Step by step approach

It is important to describe the problem as best as possible. 
What is the problem you need to solve? Do not strictly concentrate on symptoms, but also define the goal to be achieved. You can come back to this after Solutions are identified and confirm that you have solved the issue.

The log location may vary but they are typicallyfound in a directory below this one:
u01/oracle/cfgtoollogs

WHAT IS the problem we are looking at?

DBCA is a GUI tool and generally the problems are reported while creating database using DBCA or managing database using DBCA.

Examples of problem descriptions:

* ORA-19870 when creating database via DBCA
* ORA-01501 when creating database via DBCA
* ORA-00119 when creating database via DBCA

DESCRIBE THE ISSUE

When you have a starting problem description it is time to collect facts in a structured way. 
First step would be to get an overview of all the facts we have. What information do we have readily available?

What is the problem / what is not a problem?

What are the symptoms?
What are the different errors generated?
What 5-digit version of Oracle software reproduces the problem?
What 5-digit version of Oracle software works? (if any)
(For Windows platform confirm patch number bundle used)

When is the problem seen / when is the problem not seen?

Is the problem constant?
Is the problem reported intermittently?
Is there any pattern to the failure?
What resolves the problem?
Has this ever worked or is this a fresh installation / setup?

Where is the problem / Where is the problem not?

* What changes happened around time the first failure / problem was reported?
* Is new software installed?
* Is an upgrade of the server done?
* Any new Patches applied to the client or server Oracle_Home?

While searching for potential solutions on My Oracle Support, for more refined search results use error specific keywords. For e.g searching for problem - DBCA failing with "java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no OsUtils in shared library path" error, use search keywords as 'DBCA UnsatisfiedLinkError OsUtils'. Avoid using generic error codes for the search.

 

A brief description of the corrective actions that will remove the cause of the problem: in some cases there is only one solution linked to the cause. But in many cases, there are more.

Examples:

* Try using different default template for creating database. 

* Install a patch to remove the bug from the system, avoid the problem by using alternatives / workaround. For example in critical situation if you are not able to create database using DBCA try using manual method of creating database.

 --- SR Creation ---

If you are blocked in the resolution process of your problem it is best to log a Service Request (SR). 

When logging a SR please provide all the information you collected in the previous steps. The support engineer serving you will follow a very similar approach to come to the resolution of your problem. The more detailed you can describe the problem by using your issue clarification and verification, the better we will be able to solve you.

--- Diagnostic Tools ---

note.428118.1Tracing DBCA

Note.428118.1 How to enable Java code tracing for DBUA, DBCA and NETCA?
Note 188134.1 Tracing the Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA)
Note 859016.1 How does DBCA (Database Configuration Assistant) connect to the database?

Basic Checks

Note 111796.1 How to Resolve Database Creation Assistant (DBCA) Errors
Note 333467.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) Errors with TNS-04404
Note 404075.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) reports ORA-12547 creating a new database on Linux
Note 388488.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) is Failing With ORA-01034.
Note 345038.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) Reports The Error `java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no OsUtils in shared library path`
Note 786372.1 DBCA fails to Launch, Errors With UnsatisfiedLinkError Exception Loading Native Library: NLDAPJ11
Note 460695.1 DBCA Fails with "Exception In Thread "Main" Java.Lang.Noclassdeffounderror: oracle/sysman/oip/oipc/oipch/OipchKernelProperty"
Note 159324.1 ORA-1092 Instance Terminated When Creating A Database Via DBCA
Note 289879.1 Create Database Fails With Ora-00058 Blocksize Must Be 8k
Note 747243.1 ORA-12560 - Database Creation Assistant (DBCA) Fails With TNS Error
Note 444811.1 ORA-09925 When Using DBCA Template
Note 847784.1 How to change DB_BLOCK_SIZE while creating database using DBCA?

Note 1609516.1 DBCA does not Recognize Database if it is Created With RMAN

Note 1590570.1 CONTAINER DATABASE creation using DBCA no option to uncheck the database components

OpenVMS specific issues

Note 247901.1 How to Generate Database Creation Scripts Using DBCA on OpenVMS
Note 226184.1 DBCA tips for Oracle RDBMS 9.2.X on OpenVMS
Note 391598.1 DBCA tips for Oracle RDBMS 10.2.X on OpenVMS

DBCA with ASM

Note 468941.1 Could Not Access Asm In Dbca To Create New Database
Note 403644.1 How to get the DBCA to see an ASM instance without the standard +ASM instance name?
Note 744237.1 DBCA in Silent mode with ASM

Note 1177483.1 - DBCA Does Not Display ASM Disk Groups In 11.2

DBCA Templates

Note 148676.1 DBCA Templates
Note 456631.1 Altering an Existing DBCA Template using the Same Template Name
Note 387598.1 DBCA Cannot Find Template Files ORA-19870
Note 404292.1 Unable To Supply Variable To Dbca Template In Silent Mode

Generic

Note 454631.1 11g DBCA New features / Enhancements