INITORA File

                          INITORA File

PARAMETER                       DESCRIPTION

  ------------------------------  -------------------------------------

   ACTIVE_INSTANCE_COUNT  = int   Active instances in the cluster

   AQ_TM_PROCESSES = int          Number of AQ Time Managers to start

   ARCHIVE_LAG_TARGET = int       Max no. seconds of redos the standby could lose

   asm_diskgroups = string        Disk groups to mount automatically

   asm_diskstring = string        Disk set locations for discovery

   asm_power_limit = int          Number of processes for disk rebalancing

   AUDIT_FILE_DEST = 'directory'  Directory in which auditing files are to reside

   AUDIT_SYS_OPERATIONS = {TRUE|FALSE}

   AUDIT_TRAIL = {NONE | FALSE | DB | TRUE | OS} Enable system auditing 9i

   AUDIT_TRAIL = {NONE | DB | DB_EXTENDED| OS} Enable system auditing 10g

   BACKGROUND_CORE_DUMP = {PARTIAL | FULL} 

   BACKGROUND_DUMP_DEST = 'path or directory'

   BACKUP_TAPE_IO_SLAVES = {TRUE | FALSE} DEFERRED

   BITMAP_MERGE_AREA_SIZE = int   Memory for BITMAP MERGE

   BLANK_TRIMMING  = {TRUE|FALSE}

   CIRCUITS = int

   CLUSTER_DATABASE = {TRUE|FALSE}    If TRUE startup in cluster database mode

   CLUSTER_DATABASE_INSTANCES = int

   CLUSTER_INTERCONNECTS  = ipaddr [:ipaddr...] Interconnects for RAC use 

   COMMIT_POINT_STRENGTH = int

   COMPATIBLE = release_number     [CHAR: 9.2.0.0.0]

   CONSTRAINT[S] = { IMMEDIATE | DEFERRED | DEFAULT } 

   CONTROL_FILE_RECORD_KEEP_TIME = int   Time in Days

   CONTROL_FILES =filename [,filename [...] ] 

   CORE_DUMP_DEST = 'text'

   CPU_COUNT = int

   CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE = int

   CREATE_STORED_OUTLINES = {TRUE | FALSE | 'category_name' } [NOOVERRIDE]

   CURSOR_SHARING = {SIMILAR | EXACT | FORCE}

   CURSOR_SPACE_FOR_TIME = {TRUE|FALSE}

   CURRENT_SCHEMA = schema        Change the current schema of the session

   DB_2k_cache_size = int bytes         Size of cache for 2K buffers

   DB_4k_cache_size = int bytes         Size of cache for 4K buffers 

   DB_8k_cache_size = int bytes         Size of cache for 8K buffers

   DB_16k_cache_size = int bytes        Size of cache for 16K buffers

   DB_32k_cache_size = int bytes        Size of cache for 32K buffers

   DB_BLOCK_BUFFERS = int Deprecated in favour of DB_CACHE_ SIZE

   DB_BLOCK_CHECKING = {TRUE | FALSE} DEFERRED

   DB_BLOCK_CHECKSUM = {TRUE | FALSE}

   DB_BLOCK_SIZE = int  [bytes] Do not alter after db creation

   DB_CACHE_ADVICE = {ON | READY | OFF}

   DB_CACHE_SIZE = int [bytes]

   DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST = directory

   DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n = directory  (where n = 1-5)

                             Default locn for Oracle-managed control files and online redo logs.

   DB_DOMAIN = domain_name   Directory part of global database name

   DB_FILE_MULTIBLOCK_READ_COUNT = int

   DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT = [(]'dbfile1' , 'dbfile2'...[)] 

                          Datafile name convert patterns and strings

                          for standby/clone db [old string, new string]

   DB_FILES = int

   db_flashback_retention_target = int   Max Flashback Database log retention (minutes)

   DB_KEEP_CACHE_SIZE  = int [bytes]

   DB_NAME = database_name

   db_recovery_file_dest = string    Default database recovery file location

   db_recovery_file_dest_size = int  Database recovery files size limit

   DB_RECYCLE_CACHE_SIZE = int [bytes]

   db_unique_name = string           Database Unique Name

   DB_WRITER_PROCESSES = int         Number of background database writer

                                     processes to start

   DBLINK_ENCRYPT_LOGIN = {TRUE|FALSE}  Enforce password encryption for distributed login

