6 Configuring the Server Parameter File in Oracle Real Application Clusters Environments

6.2.1 Location of the Server Parameter File

The default location of the SPFILE when the database creates it from a PFILE is platform-dependent.

The default location of the server parameter file is:

$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/spfile$ORACLE_sid.ora 

The default location of the server parameter file is inappropriate for Oracle RAC databases and ASM instances if you use storage on a node, because all instances must use the same server parameter file.

Instead, Oracle recommends that you use a PFILE in this directory:

$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/init$ORACLE_sid.ora

This path is valid for each instance and it refers to a single, shared initialization parameter file. For example, if you use raw storage, then on a Linux or UNIX system, the file should contain an entry similar to the following:

SPFILE='/dev/vx/rdsk/oracle_dg/dbspfile'

However, if you use a cluster file system, then use the following file location:

On Linux and UNIX-based systems:

SPFILE='/shared_mount/dbname/spfiledbname.ora'

The variable shared_mount is the shared mount point, and the variable dbname is the database name.

If you use ASM, then the SPFILE value will be:

SPFILE='+disk_group_name/dbunique_name/spfiledbname.ora'

The variable dbunique_name is the unique database name, and the variable dbname is the database name.

You must use the same value of SPFILE so that all instances use the same server parameter file at startup.

To use DBCA to create your database, and to use the server parameter file, start DBCA. When the Initialization Parameters page appears, select Create server parameter file (SPFILE) under the File Locations tab. This option is visible only if you are using raw storage. When you have made this selection, then enter either a shared file system filename, or enter the raw device path name in the Server Parameters Filename field.

6.4.1 Server Parameter File Placement in Oracle RAC

For single-node cluster-enabled configurations, or if you are using ASM disk groups or a cluster file system, place the server parameter file in an ASM disk group or on a file system. Otherwise, place the server parameter file on a shared raw device that is at least 5 MB in size.

6.4.2 Procedures for Migrating to the Server Parameter File

Migrate to the SPFILE file by completing the following procedures:

1. Combine the initialization parameter files for all instances into one initdbname.ora file by copying all shared IFILE contents as is. All parameters defined in your IFILE parameter files are global. Therefore, create them in the format parameter=value, without SID prefixes.

2. Copy all instance-specific parameter definitions from initsid.ora files using the following syntax, where the variable sid is the SID of the instance:

   sid.parameter=value 
   

3. If you are using a cluster file system, then create the server parameter file using the CREATE SPFILE statement as in the following example:

   CREATE SPFILE='?/dbs/spfile_dbname.ora'
   FROM PFILE='?/dbs/initdbname.ora'
   

   If you use ASM, then use the following syntax to create the server parameter file:

   CREATE SPFILE='+disk_group_name/db_uniquename/spfiledbname.ora'
   FROM PFILE='?/dbs/initdbname.ora'
   

   If you use raw storage, then use the following syntax to create the server parameter file on a raw device:

   CREATE SPFILE='/dev/vx/rdsk/oracle_dg/dbspfile' 
   FROM PFILE='?/dbs/initdbname.ora'
   

   These statements read your combined initdbname.ora file that you created by merging your IFILEs, and then transfer the settings for the parameters from the merged file into your server parameter file.

4. Oracle recommends that you use the SPFILE by using the PFILE as a pointer to the SPFILE. Do this by running the STARTUP command as in the following example, where the SID variable sid in the file initsid.ora is the SID that you use in the SPFILE entry from Step 3. For example:

   STARTUP PFILE=$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/initsid.ora
   

   If you use this STARTUP command syntax, then Oracle Database uses the server parameter file entry specified in the file initsid.ora.

   Note:

   The SPFILE for the ASM instance cannot be stored in ASM, as it is used to start the ASM instance. You can place an ASM instance SPFILE on a shared raw device, or in a cluster file system for ASM; or you can use a traditional client-side parameter file for each ASM instance.