Restriction on Database Name

Our database was created by a colleague who had problems with a particular name on Linux. The name adm_p did not work, so he named the database admp, and the instance was named adm_p. Apparently, according to him, the '_' (underscore does not work, he thinks it might be an Oracle to Linux thing.

The '_' helps us read the name better but I hate having to have a different name for our instance and database name since we only have one instance, and it confuses issues. We are creating a new instance and I thought this was an ideal time to change the name on the new system.

Also, can you tell me if I wanted to change the name on our exisiting Production server, what would the procedure be? Any precautions to take?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nirasha

Do not use - ? % $ & * .... for instance name and db name.
Use only A-Z, that too 8 characters only.

Thanks alot...

I am creating a new development and qa system so I can get that sorted out. The production system has the database name as fndryp and the instance name as fndry_p.

How do I change the instance name? Is it a problem/risky to change it?

Thanks again,
Nirasha

Change INSTANCE_NAME in INIT.ORA file.

Thanks,

do I need to run the orapwd utility? Where is the instance commonly name used (so that I know where to change afterwasrds)

Nirasha

I made a mistake in my post, it was the other way around. Below is my settings:

SQL> select instance from v$thread;

INSTANCE
----------------
fndry_d

SQL> select name from v$database;

NAME
---------
FNDRY_D

SQL> select instance_name from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NAME
----------------
fndry_d

initfndry_d.ora file:
.......
db_name = "fndry_d"
instance_name = fndryd
service_names = fndry_d
Please advise...

Thanks so much...

Nirasha



[Edited by nirasha on 03-13-2001 at 05:09 PM]

Please help!!

Nirasha

Would u like to change the name of the database or the Instance. I have done the name changing of the database once. Maybe i could help u but i dont know whether u want to change the database name or the Instance name.

I did not create the database. The database was created with the the "-" (underscore and the instance name was listed without. Having these two different has caused alot of confusion. By the looks of it I want the database name changed.

What is confusing me tremendously is when I query the data dictionary view for the instance name I get:

SQL> select instance_name from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NAME
----------------
fndry_d

Why does this happen? Look at my init.ora parameters I posted earlier. Please shed some light. Also advise on changing the database name on my production server.

Thanks in advance,
Nirasha

I havent done the name changing in the production Environment. But u should change the name in Parameter file and u should change the also change the database name in the control file by taking the backup of the control file to trace and altering the database name using the set command. U should not alter anything else. Then u should recreate the control file with resetlogs option. i think this will work but i am not sure. U should shutdown the database before doing this. Please reply so that i will be able to know the result of this.

Actually I will be creating a new development and QA system (with appropriate names), in production I will be changing the name maybe in a month or too. Highly nervous to do it but determined to do it.. How bad can it be anyway if I have a cold backup?

So to understand, the steps are:
-- recreate controlfile with resetlogs option
-- edit scripts use the set command
-- edit the initfiles with appropriate names
-- run the create controlfile
-- change global names etc

Right?

Nirasha

Yeah u got it.

But u have to use the set command in the control file.

I hope it works. But if u want to create the instance u can do it using the ORADIM utility and change the instance name also.

Karthi

What really bothers me is that the instance name states fndryd (in the init.ora), but not when I select from the data dictionary views.

Nirasha

I think that the Instance name that is given for the database will be shown clearly in the V$Instance. The database has the instance value as per the v$Instance view. So try recreating the Instance with a different name and let the same name remain in the Init file. I havent done that but it is a suggestion.

Will do as soon as I finish prepare a development system, so that I can play with their dev system when it is done. SInce I will be converting that to a qa system.

Thanks for your help,
Nirasha