Control File.

Contents in Control file:-

• Database information (RESETLOGS SCN and their time stamp).

• Archive log history.

• Tablespace and datafile records (filenames,datafile checkpoints,read/write status,offline or

not).

• Redo threads (current online redo log).

• Database's creation date- Timestamp.

• Database name.

• Current archive log mode.

• Log records (sequence numbers, SCN range in each log).

• RMAN catalog.

• Database block corruption information.

• Database ID, which is unique to each DB.

Size of The control files :

The size of the control files is governed by the following parameters.

• Maxlogfiles -- No. of log groups that can be created.

• Maxlogmembers – No. of log members that can be created in Log group.

• Maxloghistory -- History of log files, that will be stored in Control file.

• Maxinstances – No. of instances that can be accommodated in Database.

 1> Create binary control file.
2> Create SQL file to create control file.
3> Dropping control file.
4> Multiplexing control file. (PFILE)
5> Multiplexing control file. (SPFILE)

1> Make a binary copy of the control file :

SQL>ALTER DATABASE BACKUP CONTROLFILE TO '/tmp/control.bkp';

2> Generate an SQL file to create the control file :

SQL>ALTER DATABASE BACKUP CONTROLFILE TO TRACE AS '/tmp/create_control.sql';`

3> Dropping a Control File :

Control files are dropped when a location is no longer appropriate, e.g., a disk drive has been
eliminated from use for a database.

1. Shut down the database. (ABORT)

2. Edit the init.ora file CONTROL_FILES parameter by removing the old control file name.
3. Restart the database

4> Multiplexing Control FIle : ( PFILE)

1. Shutdown the database. ( IMMEDIATE)

2. Copy controlfile to desired location with proper naming convention.
3. Make entry in Pfile.
4. Start Database.

SQL>select name from v$controlfile;

1> SQL> shutdown immediate

2> # copy control file --- cp control01.ctl control02.ctl
 3> Make entry in pfile.

4> SQL> Startup

Here, you can see 2 control files in your database now.

5> Multiplexing Control FIle : ( SPFILE)

1> Change parameter control_files in database to point multiple controlfiles.
2> Shutdown database. (IMMEDIATE)
3> Copy control file to desired location with proper naming convention.
4> Start database.

1> SQL> alter system set

control_files='/u01/app/oracle/oradata/chetan/control/control01.ctl','/u01/app/oracle/
oradata/chetan/control/control02.ctl','/u01/app/oracle/oradata/chetan/control/control
03.ctl' scope=spfile;

2> SQL>Shutdown immediate;

3> Copy control file. – cp control01.ctl control03.ctl

4> Startup;

Here you can see 3 control files in your database with SPFILE in use!!!