PFILE & SPFILE

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P FILE
A P FILE is a traditional text based init.ora parameter file. Typically this resides on the server in the
$ORACLE_BASE/admin/SID/p file directory, with a symbolic link pointing to it from the
$ORACLE_HOME/dbs directory.
SP FILE
A SP FILE, Server Parameter File, is a server managed binary file that Oracle uses to hold persistent
initialization parameters. If a parameter is changed using the ALTER SYSTEM SET command Oracle will
apply this parameter change to the current SP FILE.Oracle first look for a SP FILE and after that after a P
FILE
SP FILE s provide the following advantages over P FILE s:
An SP FILE can be backed-up with R MAN (R MAN cannot backup P FILE s).
No need to restart the database in order to have a parameter changed and the new value stored in the
initialization file
Reduce human errors. The SP FILE is maintained by the server. Parameters are checked before
changes are accepted.
Easy to find stored in a central location.
What is the difference between a P FILE and SP FILE:
A P FILE is a static, client-side text file that must be updated with a standard text editor like notepad or
vi. This file normally reside on the server, however, you need a local copy if you want to start Oracle from
a remote machine. DBAs commonly refer to this file as the INIT.ORA file.
An SP FILE (Server Parameter File), on the other hand, is a persistent server-side binary file that can only
be modified with the ALTER SYSTEM SET command. This means you no longer need a local copy of the
p file to start the database from a remote machine. Editing an SP FILE will corrupt it, and you will not be
able to start your database anymore.
Parameter Scope
SCOPE = SP FILE: ALTER SYSTEM changes are recorded in the sp file, to be given effect in the next
restart.
SCOPE = MEMORY: ALTER SYSTEM changes are applied in memory only. No static parameter
change is allowed.
 SCOPE = BOTH: The ALTER SYSTEM change is applied in both the server parameter file and memory.
No static parameter change is allowed.
LAB EXAMPLES:
When you want to change the parameter only for the running instance and not for the subsequent
instance you can change it only in memory. ;
SQL> alter system set cpu_count=4 scope=MEMORY;
System altered.
<ul>
<li>When you want to change the parameter for subsequent instances
only</li>
</ul>
SQL> alter system set cpu_count=4 scope=SPFILE;
System altered.
When you want to change the parameter for running and subsequent instances (if issys_modifiableis
not false);
SQL> alter system set cpu_count=4 scope=BOTH;
System altered.
Converting SP FILE to P FILE and vice-versa:
SQL> CREATE PFILE FROM SPFILE;
SQL> CREATE SPFILE = $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/spfiletest.ora FROM PFILE =
$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/inittest.ora;
SQL> CREATE P FILE FROM SP FILE = test.ora;
SQL> CREATE P FILE = $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_pfile.ora FROM SP FILE;
SQL> CREATE P FILE = $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_pfile.ora FROM SP FILE =
$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_sp file.ora;
SQL> CREATE SP FILE FROM P FILE = $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_p file.ora;
SQL> CREATE SPFILE = $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_spfile.ora FROM P FILE =
$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/my_p file.ora;