As I said it's (ancient) history - the standby was first created under 7.3.4. I put together a bunch of scripts & instructions which have been used ever since - with B&R, using tried & tested methods gives a nice warm secure feeling - worked when re-establishing under 8 and 8i.

From what I read, any kind of "approved" backup will do - basically as long as a RECOVER command will work on it.

Oracle actually suggests a cold backup in the 8i doc. http://download-west.oracle.com/docs...ndby.htm#25948

Salut, bonne chance.