RE: Why DB_Name 4 chars only.

>
> What is the reason behind DB_Name/SID usually 4 chars
> length only. I have a customer who is asking us to
> create instance/db with 6 chars length. We usually
> keep instance name and db_name parameters same in .ora
> file. Can someone please explain the reason behind
> db_name 4 chars only. Is it a common practice to keep
> SID/db_name/instance name parameters same (for example
> PBDS).
>

Only a limitation on NT. We use up to 8 characters for UNIX.

>From Metalink doc 48681.1:

"The SID should consist of four or fewer alphanumeric characters. This is to avoid problems with filename length restrictions on some platforms, e.g. the 8.3 restriction on DOS, which is still present on NT if using DOS-style names (which Oracle requires). So the initialization file for a database called ORCL will be called initORCL.ora, representing the longest possible filename."

HTH,
Dan Straub
McKesson Information Solutions
541-681-8278
44°03'N 123°05'W (or thereabouts)
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