Server Parameters for Oracle 9i and 10g 

Green = New in 10g

Red = Valid in 9i but dropped (or hidden) in 10g
Bold = Static Parameter - change in Pfile/SPfile
Normal= Dynamic Parameter - change in Pfile/SPfile/ALTER
SYSTEM/SESSION

PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
------------------------------ ----------------------------------------
ACTIVE_INSTANCE_COUNT = int Active instances in the cluster
AQ_TM_PROCESSES = int Number of AQ Time Managers to start
ARCHIVE_LAG_TARGET = int Max no. seconds of redos the standby
could lose
asm_diskgroups = string Disk groups to mount automatically
asm_diskstring = string Disk set locations for discovery
asm_power_limit = int Number of processes for disk rebalancing
AUDIT_FILE_DEST = 'directory' Directory in which auditing files are to
reside
AUDIT_SYS_OPERATIONS = {TRUE|FALSE}
AUDIT_TRAIL = {NONE | FALSE | DB | TRUE | OS} Enable system auditing 9i
AUDIT_TRAIL = {NONE | DB | DB_EXTENDED| OS} Enable system auditing 10g

BACKGROUND_CORE_DUMP = {PARTIAL | FULL}

BACKGROUND_DUMP_DEST = 'path or directory'
BACKUP_TAPE_IO_SLAVES = {TRUE | FALSE} DEFERRED
BITMAP_MERGE_AREA_SIZE = int Memory for BITMAP MERGE
BLANK_TRIMMING = {TRUE|FALSE}
CIRCUITS = int
CLUSTER_DATABASE = {TRUE|FALSE} If TRUE startup in cluster database
mode
CLUSTER_DATABASE_INSTANCES = int
CLUSTER_INTERCONNECTS = ipaddr [:ipaddr...] Interconnects for RAC use
COMMIT_POINT_STRENGTH = int
COMPATIBLE = release_number [CHAR: 9.2.0.0.0]
CONSTRAINT[S] = { IMMEDIATE | DEFERRED | DEFAULT }
CONTROL_FILE_RECORD_KEEP_TIME = int Time in Days
CONTROL_FILES =filename [,filename [...] ]
CORE_DUMP_DEST = 'text'
CPU_COUNT = int
CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE = int
CREATE_STORED_OUTLINES = {TRUE | FALSE | 'category_name' } [NOOVERRIDE]
CURSOR_SHARING = {SIMILAR | EXACT | FORCE}

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 CURSOR_SPACE_FOR_TIME = {TRUE|FALSE}
CURRENT_SCHEMA = schema Change the current schema of the session

DB_2k_cache_size = int bytes Size of cache for 2K buffers

DB_4k_cache_size = int bytes Size of cache for 4K buffers
DB_8k_cache_size = int bytes Size of cache for 8K buffers
DB_16k_cache_size = int bytes Size of cache for 16K buffers
DB_32k_cache_size = int bytes Size of cache for 32K buffers
DB_BLOCK_BUFFERS = int Deprecated in favour of DB_CACHE_ SIZE
DB_BLOCK_CHECKING = {TRUE | FALSE} DEFERRED
DB_BLOCK_CHECKSUM = {TRUE | FALSE}
DB_BLOCK_SIZE = int [bytes] Do not alter after db creation
DB_CACHE_ADVICE = {ON | READY | OFF}
DB_CACHE_SIZE = int [bytes]
DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST = directory
DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n = directory (where n = 1-5)
Default locn for Oracle-managed control files
and online redo logs.
DB_DOMAIN = domain_name Directory part of global database name
DB_FILE_MULTIBLOCK_READ_COUNT = int
DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT = [(]'dbfile1' , 'dbfile2'...[)]
Datafile name convert patterns and strings
for standby/clone db [old string, new string]
DB_FILES = int
db_flashback_retention_target = int Max Flashback Database log
retention (minutes)
DB_KEEP_CACHE_SIZE = int [bytes]
DB_NAME = database_name
db_recovery_file_dest = string Default database recovery file
location
db_recovery_file_dest_size = int Database recovery files size limit
DB_RECYCLE_CACHE_SIZE = int [bytes]
db_unique_name = string Database Unique Name
DB_WRITER_PROCESSES = int Number of background database writer
processes to start
DBLINK_ENCRYPT_LOGIN = {TRUE|FALSE} Enforce password encryption for
distributed login
DBWR_IO_SLAVES = int
DDL_WAIT_FOR_LOCKS = {TRUE|FALSE} Disable NOWAIT DML lock acquisitions
DG_BROKER_CONFIG_FILEn = filename (where n = 1 or 2)
DG_BROKER_START = {TRUE|FALSE}
DISK_ASYNCH_IO = {TRUE|FALSE}
DISPATCHERS = 'dispatch_clause' (see SQL ref manual for
detail)(MTS_Dispatchers in Ora 8/9)
DISTRIBUTED_LOCK_TIMEOUT = int
DML_LOCKS = int One for each table modified in a transaction
DRS_START = {TRUE|FALSE} Start DG Broker monitor (DMON process)

