AUTOMATIC STARTUP AND SHUTDOWN OF ORACLE DATABASE INSTANCES...

By: John Kazerooni

The following is a basic steps for an automatic start up and

shutdown Oracle instances during UNIX system startup or shutdown.

The process of startup and shutdown for Oracle on different UNIX

Operating Systems are similar to each other. But you should

always, for more accurate Information refer to Oracle Installation

Guide.

The following are files which are invoked during system startup

and shutdown, respectively.   

Script                    Description  

-------------------------|---------------------------------------  

$ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbstart |Ensures a clean startup of instance(s),  

                         |even after system failure   

-------------------------|---------------------------------------  

$ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbshut  |Ensures a clean shutdown for instances     

-------------------------|---------------------------------------  

/etc/init.d    or        |Contains a field that specifies whether   

/var/opt/oracle/oratab   |a particular instance should be brought  

                         |up/down at system startup/shutdown time.

-------------------------|---------------------------------------  

Solaris: (This is only applicable for Solaris Operating System.)                                                                   

- - - - - -  

  Relevant Files                                                             

  - - - - - - - -  

   /etc/rc2.d/S99dbstart  -- Link to the script /etc/init.d/dbora  

   /etc/rc0.d/K01dbshut   -- Link to the script /etc/init.d/dbora   

   /etc/init.d/oratab     -- Oracle oratab file                            

Before explaining how to automatically start and shutdown your

instances, consider the process by which this happens.  If the

startup or shutdown is not working, you will have a better chance

of determining what went wrong.

When an UNIX machine boots, it runs scripts beginning with

S<nn><name> in /etc/rc3.d.  The number <nn> indicates the order

in which these scripts will be run.  The <name> is a reminder to

the Unix administrator as to the function of the script. 

Similarly, on shutdown scripts named K<nn><name> are run from

/etc/rc0.d.

Setting Up:

-----------

1.  Ensure the /var/opt/oracle/oratab file is complete and correct.

    Database entries in the oratab file have the following format:

       ORACLE_SID:ORACLE_HOME:Y

    Where Y specifies you want to startup the database automatically.

2.  Copy dbora to /etc/init.d/dbora.

3.  As root create the following links.

       # ln -s /etc/init.d/dbora /etc/rc3.d/S99dbora

       # ln -s /etc/init.d/dbora /etc/rc0.d/K01dbora

4.  Test the script created in Step 2.

    To test the script created above, without rebooting do the

       following:

       # su – root

       # /etc/init.d/dbora start     (for startup)

       # /etc/init.d/dbora stop      (for shutdown)

Good Luck!