   DBWR_IO_SLAVES = int

   DDL_WAIT_FOR_LOCKS = {TRUE|FALSE}  Disable NOWAIT DML lock acquisitions 

   DG_BROKER_CONFIG_FILEn = filename  (where n = 1 or 2)

   DG_BROKER_START = {TRUE|FALSE}

   DISK_ASYNCH_IO = {TRUE|FALSE}

   DISPATCHERS = 'dispatch_clause' (see SQL ref manual for detail)(MTS_Dispatchers in Ora 8/9)

   DISTRIBUTED_LOCK_TIMEOUT = int

   DML_LOCKS = int            One for each table modified in a transaction  

   DRS_START = {TRUE|FALSE}   Start DG Broker monitor (DMON process)

   ERROR_ON_OVERLAP_TIME = {TRUE | FALSE}

   ENQUEUE_RESOURCES = int    Resources for enqueues

   EVENT = debug_string       Debug event control

   FAL_CLIENT = string        Fetch archive log Client

   FAL_SERVER = string        Fetch archive log Server

   FAST_START_IO_TARGET = int     Upper bound on recovery reads(Deprecated) 

   FAST_START_MTTR_TARGET = int

   FAST_START_PARALLEL_ROLLBACK = {FALSE | LOW | HIGH}

                                  Max number of parallel recovery slaves

   FILE_MAPPING = {TRUE|FALSE}

   FILEIO_NETWORK_ADAPTERS = char      Network Adapters for File I/O

   FILESYSTEMIO_OPTIONS = {none | setall | directIO | asynch}

   FIXED_DATE = {'YYYY_MM_DD_HH24_MI-SS' | 'date in default format'}

Fix SYSDATE value for debugging

   GC_FILES_TO_LOCKS = '{file_list=lock_count[!blocks][EACH][:...]}' 

                                  RAC/OPS - lock granularity number of 

                                  global cache locks per file (DFS)

   GCS_SERVER_PROCESSES = int     Number of background gcs server processes to start

   GLOBAL_CONTEXT_POOL_SIZE = {1 MB | int MB}

   GLOBAL_NAMES = {TRUE | FALSE}  Enforce that database links have same

                                  name as remote database

   HASH_AREA_SIZE = int        Size of in-memory hash work area (Shared Server)

   HASH_JOIN_ENABLED = {TRUE|FALSE}

   HI_SHARED_MEMORY_ADDRESS = int    SGA starting address (high order 32-bits

                                     on 64-bit platforms)

   HS_AUTOREGISTER = {TRUE | FALSE}  Enable automatic server DD updates in HS

                                     agent self-registration

   IFILE = parameter_file_name       Include file in init.ora

   INSTANCE = int                    Connect to a different RAC instance

   INSTANCE_GROUPS = group_name [,group_name ... ] 

   INSTANCE_NAME = instance_id 

   INSTANCE_NUMBER = int

   INSTANCE_TYPE = {RDBMS|ASM}    Type of instance to be executed

                                  RDBMS or Automated Storage Management

   ISOLATION_LEVEL = {SERIALIZABLE | READ COMMITTED}

   JAVA_MAX_SESSIONSPACE_SIZE = int [bytes]

   JAVA_POOL_SIZE = int [bytes]

   JAVA_SOFT_SESSIONSPACE_LIMIT = int

   JOB_QUEUE_PROCESSES = int

   LARGE_POOL_SIZE = int [bytes] 

   LICENSE_MAX_SESSIONS = int    Maximum number of non-system user sessions

                                 (concurrent licensing)

   LICENSE_MAX_USERS = int       Maximum number of named users that can be created

                                 (named user licensing)

   LICENSE_SESSIONS_WARNING = int Warning level for number of non-system

                                  user sessions 

   LOCAL_LISTENER = network_name  Define which listeners instances register with

   LOCK_NAME_SPACE = namespace    Used for generating lock names for standby/primary database 