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 ERROR_ON_OVERLAP_TIME = {TRUE | FALSE}
ENQUEUE_RESOURCES = int Resources for enqueues
EVENT = debug_string Debug event control

FAL_CLIENT = string Fetch archive log Client

FAL_SERVER = string Fetch archive log Server
FAST_START_IO_TARGET = int Upper bound on recovery
reads(Deprecated)
FAST_START_MTTR_TARGET = int
FAST_START_PARALLEL_ROLLBACK = {FALSE | LOW | HIGH}
Max number of parallel recovery slaves
FILE_MAPPING = {TRUE|FALSE}
FILEIO_NETWORK_ADAPTERS = char Network Adapters for File I/O
FILESYSTEMIO_OPTIONS = {none | setall | directIO | asynch}
FIXED_DATE = {'YYYY_MM_DD_HH24_MI-SS' | 'date in default format'}
Fix SYSDATE value for debugging

GC_FILES_TO_LOCKS = '{file_list=lock_count[!blocks][EACH][:...]}'
RAC/OPS - lock granularity number of
global cache locks per file (DFS)
GCS_SERVER_PROCESSES = int Number of background gcs server
processes to start
GLOBAL_CONTEXT_POOL_SIZE = {1 MB | int MB}
GLOBAL_NAMES = {TRUE | FALSE} Enforce that database links have same
name as remote database

HASH_AREA_SIZE = int Size of in-memory hash work area (Shared

Server)
HASH_JOIN_ENABLED = {TRUE|FALSE}
HI_SHARED_MEMORY_ADDRESS = int SGA starting address (high order 32-
bits
on 64-bit platforms)
HS_AUTOREGISTER = {TRUE | FALSE} Enable automatic server DD updates in
HS
agent self-registration

IFILE = parameter_file_name Include file in init.ora

INSTANCE = int Connect to a different RAC instance
INSTANCE_GROUPS = group_name [,group_name ... ]
INSTANCE_NAME = instance_id
INSTANCE_NUMBER = int
INSTANCE_TYPE = {RDBMS|ASM} Type of instance to be executed
RDBMS or Automated Storage Management
ISOLATION_LEVEL = {SERIALIZABLE | READ COMMITTED}

JAVA_MAX_SESSIONSPACE_SIZE = int [bytes]

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 JAVA_POOL_SIZE = int [bytes]
JAVA_SOFT_SESSIONSPACE_LIMIT = int
JOB_QUEUE_PROCESSES = int

LARGE_POOL_SIZE = int [bytes]

LICENSE_MAX_SESSIONS = int Maximum number of non-system user sessions
(concurrent licensing)
LICENSE_MAX_USERS = int Maximum number of named users that can be
created
(named user licensing)
LICENSE_SESSIONS_WARNING = int Warning level for number of non-system
user sessions
LOCAL_LISTENER = network_name Define which listeners instances
register with
LOCK_NAME_SPACE = namespace Used for generating lock names for
standby/primary database
assign each a unique name space
LOCK_SGA = {TRUE | FALSE}
LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG = [SEND|NOSEND] [RECEIVE|NORECEIVE] [ DG_CONFIG]
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST = string
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n = {null_string |
{LOCATION=local_pathname | SERVICE=tnsnames_service}
[MANDATORY | OPTIONAL] [REOPEN[=integer]]}
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_n = {ENABLE | DEFER} (n = 1-10)
LOG_ARCHIVE_DUPLEX_DEST = string
LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT = string [CHAR: "MyApp%S.ARC"]
LOG_ARCHIVE_LOCAL_FIRST = {TRUE|FALSE} Establish EXPEDITE attribute
default value
LOG_ARCHIVE_MAX_PROCESSES = int
LOG_ARCHIVE_MIN_SUCCEED_DEST = int Minimum number of archive
destinations
that must succeed
LOG_ARCHIVE_START = {TRUE | FALSE}
LOG_ARCHIVE_TRACE = int Tracing level for Archive logs
LOG_BUFFER = int bytes Redo circular buffer size
LOG_CHECKPOINT_INTERVAL = int Checkpoint threshold, # redo blocks
LOG_CHECKPOINT_TIMEOUT = int Checkpoint threshold, maximum time
interval between
checkpoints in seconds
LOG_CHECKPOINTS_TO_ALERT = {TRUE|FALSE} Log checkpoint begin/end to
alert file
LOG_FILE_NAME_CONVERT = ['old string','new string']
Convert patterns/strings for
standby/clone db
LOG_PARALLELISM = int Number of log buffer strands
LOGMNR_MAX_PERSISTENT_SESSIONS = int Maximum no of threads to mine

