Oracle8i Configuration Notes

 

The INIT.ORA file:

 

1.      In Oracle8i, the initialization parameter file is referred to as “INIT.ORA” unlike the way it was named in earlier releases init<SID>.ora.

 

2.      The file is placed in within ORACLE_HOME in “ADMIN\SID\PFILE”. For example, if ORACLE_HOME is “F:\Oracle\Ora8i”, the “INIT.ORA” file will be located in “F:\Oracle\Ora8i\admin\SID\pfile” where SID is the instance name related to the database.

 

3.      Database and instance names’ issues:

a.       The DB_NAME is used the same way it was in prior releases. It can’t be changed once set.

b.      The SERVICE_NAME is set in the INIT.ORA file and corresponds to (DB_NAME + DOMAIN). For example, if the DB_NAME is “DB01” and the DOMAIN is “COM”. The SERVICE_NAME will be “DB01.COM”. Oracle (sometimes!) refers to the SERVICE NAME as the Global Database Name. The SERVEICE_NAME is needed when setting up Net8.

c.       The INSTANCE_NAME is set in the INIT.ORA file and refers to the instance name. The INSTANCE_NAME parameter links the database being started to the instance created. The INSTANCE_NAME is needed when setting up Net8.

 

4.      Java option (JVM, formerly know as JServer)

a.       If the Java is NOT going to be installed, make sure that the JAVA_POOL_SIZE is set to 1M. If not, it defaults to 20 M! The Java Pool is an area in the SGA that holds the Java libraries and classes.

b.      If the Java option is to be installed, make sure that the JAVA_POOL_SIZE is set to 20M and the SHARED_ POOL_SIZE to 50M so that you can be able to install the java option.

 

5.      The Oracle instance created will use the initialization parameters file that is placed in “F:\Oracle\Ora8i\database\”. The file name is “init<SID>.ora” and is used by the NT service related to the instance. This file contains only one line that points to the “INIT.ORA” file mentioned in point 2 above. FYI, the password file is also located in “F:\Oracle\Ora8i\database\”.

 

Net8 Configurations

 

  1. Configuration files are located in “ORACLE_HOME\Network\Admin”

 

A.     LISTENER.ORA

The Listener file needs the following initialization parameters:

·        GLOBAL_DBNAME: Is the SERVICE_NAME used in the “INIT.ORA”. See above.

·        SID_NAME: Is the INSTANCE_NAME used in the “INIT.ORA”. See above.

 

B.     TNSNAMES.ORA

The TNSNAMES file needs only one initialization parameter:

·        SERVICE_NAME: Is the SERVICE_NAME used in the “INIT.ORA”. See above.

 

  1. Multiple Oracle Homes may exist in the same machine. It is a MUST when installing OEM or Web DB in a machine that has Oracle 8i, or when Oracle8i is installed in a machine with prior releases of the Oracle server. In such cases, consider the following:

·        Net8 should be configured on each Oracle Home!

·        To minimize the maintenance of the Net8 files (TNSNAMES.ORA, SQLNET.ORA), place the IFILE keyword on those files so that they point to the corresponding file in another home. For example, say that there is two Oracle Homes: Oracle8i located in f:\Oracle\Ora8i, and OEM located in f:\Oracle\OEM.

 

In the TNSNAMES.ORA file in OEM Oracle Home, place the keyword “IFILE=F:\Oracle\Ora8i\network\admin\TNSNAMES.ORA”.

In the SQLNET.ORA file in OEM Oracle Home, place the keyword “IFILE=F:\Oracle\Ora8i\network\admin\SQLNET.ORA”.