                                  assign each a unique name space

   LOCK_SGA = {TRUE | FALSE}

   LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG = [SEND|NOSEND] [RECEIVE|NORECEIVE] [ DG_CONFIG]                       

   LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST = string

   LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n = {null_string | 

      {LOCATION=local_pathname | SERVICE=tnsnames_service} 

          [MANDATORY | OPTIONAL] [REOPEN[=integer]]} 

   LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_n = {ENABLE | DEFER}   (n = 1-10)

   LOG_ARCHIVE_DUPLEX_DEST = string

   LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT = string    [CHAR: "MyApp%S.ARC"]

   LOG_ARCHIVE_LOCAL_FIRST = {TRUE|FALSE}    Establish EXPEDITE attribute default value 

   LOG_ARCHIVE_MAX_PROCESSES = int

   LOG_ARCHIVE_MIN_SUCCEED_DEST = int   Minimum number of archive destinations

                                        that must succeed

   LOG_ARCHIVE_START = {TRUE | FALSE}

   LOG_ARCHIVE_TRACE = int            Tracing level for Archive logs

   LOG_BUFFER = int bytes             Redo circular buffer size

   LOG_CHECKPOINT_INTERVAL = int      Checkpoint threshold, # redo blocks

   LOG_CHECKPOINT_TIMEOUT = int       Checkpoint threshold, maximum time interval between

                                      checkpoints in seconds

   LOG_CHECKPOINTS_TO_ALERT = {TRUE|FALSE}    Log checkpoint begin/end to alert file 

   LOG_FILE_NAME_CONVERT = ['old string','new string']

                                    Convert patterns/strings for standby/clone db 

   LOG_PARALLELISM = int           Number of log buffer strands 

   LOGMNR_MAX_PERSISTENT_SESSIONS = int  Maximum no of threads to mine

   MAX_DISPATCHERS = int         Max number of dispatchers

   MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE = {size bytes|UNLIMITED} [DEFERRED]

   MAX_ENABLED_ROLES = int       Max number of roles a user can have enabled 

   MAX_ROLLBACK_SEGMENTS = int   Max number of rollback segments in SGA cache

   MAX_SHARED_SERVERS = int      Max number of shared servers]

   mts_circuits = int        Max number of circuits (10g see CIRCUITS) 

   mts_dispatchers           Specifications of dispatchers (10g see DISPATCHERS)

   MTS_LISTENER_ADDRESS      Address(es) of network listener [CHAR]

   mts_max_dispatchers       Max number of dispatchers (10g see MAX_DISPATCHERS)

   mts_max_servers           Max number of shared servers (10g see MAX_SHARED_SERVERS)

   MTS_MULTIPLE_LISTENERS = {TRUE|FALSE}   Are multiple listeners enabled?

   MTS_SERVERS = int         Number of shared servers to start up [NUMBER]

   mts_service = string      Service supported by dispatchers [CHAR]

   mts_sessions = int        max number of shared server sessions [NUMBER]

   nls_calendar ='string'      NLS calendar system name (Default=GREGORIAN)

   nls_comp = {BINARY | ANSI}  NLS comparison, Enterprise Edition 

   nls_currency ='string'      NLS local currency symbol

   nls_date_format ='format'   NLS Oracle date format

   nls_date_language =language NLS date language name (Default=AMERICAN)]

   nls_dual_currency = currency_symbol

   nls_iso_currency = territory    Override the default set by NLS_TERRITORY

   nls_language = language         NLS language name (session default)

   nls_length_semantics = {BYTE|CHAR}}  Default when creating new columns 

   nls_nchar_conv_excp = {TRUE|FALSE}  Raise an exception instead of

                                       allowing an implicit conversion

   nls_numeric_characters ="decimal_character group_separator"

   nls_sort = {BINARY |linguistic_def}     Case-sensitive or insensitive sort

                                  linguistic_def may be BINARY, BINARY_CI, BINARY_AI,

                                  GERMAN, GERMAN_CI, etc

   nls_territory = territory          Territory name (country settings)

   nls_time_format =time_format       Time format 

   nls_time_tz_format = time_format   Time with timezone format 

   nls_timestamp_format = time_format     Timestamp format 

   nls_timestamp_tz_format = time_format  Timestamp with timezone format 

   O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY = {TRUE | FALSE}   Allow Dictionary Access (as in Ora V7 )