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 MAX_DISPATCHERS = int Max number of dispatchers
MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE = {size bytes|UNLIMITED} [DEFERRED]
MAX_ENABLED_ROLES = int Max number of roles a user can have
enabled
MAX_ROLLBACK_SEGMENTS = int Max number of rollback segments in SGA
cache
MAX_SHARED_SERVERS = int Max number of shared servers]
mts_circuits = int Max number of circuits (10g see CIRCUITS)
mts_dispatchers Specifications of dispatchers (10g see
DISPATCHERS)
MTS_LISTENER_ADDRESS Address(es) of network listener [CHAR]
mts_max_dispatchers Max number of dispatchers (10g see
MAX_DISPATCHERS)
mts_max_servers Max number of shared servers (10g see
MAX_SHARED_SERVERS)
MTS_MULTIPLE_LISTENERS = {TRUE|FALSE} Are multiple listeners enabled?
MTS_SERVERS = int Number of shared servers to start up [NUMBER]
mts_service = string Service supported by dispatchers [CHAR]
mts_sessions = int max number of shared server sessions [NUMBER]

nls_calendar ='string' NLS calendar system name (Default=GREGORIAN)

nls_comp = {BINARY | ANSI} NLS comparison, Enterprise Edition
nls_currency ='string' NLS local currency symbol
nls_date_format ='format' NLS Oracle date format
nls_date_language =language NLS date language name (Default=AMERICAN)]
nls_dual_currency = currency_symbol
nls_iso_currency = territory Override the default set by
NLS_TERRITORY
nls_language = language NLS language name (session default)
nls_length_semantics = {BYTE|CHAR}} Default when creating new columns
nls_nchar_conv_excp = {TRUE|FALSE} Raise an exception instead of
allowing an implicit conversion
nls_numeric_characters ="decimal_character group_separator"
nls_sort = {BINARY |linguistic_def} Case-sensitive or insensitive
sort
linguistic_def may be BINARY, BINARY_CI,
BINARY_AI,
GERMAN, GERMAN_CI, etc
nls_territory = territory Territory name (country settings)
nls_time_format =time_format Time format
nls_time_tz_format = time_format Time with timezone format
nls_timestamp_format = time_format Timestamp format
nls_timestamp_tz_format = time_format Timestamp with timezone format

O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY = {TRUE | FALSE} Allow Dictionary Access

(as in Ora V7 )

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 OBJECT_CACHE_MAX_SIZE_PERCENT = int DEFERRED Space for application
objects Max
OBJECT_CACHE_OPTIMAL_SIZE = int DEFERRED Space for application
objects Min
OLAP_PAGE_POOL_SIZE =int bytes
OPEN_CURSORS = int Max # cursors per session
OPEN_LINKS = int Max # open links per Session
OPEN_LINKS_PER_INSTANCE = int Max # open links per instance
OPTIMIZER_DYNAMIC_SAMPLING = int
OPTIMIZER_FEATURES_ENABLE = {8.0.0|8.0.3|8.0.4|8.0.5|8.0.6|8.0.7|8.1.0|
8.1.3|8.1.4|8.1.5|8.1.6|8.1.7|9.0.0|9.0.1|9.2.0}
Configure qry optimiser based on an Oracle
release No.
OPTIMIZER_INDEX_CACHING = int Percent to cache (favour nested loop
joins & IN-list)
OPTIMIZER_INDEX_COST_ADJ = int Adjust the cost of index vs FTS
OPTIMIZER_MAX_PERMUTATIONS = int Max join permutations per qry block
OPTIMIZER_MODE = [RULE | CHOOSE | FIRST_ROWS | ALL_ROWS]
oracle_trace_collection_name =collection Name for use by Oracle TRACE
oracle_trace_collection_path =path Path to .cdf & .dat files
(ORACLE_HOME/otrace/admin/cdf)
oracle_trace_collection_size =int bytes Max trace file size
oracle_trace_enable = {TRUE|FALSE} Enable Oracle Trace
oracle_trace_facility_name ={ORACLED | ORACLEE | ORACLESM | ORACLEC}
TRACE event set
oracle_trace_facility_path =path TRACE definition files:
ORACLE_HOME/otrace/admin/fdf/
OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX = prefix Prefix for auto-logon
accounts [string]
OS_ROLES = {TRUE|FALSE} Retrieve roles from the
operating system

