Starting Multiple Instances

Learn about how to start multiple database instances.

Perform the following steps to start service for multiple Oracle Database instance:

1. Start the service for each instance using ORADIM or the Services dialog of the Control Panel.
2. At the command prompt, set the ORACLE_SID configuration parameter to the SID for the first instance to run:

   C:\> SET ORACLE_SID=SID
   

   The variable SID is the name of the Oracle Database instance.

3. Start SQL*Plus:

   C:\> sqlplus /NOLOG
   

4. Connect AS SYSDBA:

   SQL> CONNECT / AS SYSDBA
   

5. Start up the first instance:

   SQL> STARTUP PFILE=ORACLE_BASE\admin\db_name\pfile\init.ora
   

   The variable ORACLE_BASE is c:\app\username (unless you changed it during installation) and db_name is the name of the instance.

6. Repeat Step 2 through Step 5 for the other instances to run.