   OBJECT_CACHE_MAX_SIZE_PERCENT = int DEFERRED   Space for application objects Max

   OBJECT_CACHE_OPTIMAL_SIZE = int DEFERRED       Space for application objects Min

   OLAP_PAGE_POOL_SIZE =int bytes

   OPEN_CURSORS = int              Max # cursors per session 

   OPEN_LINKS = int                Max # open links per Session 

   OPEN_LINKS_PER_INSTANCE = int   Max # open links per instance 

   OPTIMIZER_DYNAMIC_SAMPLING = int

   OPTIMIZER_FEATURES_ENABLE = {8.0.0|8.0.3|8.0.4|8.0.5|8.0.6|8.0.7|8.1.0|8.1.3|8.1.4|8.1.5|8.1.6|8.1.7|9.0.0|9.0.1|9.2.0}

                               Configure qry optimiser based on an Oracle release No.

   OPTIMIZER_INDEX_CACHING = int     Percent to cache (favour nested loop joins & IN-list)

   OPTIMIZER_INDEX_COST_ADJ = int    Adjust the cost of index vs FTS

   OPTIMIZER_MAX_PERMUTATIONS = int  Max join permutations per qry block

   OPTIMIZER_MODE = [RULE | CHOOSE | FIRST_ROWS | ALL_ROWS]

   oracle_trace_collection_name =collection   Name for use by Oracle TRACE 

   oracle_trace_collection_path =path         Path to .cdf & .dat files (ORACLE_HOME/otrace/admin/cdf)

   oracle_trace_collection_size =int bytes    Max trace file size 

   oracle_trace_enable = {TRUE|FALSE}         Enable Oracle Trace

   oracle_trace_facility_name ={ORACLED | ORACLEE | ORACLESM | ORACLEC}    TRACE event set

   oracle_trace_facility_path =path           TRACE definition files:  ORACLE_HOME/otrace/admin/fdf/ 

   OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX = prefix                 Prefix for auto-logon accounts [string]

   OS_ROLES = {TRUE|FALSE}                    Retrieve roles from the operating system

   PARALLEL_ADAPTIVE_MULTI_USER = {TRUE | FALSE}  Tune degree of parallelism 

   PARALLEL_AUTOMATIC_TUNING = {TRUE|FALSE}       Automatic tuning

   PARALLEL_EXECUTION_MESSAGE_SIZE = int bytes    Message buffer size

   PARALLEL_INSTANCE_GROUP = 'group'              RAC: Limit instances used

   PARALLEL_MAX_SERVERS = int

   PARALLEL_MIN_PERCENT = int                Min percent of threads required for

                                             parallel query

   PARALLEL_MIN_SERVERS = int

   PARALLEL_SERVER = [TRUE | FALSE]          Startup in parallel server mode 

   PARALLEL_SERVER_instances = int           No. of instances (used for sizing SGA)

   PARALLEL_THREADS_PER_CPU = int

   PARTITION_VIEW_ENABLED = {TRUE|FALSE}     Deprecated (use partition TABLES)

   PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET = int bytes          Automatically size the SQL working area

   plsql_code_type ={INTERPRETED | NATIVE}   Code-type

   PLSQL_COMPILER_FLAGS = { [DEBUG | NON_DEBUG] [INTERPRETED | NATIVE] } 

   plsql_debug ={TRUE | FALSE}

   plsql_native_c_compiler

   plsql_native_library_dir = ['Path_to_directory']

   plsql_native_library_subdir_count = int

   plsql_native_linker =path             Path to linker

   plsql_native_make_file_name =path     Pathname of make file

   plsql_native_make_utility =path       Pathname of make utility

   plsql_optimize_level                  Optimize level 

   PLSQL_V2_COMPATIBILITY = {TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED]

   plsql_warnings =string                Compiler warnings settings 

                                  See also DBMS_WARNING and DBA_PLSQL_OBJECT_SETTINGS 

   PRE_PAGE_SGA = {TRUE|FALSE}           Pre-page sga for process

   PROCESSES = int                       User processes

   QUERY_REWRITE_ENABLED = {FORCE | TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED | NOOVERRIDE]

