stamp = 856597266
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_1_22_9zqldrbl _. arc recid = 25 stamp = 856597272
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_23_9zqldsy9 _. arc recid = 26 stamp = 856597274
Validation succeeded for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_08_26/o1_mf_42424_9zqldt4t _. arc recid = 27 stamp = 856597274
Validation failed for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc recid = 28 stamp = 859432723
Validation failed for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000052_b2g3f81q _. arc recid = 29 stamp = 859432744
Validation failed for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_rj53_b2g467rk _. arc recid = 30 stamp = 859433543
Validation failed for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000054_b2g469qm _. arc recid = 31 stamp = 859433545
Validation failed for archived log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000055_b2g46fqr _. arc recid = 32 stamp = 859433549
Crosschecked 32 objects
 
 
RMAN> delete expired archivelog all;
 
Released channel: ORA_DISK_1
Allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
Channel ORA_DISK_1: sid = 142 devtype = DISK
 
List of Archived Log Copies
Key Thrd Seq S Low Time Name
--------------------------------
28 1 51X28-SEP-14/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc
29 1 52X28-SEP-14/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_10952_b2g3f81q _. arc
30 1 53X28-SEP-14/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o%mf_%53_b2g467rk _. arc
31 1 54X28-SEP-14/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000054_b2g469qm _. arc
32 1 55X28-SEP-14/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o%mf_%55_b2g46fqr _. arc
 
Do you really want to delete the above objects (enter YES or NO )? Y
Deleted archive log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc recid = 28 stamp = 859432723
Deleted archive log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000052_b2g3f81q _. arc recid = 29 stamp = 859432744
Deleted archive log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_rj53_b2g467rk _. arc recid = 30 stamp = 859433543
Deleted archive log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000054_b2g469qm _. arc recid = 31 stamp = 859433545
Deleted archive log
Archive log filename =/u01/ora10g/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORA10G/archivelog/2014_09_28/o1_mf_000055_b2g46fqr _. arc recid = 32 stamp = 859433549
Deleted 5 EXPIRED objects
 
 
RMAN>
 
RMAN>
 
RMAN>
 
RMAN> exit
 
 
Recovery Manager complete.
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $ rman target/
 
Recovery Manager: Release 10.2.0.5.0-Production on Sun Sep 28 03:35:11 2014
 
Copyright (c) 1982,200 7, Oracle. All rights reserved.
 
Connected to target database: ORA10G (DBID = 4148492656)
 
RMAN> catalog start with '/tmp/arctmp ';
 
Using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
Searching for all files that match the pattern/tmp/arctmp
 
List of Files Unknown to the Database
============================================
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000055_b2g46fqr _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000053_b2g467rk _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000054_b2g469qm _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/o1_mf_000052_b2g3f81q _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc
 
Do you really want to catalog the above files (enter YES or NO )? Y
Cataloging files...
Cataloging done
 
List of Cataloged Files
======================================
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000055_b2g46fqr _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000053_b2g467rk _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_000054_b2g469qm _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/o1_mf_000052_b2g3f81q _. arc
File Name:/tmp/arctmp/ow.mf_1_51_b2g3dm1s _. arc
 
RMAN>
 
RMAN> exit
 
 
Recovery Manager complete.
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $
[Oracle10g @ testdb arctmp] $ sqlplus "/as sysdba"
 
SQL * Plus: Release 10.2.0.5.0-Production on Sun Sep 28 03:35:48 2014
 
Copyright (c) 1982,201 0, Oracle. All Rights Reserved.
 
 
Connected:
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.5.0-64bit Production
With the Partitioning, Oracle Label Security, OLAP, Data Mining Scoring Engine
And Real Application Testing options
 
SQL> select SEQUENCE #, CREATOR from v $ archived_log order by SEQUENCE # desc;
 
SEQUENCE # CREATOR
-----------------
55 RMAN
55 ARCH
54 RMAN
54 ARCH
53 RMAN
53 ARCH
52 RMAN
52 ARCH
51 RMAN
51 ARCH
24 ARCH
 
SEQUENCE # CREATOR
-----------------
23 ARCH
22 ARCH
21 ARCH
20 ARCH
19 ARCH
18 ARCH
17 ARCH
16 ARCH
15 ARCH
14 ARCH
13 ARCH
 
SEQUENCE # CREATOR
-----------------
12 ARCH
11 ARCH
10 ARCH
9 ARCH
8 ARCH
7 ARCH
6 ARCH
5 FGRD
5 ARCH
4 ARCH
4 FGRD
 
SEQUENCE # CREATOR
-----------------
3 ARCH
3 FGRD
2 ARCH
1 ARCH
 
37 rows selected.
 
SQL>