Is it possible not to create any files in $ORACLE_HOME/dbs directory?

I am using Oracle 9i on HP UNIX. We have an environment in which installation is
done using a different login than the "oracle" login which will create database instance and will do dba work. I want to know is there any env variable one
can set so files which are created in dbs can be created elsewhere. Assume my ORACLE_SID=test.

1. Is it possible to create file lkTEST in some other directory. If this file cannot be created, will database instance creation fail.
2. Is it possible to create orapwTEST in another directory, i.e., know Oracle provides orapwd with file option, but I have seen problems where creating password file outside dbs directory.
3. I know inittest.ora and spfiletest.ora can be created outside dbs.

4.There may be other files as well such as snapshot control file ( that can be created elsewhere).

Prem Received on Thu Sep 09 2004 - 09:15:27 CDT