What is the difference between spfile and pfile?

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Salil

  • Aug 19th, 2007
 


spfile is a binary file ans pfile is a text file.

We can change parameter in spfile dynamically but we cant change pfile dynamically ...to change parameter in pfile we need to bounce the instance.

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sfile is text file spfile is binary file
It can be maintained using a standard operating system editor
spfile is maintained by the Oracle Server.

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Cadie_H

  • Aug 9th, 2008
 

An spfile and a pfile are both init parameter files.

The pfile is a readable text file which you can edit directly in Notepad (Windows) or vi (Unix). The pfile's name is initSID.ora.

The spfile is a binary file, which means it can't be edited directly (if you try to edit it directly, it'll corrupt the file). The spfile can only be modified by using the "alter system" command. The spfile's name is spfileSID.ora.

The spfile is useful to have because it lets you dynamically make changes to some parameters, whereas the pfile does not - you will need to shutdown and startup the instance for any changes you make in the pfile to be applied.

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