Shooting yourself in the spfile

From: Jonathan Gennick <jonathan_at_gennick.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 17:57:02 -0500
Message-ID: <8237078596.20040218175702@gennick.com>

I just went through an episode in which I changed a parameter setting using scope=spfile, attempted to bounce my instance, and found that I was hosed. Fortunately, I had an up-to-date text version of my parameter file (i.e. init.ora) that I was able to fall back on, and I easily used that to restart my instance. Now I have to recreate my server parameter file, because, having started my instance using init.ora, it won't let me change a parameter using scope=spfile. Arg!

All this has underscored the importance of backing myself up when it comes to parameter changes, and I'm wondering about best-practices. What do you all do to protect yourself here? I can think of two alternatives:

• Follow each successful spfile change by creation of a new, text-based (init.ora) parameter file, to use in case you muck up your spfile in the future.
• Make a copy of your binary spfile after each successful change, or before making a change, so that you can fall back by copying the last known-good spfile over the one you screwed up.

Are there any alternatives that I've missed here? What approach is best, and why? Right now, I lean towards keeping a current, text-based parameter file, because that gives you the flexibility to go in with vi and tweak a parameter. In fact, I wonder why the server parameter file can't be text-based. If I have to constantly make text-based backups to protect myself, why not just make the spfile text-based to begin with?

Best regards,

Jonathan Gennick --- Brighten the corner where you are http://Gennick.com * 906.387.1698 * mailto:jonathan@gennick.com

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Received on Wed Feb 18 2004 - 16:57:02 CST