RE: basic question about db_name and sid

First, it is true that you can have a different SID than your database name. This is usually not recommended because it causes a lot of confusion, but it is possible and there may be some reason out there to have them different. In that case I wouldn't be the one who can tell you why.

The SID is actually the "System Identifier" which is made up of Oracle's Memory and Processes. When you separate the two (SID / DB NAME) The DB NAME is the name of the collection of all of the physical files (ex. Datafiles, Redo log files, control files).

Technically, the component that find the database are the initSID.ora file. This is where the "Control File" parameters are specified. Then the Log file and Datafile definitions and locations are stored inside the Control file.

-Scott Stefick

>===== Original Message From ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com =====
>the "SID" is a string that identifies where to find the database.
>It is not necessarily the same as the database name.
>(here is the url from where i read this
>http://datavision.sourceforge.net/DataVision/create.html)
>
>first, is it true that sid need not be the same as the db name ?
>because in a typical oracle install you are asked to write "sid"
>and it actually becomes the db_name as well. right ?
>
>secondly what does this mean "sid is a string that identifies where
>to find the database" ?
>
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