Oracle7 Server Administrator's Guide

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Using Parameter Files

The following sections include information about how to use parameter files:

To start an instance, Oracle7 must read a parameter file, which is a text file containing a list of instance configuration parameters. Often, although not always, this file is named INIT.ORA or INITsid.ORA, where sid is operating system-specific.

You can edit parameter values in a parameter file with a basic text editor; however, editing methods are operating system-specific.

Oracle7 treats string literals defined for National Language Support (NLS) parameters in the file as if they are in the database character set.

See Also: For more information about INITsid.ORA, see your operating system-specific Oracle documentation.

The Sample Parameter File

A sample parameter file (INIT.ORA or INITsid.ORA) is included in the Oracle7 distribution set. This sample file's parameters are adequate for initial installations of an Oracle7 database. After your system is operating and you have some experience with Oracle7, you will probably want to change some parameter values.

See Also: For more information about optimizing a database's performance using the parameter file, see the Oracle7 Server Tuning manual.

The Number of Parameter Files

Each Oracle7 database has at least one parameter file that corresponds only to that database. This way, database-specific parameters (such as DB_NAME and CONTROL_FILES) in a given file always pertain to a particular database. It is also possible to have several different parameter files for a single database. For example, you can have several different parameter files for a single database so you can optimize the database's performance in different situations.

The Location of the Parameter File in Distributed Environments

Server Manager must be able to read a database's parameter file to start a database's instance. Therefore, always store a database's parameter file on the computer executing Server Manager.

For example, in non-distributed processing installations, the same computer executes Oracle7 and Server Manager; therefore, this computer has the parameter file stored on one of its disk drives.

However, in distributed processing installations, local client workstations can execute Server Manager to administer a database stored on a remote machine. In this type of configuration, the local client machines must each store a copy of the parameter file for the corresponding databases.

See Also: For more information about using administering Oracle7 in a distributed environment, see Oracle7 Server Distributed Systems, Volume I.

For information concerning the setup and implementation of Server Manager, see your operating system-specific Oracle documentation.

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