RE: core_dump_dest = /dev/null?

Thanks Steve for the info.
Good to know.

Personally, I feel uncomfortable ignoring output files. I'd rather use a crontab entry to run a cleanup script of mount points than just leave something to develop worse problems.

I think I'll try to see with a couple of tests whether I can

1. leave out the directory altogether (see what happends on my dev box and where the trace files go)
2. point it to /dev/null and see if it doesn't want a directory instead like another person mentioned

why? because it got me thinking about it ;^) Thanks

        heidi

> Speaking of buffer overflows, Steve:
>
> I was reading an old article by Indra Lahiri(1996) on this subject at
> www.fors.com/orasupp/d2k/plus/2171_1.htm.
>
> Someday, I'll have to see whether his formula is still valid.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 7:44 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
> Hello Heidi,
>
> /dev/null is a device special file serviced by a VERY lightweight pseudo
> device driver.
> There is no risk of buffer overflows, hangs, system panics or the like.
>
> Regards,
> Steve Adams
> http://www.ixora.com.au/
> http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/orinternals/
> http://www.christianity.net.au/
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Heidi E. Schmidt [SMTP:heidi_at_cybercom.net]
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 11:38 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: Re: core_dump_dest = /dev/null?
>
>
> > Here's an interesting thought - since Oracle very rarely wants the core
> > dump files, and since they can consume a lot of space unless you
> > routinely clean them up, is there any disadvantage to setting the
> > core_dump_dest parameter to /dev/null? Has anyone actually tried this?
> > Seems like it should work...
>
> Well, /dev/null isn't exactly the garbage bin of the universe.
> It is more like a buffer.
>
> You can put alot into it, but it can play havoc on your system.
> Especially is there is are occuring error that streams constantly to the
> buffer. It can cause your machine to hang or reboot.
>
> My advice is that you can use it for small things but
> avoid dumping large amounts of data to /dev/null
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Author: Heidi E. Schmidt
> INET: heidi_at_cybercom.net
>
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 -%---%---%---%----%----%----%----%---%----%---%----%----%----%----%---%---%--  "What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out,

	 which is the exact opposite."
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