Difference between PFILE and SPFILE in Oracle

This article answers the following queries :

What is PFILE in Oracle?

What is SPFILE in Oracle?

What is the use of PFILE or SPFILE in Oracle ?

What is the difference between PFILE and SPFILE in Oracle ?

What are the advantages of SPFILE compared to PFILE in Oracle ?

How to check whether database is running with PFILE or SPFILE ?

Use of PFILE or SPFILE

When an Oracle instance is started, its characteristics are set by reading some
initialization parameters. These parameters are specified either through PFILE or
SPFILE. (0r)
When an oracle instance is being started, it reads either PFILE or SPFILE to set its
characteristics.
What is PFILE ?
A PFILE is a static, client side text file. This file normally resides on the server. However
in case you would like to start oracle from a remote machine, you will need a local copy
of the PFILE in that machine.
This file can be edited with a standard text editor like notepad or vi editor. This file will
be commonly referred as INIT.ORA file.
What is SPFILE ?
SPFILE (Server parameter file) is a persistent server side binary file. SPFILE should
only be modified through ALTER SYSTEM SET command . Editing an SPFILE directly
will corrupt the file and the start up of the database or instance will not be possible.
As SPFILe is a server side binary file, local copy of the PFILE is not required to start
oracle from a remote machine.

Advantages of SPFILE compared to PFILE

A SPFILE doesnot need a local copy of the pfile to start oracle from a remote
machine. Thus eliminates configuration problems.

SPFILE is a binary file and modications to that can only be done through ALTER
SYSTEM SET command.

As SPFILE is maintained by the server, human errors can be eliminated as the

parameters are checked before modification in SPFILE

It is easy to locate SPFILE as it is stored in a central location

Changes to the parameters in SPFILE will take immediate effect without restart
of the instance i.e Dynamic change of parameters is possible

SPFILE can be backed up by RMAN

Difference between PFILE and SPFILE in Oracle :

SNO
1
2

PFILE
Static, client side text file
Local copy of pfile required to start database
from a remote machine

SPFILE
Persistent server side binary file
local copy is not required

Can be edited through notepad or vi editor

Is available in earlier versions of Oracle 9i

5
6

Prone to human errors while modification

Cannot be backed up by RMAN

Editing directly will corrupt the

file. It should be modified only
through ALTER SYSTEM SET
command
Available from Oracle 9i and
above
Eliminates human errors as
parameters are checked before
modification
Can be backed up by RMAN

Parameters in pfile cannot be changed

dynamically and system needs to be bounced
for the new changes to take effect

Dynamic change of some

parameters is possible. Need not
restart server for the changes to
take effect

Query to findout, if database is running with PFILE or SPFILE

Goto SQL prompt and execute the following command to figure out if database is started
with a PFILE or SPFILE.
SQL > SELECT DECODE(value, NULL, PFILE, SPFILE) Init File FROM
sys.v_$parameter WHERE name = spfile;