Extract from http://download-west.oracle.com/docs...6/dba.htm#1309

"You should use caution to ensure that an EXCLUSIVE password file is not accidentally changed to SHARED. If you plan to allow instance start up from multiple clients, each of those clients must have an initialization parameter file, and the value of the parameter REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE must be the same in each of these files. Otherwise, the state of the password file could change depending upon where the instance was started."

Why do I need to have an init param file on each client if I am starting up a database on the server surely the init param file that starts up the DB and matters is on the server. Clients don't need init param files unless they have their own DB running, confused. Can somenone please explain??

Many thanks
Gus