STARTUP

The STARTUP command starts an Oracle database instance, and allows you to specify a number of options.

The options you can specify are as follows:

  • FORCE: shuts down the current Oracle instance in the SHUTDOWN ABORT mode before restarting it.

  • RESTRICT: allows only Oracle users with the RESTRICTED SESSION system privilege to connect to the instance.

  • PFILE: specifies the PFILE initialization parameter file to be used when the database instance is started.

  • MOUNT: mounts the database or far sync instance on the instance.

  • OPEN: mounts and opens the instance on the specified database.

  • NOMOUNT: starts the specified instance without mounting the database or far sync instance.

Format

STARTUP [FORCE] [RESTRICT] [PFILE=<filename>] [MOUNT | OPEN [<open_options>] | NOMOUNT];

Command Parameters

filename

The name of the initialization parameter file to be used when starting the database instance. If you do not specify the PFILE parameter option, then the default server parameter file (specific to your operating system) is used.

open-options

The mode of access in which you want the specified database to start. The possible modes are:

  • READ ONLY
  • READ WRITE

Usage Notes

  • Using the STARTUP command with no arguments is equivalent to using the STARTUP OPEN command.

  • If you do not use the FORCE clause when you use the STARTUP command and the current database instance is running, an error results. The FORCE clause is useful when you are debugging or when error conditions are occurring. Otherwise, it should not be used.

  • Use the RESTRICT clause to allow only Oracle users with the RESTRICTED SESSION system privilege to connect to the instance. Later, you can use the ALTER SYSTEM command through SQL*Plus to disable the restricted session feature.

  • If you do not use the PFILE clause to specify the initialization parameter file, the STARTUP command uses the default server parameter file, if it exists. Otherwise, the STARTUP command uses the default initialization parameter file. The default files are platform specific.

    See your operating system-specific documentation for more information about the default parameter files.

  • Use the OPEN clause to mount and open the specified database.

  • The NOMOUNT clause starts the database instance without mounting the database. You cannot use the NOMOUNT clause with the MOUNT or OPEN options.

  • The order of the optional clauses in the STARTUP command is interchangeable.

Command Examples

Example 1: Two Methods for Starting a Database Instance

The following examples show two different methods for starting a database instance. Each command starts a database instance using the standard parameter file, mounts the default database in exclusive mode, and opens the database.

DGMGRL> STARTUP;
DGMGRL> STARTUP OPEN;

Example 2: Shutting Down the Current Instance and Restarting Without Mounting or Opening It

The following command shuts down the current instance, immediately restarts it without mounting or opening the database, and allows only users with restricted session privileges to connect to it.

DGMGRL> STARTUP FORCE RESTRICT NOMOUNT;

Example 3: Starting (But Not Mounting) an Instance Using a Parameter File

The following command starts an instance using the parameter file testparm without mounting the database. 

DGMGRL> STARTUP PFILE=testparm NOMOUNT;

Example 4: Starting and Mounting an Instance Without Opening It

The following example starts and mounts a database instance, but does not open it.

DGMGRL> STARTUP MOUNT;