What does it mean by "Idle Instance"

[patnams]

Hi All,

When we start SQLPLUS and connect SYS as SYSDBA, it says "Connected to an Idle Instance".

What is this Idle Instance? Is it the Oracle(.exe) Program/Service? Authentication is done based on passwords in Password File. But what program is Authentating the user SYS? Also how does this happen in Unix?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[pando]

idle means doing nothing, not active
idle instance means instance not started

[patnams]

Thanks for the reply.

Where does this Idle "Instance" reside? It is a process that is doing nothing? If it is, how do I see this process in Unix. Does it take up any memory?

Hope this question is not dumb.

[pando]

Do you know what is an oracle instance? It's SGA plus the background processes, if the instance is idle, i.e not started then there is nothing

[sonofsita]

Connected to an idle instance.
here is what I understand when Oracle says connected to an idle instance
==============================================================
Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
(C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp.


D:\>set oracle_sid=sridevi
-- at this stage there is neither service handler (Oracle executable)
-- nor an instance nor a database
D:\>sqlplus /nolog
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.5.0 - Production on Wed Jul 21 22:44:16 2004

Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.

SQL> connect sys/sys as sysdba
ERROR:
ORA-12560: TNS : protocol adapter error

-- ora-12560 was spit as there was no service handler
-- listener is up and running.
-- in the absence of service hadler or connect string no check can be done
-- to connect to oracle instance

SQL> connect sys/sys@sridevi as sysdba
ERROR:
ORA-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process

-- even though the connect string has the tns alias which is identifiable
-- as a service for service by listener.
-- The process of starting up a dedicated server process failed.
-- The executable could not be found or
-- the environment may be set up incorrectly
-- in this case the executable is not found as the service handler is not started.
SQL>
-- I started the service for the oracle instance and set the environment and connected
SQL> connect sys/sys@sridevi as sysdba
Connected to an idle instance.
-- So I am connected to Oracle executable which is ready to serve a instance through a dedicated
-- service. but no instance is there
SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.


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sonofsita
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