ALTER SYSTEM ARCHIVE LOG CURRENT and CHECKPOINT

Question: Will "alter system archive log current" trigger checkpoint?
Answer: It will only trigger a checkpoint when active redo log group to be overwritten due to circular fashion. In other words, "alter system archive log current" may trigger checkpoint, but not always.

SQL> alter system archive log current;

System altered.

SQL> select first_time,first_change#,sequence#,status from v$log;

FIRST_TIME           FIRST_CHANGE#  SEQUENCE# STATUS
-------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------
2010-FEB-07 09:49:28       2184453         43 INACTIVE
2010-FEB-07 10:41:46       2205034         44 ACTIVE
2010-FEB-07 10:50:38       2205435         45 CURRENT

SQL> select checkpoint_change#,checkpoint_time from v$datafile_header;

CHECKPOINT_CHANGE# CHECKPOINT_TIME
------------------ --------------------
           2205034 2010-FEB-07 10:41:46
           2205034 2010-FEB-07 10:41:46
           2205034 2010-FEB-07 10:41:46
           2205034 2010-FEB-07 10:41:46
           2205034 2010-FEB-07 10:41:46

SQL> alter system archive log current;

System altered.

SQL> select first_time,first_change#,sequence#,status from v$log;

FIRST_TIME           FIRST_CHANGE#  SEQUENCE# STATUS
-------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------
2010-FEB-07 10:51:33       2205466         46 CURRENT
2010-FEB-07 10:41:46       2205034         44 ACTIVE
2010-FEB-07 10:50:38       2205435         45 ACTIVE

SQL> alter system archive log current;

System altered.

SQL> select checkpoint_change#,checkpoint_time from v$datafile_header;

CHECKPOINT_CHANGE# CHECKPOINT_TIME
------------------ --------------------
           2205435 2010-FEB-07 10:50:38
           2205435 2010-FEB-07 10:50:38
           2205435 2010-FEB-07 10:50:38
           2205435 2010-FEB-07 10:50:38
           2205435 2010-FEB-07 10:50:38