Database – Oracle physical standby database received redo has not been applied

Physical Standby is typically DRP-oriented. Its main advantages are:

• List item
• easier to setup
• support every data type
• faster apply

In 11g, you can easily utilize it for testing (snapshot standby). Also, if you license Active Data Guard option, you can use it for near real time reporting (under some limitations - the standby is readonly, but some workarounds are available - see Apendix B in the best practices paper). Active Data Guard also allows you to perform fast incremental backups on the DR site instead of the primary

Logical Standby was typically used to enable reporting on a standby. Its main advantages are:

• Standby is open for reporting without extra license.
• you can add indexes / MV specific for the standby
• you can add your own app shemas and your own updatable tables in the standby

So, for pure DRP, use physical. If you need read only access, decide based on these features. For example, check data type support, see if you need the faster apply performance, see if you are willing to license Active Data Guard (and upgrade to 11g if you are not there) etc.

Check out these links from the 11g Data Guard Concepts and Administration (you don't need Data Guard to be configured for these to be useful):

3.2.7 Verify the Physical Standby Database Is Performing Properly or 4.2.6 Verify the Logical Standby Database Is Performing Properly.

If you have Grid Control, it's even easier. There's a link under Maintenance that allows you to maintain your Data Guard configuration, including a graphical display of transport and apply lag times, last log received/applied, and other goodies.