PARALLEL_ADAPTIVE_MULTI_USER = {TRUE | FALSE} Tune degree of

parallelism
PARALLEL_AUTOMATIC_TUNING = {TRUE|FALSE} Automatic tuning
PARALLEL_EXECUTION_MESSAGE_SIZE = int bytes Message buffer size
PARALLEL_INSTANCE_GROUP = 'group' RAC: Limit instances used
PARALLEL_MAX_SERVERS = int
PARALLEL_MIN_PERCENT = int Min percent of threads
required for
parallel query
PARALLEL_MIN_SERVERS = int
PARALLEL_SERVER = [TRUE | FALSE] Startup in parallel server
mode
PARALLEL_SERVER_instances = int No. of instances (used for
sizing SGA)
PARALLEL_THREADS_PER_CPU = int

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 PARTITION_VIEW_ENABLED = {TRUE|FALSE} Deprecated (use partition
TABLES)
PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET = int bytes Automatically size the SQL
working area
plsql_code_type ={INTERPRETED | NATIVE} Code-type
PLSQL_COMPILER_FLAGS = { [DEBUG | NON_DEBUG] [INTERPRETED | NATIVE] }
plsql_debug ={TRUE | FALSE}
plsql_native_c_compiler
plsql_native_library_dir = ['Path_to_directory']
plsql_native_library_subdir_count = int
plsql_native_linker =path Path to linker
plsql_native_make_file_name =path Pathname of make file
plsql_native_make_utility =path Pathname of make utility
plsql_optimize_level Optimize level
PLSQL_V2_COMPATIBILITY = {TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED]
plsql_warnings =string Compiler warnings settings
See also DBMS_WARNING and
DBA_PLSQL_OBJECT_SETTINGS
PRE_PAGE_SGA = {TRUE|FALSE} Pre-page sga for process
PROCESSES = int User processes

QUERY_REWRITE_ENABLED = {FORCE | TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED | NOOVERRIDE]

QUERY_REWRITE_INTEGRITY = {ENFORCED | TRUSTED | STALE_TOLERATED}

RDBMS_SERVER_DN = Distinguished Name

READ_ONLY_OPEN_DELAYED = {TRUE | FALSE} Delay opening read_only files
until first access
RECOVERY_PARALLELISM = int Server processes to use for parallel
recovery
REMOTE_ARCHIVE_ENABLE = [RECEIVE[,SEND] | FALSE | TRUE]
Enable or disable sending archived redo
logs to/from remote destinations
REMOTE_DEPENDENCIES_MODE = {TIMESTAMP | SIGNATURE}
Remote-procedure-call dependencies mode

REMOTE_LISTENER =network_name
REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE ={NONE | SHARED | EXCLUSIVE} Use a
password file
REMOTE_OS_AUTHENT = {TRUE | FALSE} Allow non-secure remote clients
to use
auto-logon accounts
REMOTE_OS_ROLES = {TRUE | FALSE} Allow non-secure remote clients
to use os roles
REPLICATION_DEPENDENCY_TRACKING = {TRUE | FALSE}
RESOURCE_LIMIT = {TRUE | FALSE} Master switch for resource limit
RESOURCE_MANAGER_PLAN = plan_name Turn on Resource Manager plan
resumable_timeout =seconds Set resumable_timeout

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 ROLLBACK_SEGMENTS = (rbs1 [, rbs2] ... )
ROW_LOCKING = [ALWAYS | DEFAULT | INTENT]

