SUMMARY: RE: Max data file size on NTFS partition

I wanted to post a summary because maybe some of you have also run into problems with autoextent/max data file size on NT.

After a lot of hunting and gathering, I found that the 4GB limit is only on the FAT32 file system. We are running NTFS on Windows 2000 server, so it does not apply to us. According to Microsoft, individual file sizes can reach up around 2TB in size for a NTFS volume. The limit with within Oracle. Given our db block size of 8kb we can create files of up to 32GB with Oracle 8i 8.1.6.0 - Oracle 8i 8.1.6.3 (according to Oracle tech support).

So why was our database crashing? Our problem is a known bug (to everyone except me, apparently. Hey, I'm new) in Oracle 8i 8.1.6.0.0. The database crashes when data file extends or is resized onto a 4GB boundary. Disabling autoextend is the best solution since autoextend also creates massive fragmentation. Tech support feels we should have no problem manually resizing dbfs over the 4GB boundary. The bug isn't with the file size, but with autoextend.

For the meantime, I'll upgrade to the latest patch (should have anyway) set for Oracle 8i Standard 8.1.6.3.0 then to 8.1.6.3.8. The latest patch should fix most of the bugs we have encountered thus far and many we haven't. We should be able to produce files up to 32GB with the latest patch set.

That about sums it up, now onto patching fun....

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 2:27 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Thanks for replying Ed.
We did set disable AUTOEXTEND once we realized it was playing one of the "starring" roles in our problem. I opened TAR in Metalink and I'll post the answer when I get a response.

Thanks,
Ashley

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 12:47 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Hi Ashley,

Sorry, don't know exact answer, but the problem doesn't always come from OS side. There are *Oracle*
limits on some platforms. It seems you use AUTOEXTEND=ON for your files. If so then you may
encountered some bugs when your files had extended through size limits. At least there were some bugs in the past. I prefer disabling this option in order to get more
control over db and add files when needed. All files are of equal size.

Regards,
Ed

> Hello to all my most favorite DBAs...
>
> Yes, believe it or not, I checked the archives, Metalink and Oracle
> documentation, but all come up with a different answer to my question.
> What is the max data file size for an NTFS partition on Advanced
Server?
>
>
> I'm running Oracle 8i Release 2 8.1.6 Standard...soon to be
Enterprise.
> The Oracle 8i documentation states 80EB on an NTFS partition, but I've
> seen reference to 4GB limits everywhere else. Quite different,
wouldn't
> you say?
>
> The reason I'm asking the question is we keep running into errors. The
> most common were, write/open error block X invalid parameter passed
and
> unable to extend file X.
>
> I would appreciate any help. I'm new, so please be gentle...
>
> Ashley

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