Dynamic view V$PARAMETER

You can use the V$PARAMETER dynamic view to see the current setting of the different database parameters. In this example, we use the DESC SQL*Plus command to describe the V$PARAMETER view, and we then query the V$PARAMETER view to see the value of the control_file parameter setting:

SQL> desc v$parameter

Name Null? Type

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

NUM NUMBER

NAME VARCHAR2(80)

TYPE NUMBER

VALUE VARCHAR2(512)

DISPLAY_VALUE VARCHAR2(512)

ISDEFAULT VARCHAR2(9)

ISSES_MODIFIABLE VARCHAR2(5)

ISSYS_MODIFIABLE VARCHAR2(9)

ISINSTANCE_MODIFIABLE VARCHAR2(5)

ISMODIFIED VARCHAR2(10)

ISADJUSTED VARCHAR2(5)

ISDEPRECATED VARCHAR2(5)

DESCRIPTION VARCHAR2(255)

UPDATE_COMMENT VARCHAR2(255)

HASH NUMBER

SQL> select name, value from v$parameter where name = 'control_files';

NAME VALUE

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

control_files C:\ORACLE\ORADATA\BOOKTST\BOOKTST\CONTROL01.CTL, C:\ORACLE

\ORADATA\BOOKTST\BOOKTST\CONTROL02.CTL, C:\ORACLE\ORADATA\

BOOKTST\BOOKTST\CONTROL03.CTL

You may also use the shortcut “show parameter” command. For instance:

SQL> show parameter control_files;

The Parameter File at Startup Time

Oracle prefers the use of an SPFILE to a PFILE. When you startup your Oracle database, Oracle will scan the contents of your parameter directory ($ORACLE_HOME/database on Windows or the Linux directory name $ORACLE_HOME/dbs), searching in the following order:

* spfileSID.ora

* spfile.ora

* initSID.ora

* init.ora

If the directory contains none of the above, then the startup will fail.