Re: cold backups

On Wed, 2 Dec 1998 12:14:25 -0500, "Joe gulla" <jgulla_at_erols.com> wrote:

> While trying to restore cold backups to another machine, I
>ran into some trouble starting up the database . Oracle could'nt find the
>pwdorcl.ora file.

You can recreate this file using the ORAPWD utility. Type ORAPWD on the command line, and you should get a very brief description of how to use the command.

> Come to find out, it is a hidden file in the NT environment
>and was neccessary for instance startup.

Is it really "hidden"? I have several instances on NT, and all of the password files are clearly visible through Windows Explorer, and also when we issue the DIR command from DOS.

> Does anyone know if this component is documented anywhere and what its
>function is?

It is documented. The Oracle Concepts Manual has a section on the password file. You should also have a small NT specific manual (Getting Started with Oracle on NT I think) that talks about the NT specific details of using this file.

> Is this pertinent to NT only or is there a VMS or UNIX
>equivelent??

It can be used on VMS and UNIX, though it may be more prevelant on NT. I use password files with my NT instances so that I can connect remotely using Server Manager and startup/shutdown the instances. The password file is used to validate me as a DBA when I connect remotely. With UNIX I just telnet in, so I don't need the password file in that environment.

Jonathan Received on Sat Dec 05 1998 - 22:15:12 CST