How to find database files location (from system flat files)
Hi all,
Is there anyone who could help me to understand the Oracle database starting mechanism. I'm looking the doc for a few days, but it lacks some details...
I'm currently using Oracle 10g on RedHat, and my database has been created using DBCA. While the installation process, DBCA allows to use a customized location for "*all the database files*". I've chosen */data*.
Now, when I'm looking in my /etc/oratab file, I can see: mydb:$ORACLE_HOME:N
I guess the startup process of Oracle reads /etc/oratab (or I didn't understand its utility...) and then goes to $ORACLE_HOME to find the database infos. In this directory, I can see a directory named hostname_mydb/ and dbs/
The dbs/ directory contains my pfile (initmydb.ora) which contains some parameters such as control files, but nothing about the parent directory of my database files, ie:
control_files= /data/oradata/mydb/control01.ctl,....*
but no DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST as I could expect if the db was created through OMF.
The hostname_mydb/ contains nothing but a sysman directory.
I wonder how Oracle process knows where are the .dbf files or the "parent directory of database files" ? Does anyone have a clue?
I know it is possible to ask through sqlplus for .dbf location but I don't think it's the way used for the startup process (or at least, I hope there is another way)
Thanks! (and sorry if the question seems obvious or stupid...)