Ora - 00088 error: command cannot be executed by shared server I get this error from the database when I run the query:

select status, error from v$archive_dest where dest_id=2;


It's a dataguard environment. I have never seen this problem before.

I'm not quite sure what this means or how it can be fixed.

What is generally the cause of this error?
Try adding (SERVICE=Dedicated) to your TNS entry on the client computer that you are using and then run your query again.

There could be other causes but this is the most common:  you are trying to access data using a shared connection when a dedicated connection is required.

Edit: Are there any other log or trace file entries when this error happens?