STARTUP

Purpose

Use the STARTUP command to start the target database from within the RMAN environment. This command is equivalent to using the SQL*Plus STARTUP command.

Additionally, the RMAN STARTUP command can start an instance in NOMOUNT mode even if no server parameter file or initialization parameter file exists. This feature is useful when you need to restore a lost server parameter file.

See Also:

Oracle Database Administrator's Guide to learn how to start up and shut down a database, and SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference for SQL*Plus STARTUP syntax

Prerequisites

You must be connected to a target database. You can only use this command to start the target database.

Usage Notes

The RMAN STARTUP command can start an instance in NOMOUNT mode even if no server parameter file or initialization parameter file exists. This feature is useful when you need to restore a lost server parameter file (see Example 2-146).

Syntax

startup::=

Description of the illustration startup.gif

Semantics

Syntax Element	Description
`STARTUP`	If you specify only `STARTUP` with no other options, then the instance starts the instance with the default server parameter file, mounts the control file, and opens the database.
`DBA`	Restricts access to users with the `RESTRICTED` `SESSION` privilege.
`FORCE`	If the database is open, then `FORCE` shuts down the database with a `SHUTDOWN` `ABORT` statement before re-opening it. If the database is closed, then `FORCE` opens the database.
`MOUNT`	Starts the instance, then mounts the database without opening it
`NOMOUNT`	Starts the instance without mounting the database. If no parameter file exists, then RMAN starts the instance with a temporary parameter file. You can then run `RESTORE` `SPFILE` to restore a backup server parameter file.
`PFILE` `filename`	Specifies the filename of the text-based initialization parameter file for the target database. If `PFILE` is not specified, then the default initialization parameter filename is used.

Examples

Example 2-145 Mounting the Database While Specifying the Parameter File

This example forces a SHUTDOWN ABORT and then mounts the database with restricted access, specifying a nondefault initialization parameter file location:

CONNECT TARGET SYS/password@prod
STARTUP FORCE MOUNT DBA PFILE=/tmp/initPROD.ora;

Example 2-146 Starting an Instance Without a Parameter File

Assume that the server parameter file was accidentally deleted from the file system. The following example starts an instance without using a parameter file, then runs RESTORE SPFILE FROM AUTOBACKUP. In this example, the autobackup location is the flash recovery area, so SET DBID is not necessary.

CONNECT TARGET SYS/password@prod
STARTUP FORCE NOMOUNT; # RMAN starts instance with dummy parameter file
RESTORE SPFILE TO '?/dbs/spfileprod.ora'
  FROM AUTOBACKUP
  RECOVERY AREA '/disk2' DB_NAME='prod';
STARTUP FORCE; # restart instance with restored server parameter file