database in mount or nomount state

[mashadt]

I've just installed oracle 10g for the first time. Because I am new to it and to databases in general, I installed and unistalled it a few times in the process of getting the install working.

Now have installed it, created a database and figured out how to call up Oracle Enterprise Manager in my browser, but it gives me this message:

The database status is currently unavailable. It is possible that the database is in mount or nomount state. Click 'Startup' to obtain the current status and open the database. If the database cannot be opened, click 'Perform Recovery' to perform an appropriate recovery operation.

If I click on either Startup or Perform Recovery, I get a message that the password is not correct for the username.

I am assuming the username must by SYS or SYSTEM , and I know I am typing in the password that I set up when I created the database as I tried creating a new database, being careful about the password, and the same thing recurred.

I looked at my services, and they are all started - except some that seem to be related to databases that were created during my flailing around like a wet hen phase. Those cant be started.

Our system administrator tells me this

When in mount or nomount state.

do the following :
if in mount state

sqlplus "/ as sysdba"
alter database open;


if in nomount state
sqlplus "/ as sysdba"
alter database mount;
alter database open;


But I have no idea whether this is relevant information, or in fact, how to do what he suggests.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[oradba101]

Hi, mashadt

I just finished intalling this on Linux and was receiving the same error. For me, all I had to do was go to the /etc directory and find the ORATAB file and change the "N" to a "Y" on the end of the last entry and the database starts automatically when I boot the server. If you need to get to the part where your sys admin tells you to execute those commands run SQLPLUS from the command prompt and then try them.

Regards,


William Chadbourne
Oracle DBA

 

[mashadt]

Hi William

Thanks for your reply -
but as I am very new to this, I am not sure how to follow your instructions.

I also forgot to mention that I am running this on a Windows XP system.

How would I do what you suggest -
Where do I find the ORATAB file?
How do I use SQL plus to do what my system administrator suggests?

Thanks!

 

[SantaMufasa]

Mashadt,

William's suggestions are good for *nix systems...On Windows, we do not have "oratab" files.

For Windows, to better discern challenges that you may face, I recommend the following:

1) Confirm that your Windows user log-in is a member of the ORA_DBA group. Being a member of this group allows you to use SQL*Plus in a mode that does not require a password if you are attempting to administer an Oracle database instance on the same machine.

Therefore, to confirm that your Windows log-in is a member of that fully privileged group, do the following navigations (on XP):

Start..Control Panel..User Accounts..Users (tab); locate your user log-in name and confirm that at least on of the groups of which it is a member is "ORA_DBA". If it is not, then either a) locate a user to which you have access that is a member of that group and use it to connect to your WinXP server, or b) cause your log-in to become a member of the ORA_DBA group. You accomplish that by clicking the [Advanced] tab..[Advanced] user management..Groups, then <right-click>ORA_DBA, choosing "Add to Group". From the list that appears, click on your log-in and click [Add][OK]. At that point you are ready for the next step.

2) Invoke SQL*Plus to manage your database. From an XP command prompt, enter:

drive:\path > sqlplus /nolog
SQL> connect / as sysdba
connected (to an idle instance)
SQL>

The above connect response options should tell you the status of your database...if the response is "connected", then your database is already up and running; if the response is "connected to an idle instance", then the database is down.

To bring the database up, first try:

startup

At that point, if your stars are aligned, then the response should be something like:

SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area   76062212 bytes
Fixed Size                   454148 bytes
Variable Size              67108864 bytes
Database Buffers            8192000 bytes
Redo Buffers                 307200 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.
SQL>

If you instead receive one or more error messages, then please post them here and we will help you troubleshoot from there.

Note: if the connection scenario, above, still prompts you for a password, then also check the following:

cd %ORACLE_HOME\network\admin
type sqlnet.ora

One of your rows in that file should read:
sqlnet.authentication_services = (NTS)

If that rows is not there, then please add it to the file and try again.

Let us know of your findings.



Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[

http://www.dasages.com:

Providing low-cost remote Database Admin services]
Click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips if you use Oracle in Utah USA.

 

[mashadt]

Thanks Mufasa!

But in the interim, having panicked because of extreme time pressure, I have used regedit to delete all the oracle services, deleted all the folders oracle created when I installed it, and re-installed everything. I've just tried starting up Enterprise Manager and BINGO it works.

Bit of a sledghammer approach?

I have not tried to do anything with my databases yet, and will probably soon have more questions!