Re: spfile vs pfile in 9i

Niall Litchfield wrote:
[...]

> In the case of the spfile, the fact that you can merrily stuff it up
> and then be unable to start the instance (because you can no longer
> edit the spfile) or correct the problem without restoring from backup
> is a rather large defect.
> Niall Litchfield

But it's not much effort to get the instance up even without restoring from backup (I've demonstrated it recently and I'm willing to repeat this until the message get's through) ;-)

1. create a init.ora with the first line containing spfile=path/yourspfile.ora
2. the rest of the init.ora are settings that correct the wrong ones in the spfile. Since only from the last occurence of a setting the value is taken, you can now get your instance up and running by startup open pfile=path/init.ora

Now you can 'alter system set .... scope=spfile' at your leisure.

The full story can be read in Tom Kyte's Effective Oracle or maybe even on asktom.

Cheers,
Holger Received on Tue Oct 26 2004 - 09:37:06 CDT