My friend has asked this question today as he got the same in one his interview...
The common answer we give is from any base table as v$database (current_scn) is populated by any base table.
However the base table is $KCCDI under column DICUR_SCN is current SCN. you can find this by querying the v$database view code in dba_views.
Lets look
SQL> select current_scn from v$database; CURRENT_SCN ----------- 102707163 SQL> select DICKP_SCN,DICUR_SCN from X$KCCDI; DICKP_SCN DICUR_SCN ---------------- ---------------- 102711050 102711285 SQL> select current_scn from v$database; CURRENT_SCN ----------- 102711289 Note: DICKP_SCN is last checkpoint SCN, when the log switch happens then checkpoint will occur that SCN.
Further why this question has been asked I don't know, but this way we can find the interval of last checkpoint SCN as well. by DICKP_SCN - DICUR_SCN and then map to SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP.
-:)
Follow Me!!!