The STARTUP command allows you to start an Oracle instance and open a database. Chapter 10 discusses this command. In order to use STARTUP, you must be connected as SYSDBA, SYSOPER, or INTERNAL.
STARTUP [FORCE] [RESTRICT]
[PFILE=parameter_filename]
[MOUNT [OPEN [RECOVER]] [database_name]]
[[EXCLUSIVE|PARALLEL|SHARED] [RETRY]] | [NOMOUNT]where:
- STARTUP
Is the command, which may not be abbreviated.
- FORCE
Forces the instance to start. If the instance is currently running, then FORCE will cause the equivalent of a SHUTDOWN ABORT to be done first; then the instance will be restarted.
- RESTRICT
Opens the database in restricted session mode. Only users with the RESTRICTED SESSION system privilege will be allowed to connect.
- PFILE=parameter_filename
Tells SQL*Plus to use the specified parameter file (initialization file) when starting the instance. You may specify a path with the filename.
Tip
SQL*Plus reads the parameter file, not the Oracle instance. The path to the parameter file must be relative to the machine running SQL*Plus. This matters, for example, if you are using SQL*Plus on a PC and connecting remotely to an instance on a server in order to start it.
- MOUNT
Causes the database to be mounted, but not opened. The instance will be started. The control file will be opened, but none of the other database files will be opened. The MOUNT stage is the one between NOMOUNT and OPEN.
- OPEN
Causes the database to be mounted, then opened for normal operation.
- RECOVER
Tells Oracle to perform media recovery, if necessary. If no recovery is necessary, the database is opened as normal. If recovery is necessary, it proceeds automatically. You will be prompted for any needed log files that cannot be found. A failed recovery leaves the database mounted, but not opened.
- database_name
Is a name you specify, which becomes the name of the database. This value overrides the DB_NAME parameter in the initialization file.
- EXCLUSIVE
Causes the database to be opened, or mounted, exclusively by the current instance. No other instances may share it. This is the default setting, and is used if neither SHARE nor PARALLEL is specified.
- PARALLEL
Causes the database to be opened, or mounted, in such a way as to allow multiple instances to access it simultaneously. This option cannot be used if the SINGLE_PROCESS parameter in the initialization file is set to TRUE.
- SHARED
- RETRY
Is provided for use when opening a database in parallel mode. RETRY affects the behavior of the instance when the database open fails because some other instance is performing recovery operations. When RETRY is specified, the instance will retry the open every five seconds until recovery is complete and the database is opened.
- NOMOUNT
Causes an instance to be started, but no database is mounted or opened.