   QUERY_REWRITE_INTEGRITY = {ENFORCED | TRUSTED | STALE_TOLERATED}

   RDBMS_SERVER_DN = Distinguished Name

   READ_ONLY_OPEN_DELAYED = {TRUE | FALSE}   Delay opening read_only files until first access

   RECOVERY_PARALLELISM = int    Server processes to use for parallel recovery

   REMOTE_ARCHIVE_ENABLE = [RECEIVE[,SEND] | FALSE | TRUE]

                                 Enable or disable sending archived redo logs to/from remote destinations 

   REMOTE_DEPENDENCIES_MODE = {TIMESTAMP | SIGNATURE}

                                 Remote-procedure-call dependencies mode

   REMOTE_LISTENER =network_name

   REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE ={NONE | SHARED | EXCLUSIVE}    Use a password file  

   REMOTE_OS_AUTHENT = {TRUE | FALSE}    Allow non-secure remote clients to use

                                         auto-logon accounts 

   REMOTE_OS_ROLES = {TRUE | FALSE}      Allow non-secure remote clients to use os roles

   REPLICATION_DEPENDENCY_TRACKING = {TRUE | FALSE}

   RESOURCE_LIMIT = {TRUE | FALSE}       Master switch for resource limit

   RESOURCE_MANAGER_PLAN = plan_name     Turn on Resource Manager plan

   resumable_timeout =seconds            Set resumable_timeout 

   ROLLBACK_SEGMENTS = (rbs1 [, rbs2] ... )

   ROW_LOCKING = [ALWAYS | DEFAULT | INTENT]

   SERIAL_REUSE =    {DISABLE | SELECT | DML | PLSQL | ALL}   Cursor memmory management

   SERVICE_NAMES = db_service_name [,db_service_name [,...] ] 

   SESSION_CACHED_CURSORS = int          Session cursors to cache 

   SESSION_MAX_OPEN_FILES = int          Max no. of BFiles (LOB) each session can open 

   SESSIONS = int                        Max no. of user and system sessions

   SGA_MAX_SIZE =int bytes               Initial SGA size

   sga_target = int bytes                 Target size of SGA

   SHADOW_CORE_DUMP = {PARTIAL | FULL | NONE}  Include SGA in core file

   SHARED_MEMORY_ADDRESS = int                 SGA starting address (platform specific) 

   SHARED_POOL_RESERVED_SIZE = int bytes       Reserved area of shared pool

   SHARED_POOL_SIZE = int         Size of shared pool 

   SHARED_SERVERS = int           Number of shared servers to start up (MTS)

   SHARED_SERVER_SESSIONS = int   Max number of shared server sessions

   SKIP_UNUSABLE_INDEXES  = {TRUE | FALSE}

   smtp_out_server = server_clause               utl_smtp server and port configuration parameter

   SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE =int bytes [DEFERRED]   UGA Memory to retain (Shared Server)

   SORT_AREA_SIZE = int bytes [DEFERRED]           In-memory sort work area (Shared Server)

   SORT_MULTIBLOCK_READ_COUNT     Obsolete in 9i

   SPFILE =spfile_name            Parameter file 

   sp_name =name                  Service Provider Name

   SQL92_SECURITY  = {TRUE | FALSE}     Require select privilege for update/delete

   SQL_TRACE = {TRUE | FALSE}           Enable SQL trace

   sqltune_category =category           Qualifier for applying hintsets 

   SQL_VERSION =version                 Sql language version, for compatibility

   STANDBY_ARCHIVE_DEST = 'filespec'    Standby database archivelog destination

   STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT = {MANUAL | AUTO}

                                        Automate file mmanagement on standby DB

   STAR_TRANSFORMATION_ENABLED = {TEMP_DISABLE | TRUE | FALSE}

   STATISTICS_LEVEL = {ALL | TYPICAL | BASIC}        Collect Statistics

   streams_pool_size = int bytes        Size of the streams pool

   TAPE_ASYNCH_IO = {TRUE | FALSE}      Allow I/O requests to tape devices at the same time as CPU processing

