Correction...
Further testing showed that the /dev/null *file* will be accepted as a
valid destination *directory* for dumps in 8i databases. The database will
start fine, and will show /dev/null as dump dest in v$parameter. My test
dbs, ver 7.3.4.3 and 8.0.6 did not even startup. So, in 8.1.6 database, I
set user dump dest to /dev/null. The db started fine. No problems generating
sql trace files either. Except all those were put under
$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/log and were not sent to /dev/null.
I think core dumps will also end up in $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/log as well.... So
this idea won't work....
Looks like 8i completely ignores these setting until it's time to use them.
And when found invalid, defaults to $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/log directory. I was
able to startup 8.1.6 db with totally invalid directory name (/junky) and it
still started..and dumped in ?/rdbms/log...
- Kirti
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Deshpande, Kirti
> Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 10:47 AM
> To: 'ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com'
> Subject: RE: core_dump_dest = /dev/null?
>
> Remember, when Oracle dumps core, it will create a file under the dump
> directory, And /dev/null is not a directory. So you will get ORA-443 (PMON
> not started) and ORA-9924 (directory not created properly) errors if dump
> directories settings are pointed to non-directory files. Just try it on
> you test db.
> So, /dev/null may be a good idea but you won't be able to startup the
> database !!!
> - Kirti
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gilles PARC [SMTP:gparc_at_online.fr]
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 6:56 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: Re: core_dump_dest = /dev/null?
>
> At 05:38 25/05/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> >
> >> Here's an interesting thought - since Oracle very rarely wants
> the core
> >> dump files, and since they can consume a lot of space unless you
> >> routinely clean them up, is there any disadvantage to setting the
> >> core_dump_dest parameter to /dev/null? Has anyone actually tried
> this?
> >> Seems like it should work...
> >
>
> Core_dump_dest is supposed to point to a directory so
> /dev/null will probably not work.
>
> HTH
>
> Gilles Parc
> Email : gparc_at_mail.dotcom.fr
Received on Fri May 26 2000 - 13:14:03 CDT
