Oracle Database Discussions

Hi All

My database is on Windows machine OS version MS Windows 2003 SP2 64 bit with genuine intel processor from EM 64T family. The alert log is expected to capture all error messages and for a DBA it points one of the most important trouble shooting areas if any problem with the database is referred to .. also does it grow continuously as the database ages in time ..

Earlier on UNIX machines I used to backup the alert log file for future referance and then would trim the file size so that it wont grow beyond manageable limits.. I was using vi editor, cp command and other unix filters like head etc..

but on windows we do not have the filters .. neither could I open the alert log file trim the top few lines and save it so that its size is still manageable by the os.. I am at the moment clueless as to how could I do this activity.. I was doing some google offlate and learnt that for listener log, we have some options like

lsnrctl set file_name <NEW LOG FILE_NAME>

to refresh the listener log to a new file and thus avoid it growing huge in size. Do we have any such fascility for managing alert log as well? It would not always be possible to shut down the database just to trim the alert log file.. and on windows I am not sure about other options..

Thank you ..

Sarat.