SERIAL_REUSE = {DISABLE | SELECT | DML | PLSQL | ALL} Cursor

memmory management
SERVICE_NAMES = db_service_name [,db_service_name [,...] ]
SESSION_CACHED_CURSORS = int Session cursors to cache
SESSION_MAX_OPEN_FILES = int Max no. of BFiles (LOB) each
session can open
SESSIONS = int Max no. of user and system
sessions
SGA_MAX_SIZE =int bytes Initial SGA size
sga_target = int bytes Target size of SGA
SHADOW_CORE_DUMP = {PARTIAL | FULL | NONE} Include SGA in core file
SHARED_MEMORY_ADDRESS = int SGA starting address
(platform specific)
SHARED_POOL_RESERVED_SIZE = int bytes Reserved area of shared pool
SHARED_POOL_SIZE = int Size of shared pool
SHARED_SERVERS = int Number of shared servers to start up
(MTS)
SHARED_SERVER_SESSIONS = int Max number of shared server sessions
SKIP_UNUSABLE_INDEXES = {TRUE | FALSE}
smtp_out_server = server_clause utl_smtp server and port
configuration parameter
SORT_AREA_RETAINED_SIZE =int bytes [DEFERRED] UGA Memory to retain
(Shared Server)
SORT_AREA_SIZE = int bytes [DEFERRED] In-memory sort work
area (Shared Server)
SORT_MULTIBLOCK_READ_COUNT Obsolete in 9i
SPFILE =spfile_name Parameter file
sp_name =name Service Provider Name
SQL92_SECURITY = {TRUE | FALSE} Require select privilege for
update/delete
SQL_TRACE = {TRUE | FALSE} Enable SQL trace
sqltune_category =category Qualifier for applying hintsets
SQL_VERSION =version Sql language version, for
compatibility
STANDBY_ARCHIVE_DEST = 'filespec' Standby database archivelog
destination
STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT = {MANUAL | AUTO}
Automate file mmanagement on
standby DB
STAR_TRANSFORMATION_ENABLED = {TEMP_DISABLE | TRUE | FALSE}
STATISTICS_LEVEL = {ALL | TYPICAL | BASIC} Collect Statistics
streams_pool_size = int bytes Size of the streams pool

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 TAPE_ASYNCH_IO = {TRUE | FALSE} Allow I/O requests to tape devices
at the same time as CPU processing
THREAD =int Redo thread to use (RAC)
TIMED_OS_STATISTICS = int Gather OS statistics every x
seconds
TIMED_STATISTICS = {TRUE | FALSE} Collect time statistics
TIME_ZONE = '[+ | -] hh:mm'| LOCAL | DBTIMEZONE | 'time_zone_region'
TRACE_ENABLED = {TRUE | FALSE} Trace execution path (Internal use
only-Oracle support services)
TRACEFILE_IDENTIFIER = "traceid" Trace file custom identifier
TRANSACTION_AUDITING = {TRUE | FALSE} [DEFERRED]
TRANSACTIONS = int Max. number of concurrent active
transactions
TRANSACTIONS_PER_ROLLBACK_SEGMENT = int

UNDO_MANAGEMENT = {MANUAL | AUTO} Undo space management mode

(Manual=rollback segs)
UNDO_RETENTION = int Undo retention in second
UNDO_SUPPRESS_ERRORS = {TRUE |FALSE} Suppress RBU errors in SMU
mode
UNDO_TABLESPACE =undoname Select an undo tablespace
USE_INDIRECT_DATA_BUFFERS = {TRUE|FALSE} Configure SGA Memory cache
for >4Gb RAM
USE_PRIVATE_OUTLINES = {TRUE |FALSE |category_name }
USE_STORED_OUTLINES = { TRUE |FALSE |category_name} [NOOVERRIDE]
USER_DUMP_DEST = 'directory_name' User process dump directory
UTL_FILE_DIR Utl_file accessible directories
list
UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path1', 'Path2'..
or
UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path1' # Must be
UTL_FILE_DIR ='Path2' # consecutive
entries

WORKAREA_SIZE_POLICY = {AUTO | MANUAL} Policy used to size SQL

working areas
Session & other Parameters
The following parameters are not initialization parameters:
CONSTRAINT, CREATE_STORED_OUTLINES, CURRENT_SCHEMA, 
ERROR_ON_OVERLAP_TIME, FLAGGER, INSTANCE, ISOLATION_LEVEL , SQL_TRACE?, 
SKIP_UNUSABLE_INDEXES, TIME_ZONE, USE_PRIVATE_OUTLINES, 
USE_STORED_OUTLINES.
You cannot set values for these in the parameter file (PFile/SPfile)

