This article will help resolve ORA-01103 errors which occur when a database instance is attempting to be started up and the database name stored in the control file is not recognized. It will provide a step by step explanation of how to correctly identify and change the database name with the help of Oracle database administration tools. Additionally, it will provide a list of commonly asked questions and answers related to ORA-01103 errors.
Step-by-Step Guide
1.Identify the existing database name in the control file. To do this, first identify the Control File Location by running the following command in SQL*Plus:
SHOW PARAMETER control_files
2.Once the Control File Location is identified, check the header record of the control file by running the following command to see the database name:
head -20 <Control File Name>
Make sure to run the command in the same location as the control file.
Check the alert log file in the background dump directory to determine if the reported database instance name matches the existing database name in the control file. The following command will bring you to the background dump directory:
cd $ORACLE_HOME/admin/<SID>/bdump
3.After confirming the database name from the alert log file and control file, update the database instance name as required. This can be done with the following command:
ALTER DATABASE RENAME <old database instance name> TO <new database instance name>;
4.Finally, restart the database.
FAQ
Q. What is ORA-01103?
A. ORA-01103 is an error code that is thrown when a database instance is attempting to be started up and the database name stored in the control file is not recognized.
Q. How can I identify the existing database name in the control file?
A. To find the existing database name in the control file, run the following command in SQL*Plus:
SHOW PARAMETER control_files
Q. How can I determine if the reported database instance name matches the existing database name in the control file?
A. Check the alert log file in the background dump directory to see if the reported database instance name matches the existing database name in the control file.
Q. How can I update the database instance name?
A. To update the database instance name, run the following command:
ALTER DATABASE RENAME <old database instance name> TO <new database instance name>;
Q. How can I restart the database?
A. To restart the database, use the startup command which will initialize the database and bring it online.
Resources
For more information on ORA-01103, refer to the Oracle documentation.
If you need more assistance while troubleshooting ORA-01103, ask a question on Stackoverflow.