Serilization error : ORA-08177

[Subhash Nambiar]

hi all
We r using
Server : weblogic 5.1 in a clustered environments having two nodes
DB : Oracle 8.1.5 in OPS
Im getting the frequent occurence of this error(ORA-08177) at a piece of code where the code is just executing the select query in a loop (no updates in that whole transaction) , row in the table which select query points to keep on changing as the loop progress.
But since db is shared it may be possible that the table is getting updated by other piece of application.
As far as i know oracle database by default permits optimistic locking and shouldnot give serialization error for a transaction which is just firing a select query though its isolation level set to serializable, as oracle puts no restriction on reading data by a transaction .Is there any possiblity ,except the sql updates ,that this ora-08177 can come.
And one more query if i made this particular transactions isolation level to read_commited is there any possibility of getting the serialization error in this process where no updates r taking place
Any clue will be appreciated.
thanks in advance .
Subhash

[Mark Spritzler]

I am not sure what will fix it exactly, but I found this.

Oracle Product Document Library (C) Oracle Corporation
Manual: Database Error Reference: A90202-02

ORA-08177 can't serialize access for this transaction
Cause: Encountered data changed by an operation that occurred after the start of this serializable transaction.
Action: In read/write transactions, retry the intended operation or transaction.

Mark