   THREAD =int                          Redo thread to use (RAC)

   TIMED_OS_STATISTICS = int            Gather OS statistics every x seconds

   TIMED_STATISTICS = {TRUE | FALSE}    Collect time statistics 

   TIME_ZONE =  '[+ | -] hh:mm'| LOCAL | DBTIMEZONE | 'time_zone_region'

   TRACE_ENABLED = {TRUE | FALSE}       Trace execution path (Internal use only-Oracle support services)

   TRACEFILE_IDENTIFIER = "traceid"     Trace file custom identifier

   TRANSACTION_AUDITING = {TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED]

   TRANSACTIONS = int                    Max. number of concurrent active transactions 

   TRANSACTIONS_PER_ROLLBACK_SEGMENT = int

   UNDO_MANAGEMENT = {MANUAL | AUTO}    Undo space management mode (Manual=rollback segs)

   UNDO_RETENTION = int                 Undo retention in second

   UNDO_SUPPRESS_ERRORS  = {TRUE |FALSE}     Suppress RBU errors in SMU mode 

   UNDO_TABLESPACE =undoname            Select an undo tablespace

   USE_INDIRECT_DATA_BUFFERS = {TRUE|FALSE}  Configure SGA Memory cache for >4Gb RAM

   USE_PRIVATE_OUTLINES = {TRUE |FALSE |category_name } 

   USE_STORED_OUTLINES = { TRUE |FALSE |category_name} [NOOVERRIDE]

   USER_DUMP_DEST = 'directory_name'    User process dump directory 

   UTL_FILE_DIR                         Utl_file accessible directories list

                                   UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path1', 'Path2'..

                                                           or

                                   UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path1'  # Must be

                                   UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path2'  # consecutive entries

   WORKAREA_SIZE_POLICY = {AUTO | MANUAL}    Policy used to size SQL working areas

Notes
All Byte values can also be specified in K or M or G

e.g. you can enter 8388608 or 8192 K or 8M

All directory paths follow standard notation i.e UNIX 'quotes' or Windows "double quotes"

The default value for many of these parameters does vary across Operating System platforms.

To see the current value of any parameter:

 select name,value,description,issys_modifiable

 from v$parameter

 where name='Some_Parameter'

issys_modifiable, shows the type of parameter:

FALSE = Static parameter that cannot change its value in the lifetime of the instance; shown in bold in the list above.
IMMEDIATE = dynamic, can change the active instance as well as future database restarts.
DEFERRED = dynamic, changes only affect subsequent sessions.

'Internal' parameters (starting with _ ) should not be modified unless advised by Oracle Support.

Changing a Parameter value

Use the ALTER SYSTEM command to set parameters:

ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = MEMORY;
ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = spfile;
ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = BOTH;

-- In memory. This affects the database now; but will not remain after a restart.
-- spfile. This does not change the instance immediately, but it will modify the spfile so will take effect after a restart.
-- Memory and spfile - changes the current instance as well as the spfile.

Some parameters can be modified immediately with ALTER SYSTEM, and some can be modified for a single session with ALTER SESSION. Static parameters must be modified with scope=spfile

Restoring default Parameter values

For string parameters, setting to an empty string will restore the default.
ALTER SYSTEM SET parameter = '' scope=spfile;

For any parameter the RESET option will restore the default.
ALTER SYSTEM RESET parameter scope=spfile sid='*' ;

note
When resetting a parameter, you must specify sid=mySid or sid='*' even for non-RAC instances.

New parameters in 10G

asm_diskgroups, asm_diskstring, asm_power_limit, db_flashback_retention_target, db_recovery_file_dest, db_recovery_file_dest_size, db_unique_name, ddl_wait_for_locks, fileio_network_adapters, gcs_server_processes, instance_type, ldap_directory_access, log_archive_config, log_archive_local_first, plsql_code_type, plsql_debug, plsql_optimize_level, plsql_warnings, resumable_timeout, sga_target, smtp_out_server, sp_name, sqltune_category, streams_pool_size.