rman creates spfile, but pfile created from it has 0 kb

From: Big George <jbeteta_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:55:04 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <f1eb3667-92b5-436d-9de2-7d3e7c2998ea_at_g38g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>

Hello,
Oracle 10g, Windows Server 2003.
I create a spfile with RMAN:

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RMAN> BACKUP SPFILE format 'C:\spfile.ora';

Starting backup at 20-APR-12
using target database controlfile instead of recovery catalog allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1

channel ORA_DISK_1: sid=492 devtype=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backupset
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset

including current SPFILE in backupset
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 20-APR-12 channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 20-APR-12 piece handle=C:\SPFILE.ORA comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:02 Finished backup at 20-APR-12

Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 20-APR-12 piece handle=\\192.168.1.149\G$\JNESRV4-ARCLOGS\MTDPROD\RMAN \C-2169285856-201204
20-04 comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 20-APR-12

---

Strange thing is that C:\spfile.ora created is 96 Kb, when original spfile.ora is 4 kb.

Now I try to create pfile.ora (init.ora) from sql plus:

SQL> connect sys/**** as sysdba
Connected.
SQL> CREATE PFILE='C:\pfile.ora' from SPFILE='C:\spfile.ORA';

File created.

SQL> Strange thing is that C:\pfile.ora created is 0 kb !! What is happening? Received on Fri Apr 20 2012 - 17:55:04 CDT