RE: Shooting yourself in the spfile

From: <k.sriramkumar_at_iflexsolutions.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 10:26:39 +0530
Message-ID: <10898BE7CA96D611988B000802255AAF05205971@fmgrt>

Hi Jonathan,

We are using rman to backup spfile. In case of a problem we can restore = the previous version of the spfile from RMAN. Sofar we have been using = this approach and its going fine ( we have restored the spfile on a few = occasions). Would like to know if listers are following a RMAN approach. =

The other alternative being a version control software(RCS/PVCS) on = the spfile and treating the spfile as a program unit. Any thoughts on = this?

Best Regards

Sriram Kumar

-----Original Message-----

From: Jonathan Gennick [mailto:jonathan_at_gennick.com]=20 Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 4:27 AM To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
Subject: Shooting yourself in the spfile

I just went through an episode in which I changed a parameter setting using scope=3Dspfile, 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=3Dspfile. 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 - 22:56:39 CST