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SQL_TRACE is an initialization parameter, but when changed in a user session, does not update 
V$PARAMETER.
TRANSACTIONS can be changed in the parameter file or using ALTER SYSTEM...SCOPE=SPFILE 
Notes
All Byte values can also be specified in K or M or G 
e.g. you can enter 8388608 or 8192 K or 8M
All directory paths follow standard notation i.e UNIX 'quotes' or Windows "double quotes"
The default value for many of these parameters does vary across Operating System platforms.
To see the current value of any parameter:
select name,value,description,issys_modifiable
from v$parameter
where name='Some_Parameter'

issys_modifiable, shows the type of parameter: 

FALSE = Static parameter that cannot change its value in the lifetime of the instance; 
shown in bold in the list above. 
IMMEDIATE = dynamic, can change the active instance as well as future database 
restarts. 
DEFERRED = dynamic, changes only affect subsequent sessions.

'Internal' parameters (starting with _ ) should not be modified unless advised by Oracle Support. 
Changing a Parameter value 
Use the ALTER SYSTEM command to set parameters: 
ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = MEMORY;
ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = SPFILE;
ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = BOTH;
­­ In memory. This affects the database now; but will not remain after a restart. 
­­ SpFILE. This does not change the instance immediately, but it will modify the SpFILE so will take 
effect after a restart. 
­­ Memory and SpFILE ­ changes the current instance as well as the SpFILE. 
Some parameters can be modified immediately with ALTER SYSTEM, and some can be modified for 
a single session with ALTER SESSION. Static parameters must be modified with scope=SpFile 
Restoring default Parameter values
For string parameters, setting to an empty string will restore the default.
ALTER SYSTEM SET parameter = '' scope=SpFILE;

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For any parameter the RESET option will restore the default.
ALTER SYSTEM RESET parameter scope=SpFILE sid='*' ; 
note
When resetting a parameter, you must specify sid=mySid or sid='*' even for non­RAC instances. 
Managing the SpFILE
In Oracle9i and above, the SpFILE is stored in a binary format on the server. You no longer need to 
have a local copy to start the database remotely. This also means that changes made via ALTER 
SYSTEM may now persist across server restarts ­ without any need to remember to update a 
separate init.ora file. 
A PFILE (old style text init.ORA) can be created via the command: 

CREATE PFILE = 'pfilename' FROM SpFILE = 'filename';
An SpFILE (binary) can be created via the command: 
CREATE SpFILE = 'filename' FROM PFILE ='pfilename';
To create an SpFile, the database need not be started, the old pfile format is largely for backwards 
compatibility with older releases. 
If the system has both a pfile and an SpFile, then Oracle will always use the SpFile.
If the system has both a generic init.ora and an SID specific parameter file, Oracle will use the SID 
specific file.
SID specific:
spfileSID.ora or initSID.ora 
Generic:
spfile.ora or init.ora
The location for all parameter files is:
ORACLE_HOME\database (Windows)
ORACLE_HOME/dbs (Unix/Linux)
To startup a database with an SpFILE:
SQL> startup 
To startup a database with a PFILE, use the pfile= option :
SQL> startup pfile=filename
Examples

ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_format = "live%S.ARC" SCOPE = spfile;

ALTER SYSTEM SET shared_pool_size=64M scope=both

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 SELECT name, value from v$parameter where name = 'spfile'; 

show parameter spfile; 

New parameters in 9.2 
audit_sys_operations, dg_broker_start, dg_broker_config_file_n, file_mapping, filesystem_io_options, 
log_parallelism, olap_page_pool_size, optimizer_dynamic_sampling, statistics_level.
New parameters in 10G
asm_diskgroups, asm_diskstring, asm_power_limit, db_flashback_retention_target, 
db_recovery_file_dest, db_recovery_file_dest_size, db_unique_name, ddl_wait_for_locks, 
fileio_network_adapters, gcs_server_processes, instance_type, ldap_directory_access, 
log_archive_config, log_archive_local_first, plsql_code_type, plsql_debug, plsql_optimize_level, 
plsql_warnings, resumable_timeout, sga_target, smtp_out_server, sp_name, sqltune_category, 
streams_pool_size.
"Happiness, wealth, and success are by­products of goal setting; they cannot be the goal themselves"  
­ Denis Waitley, The Joy of Working 

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