The Equivalent of MS master database in Oracle 1

[louisas]

What is the equivalent of Microsoft SQL server "master database" in Oracle if there is such a schema.

thanks,

Louisa

 

[sybaseguru]

Good question Louisa,

MSSQL has a different design compared to Oracle. In MSSQL, the master database contains most of the server scpecific data dictionary stuff (syslogins, sysusages, sysservers, sysdevices etc) plus all other info about SQL Server configuration.

In Oracle the data dictionary stuff are kept under "sys" user/schema. "sys" user happens to be the owner of the Oracle data dictionary, in short the most powerful user in an Oracle database.

The information about Oracle parameters and set up stuff including tablespaces and datafiles, redolog and undolog segments etc are kept in a binary file called control file, commonly called control.ctl. The control file is normally multiplexed to insure against the loss of a single control file. There is enough info in a control file to rebuild the Oracle database from scratch (assuming that other files are available as well). You can get a readible format of the control file by doing

alter database backup controlfile to trace;

which will create a backup of control file in sql format in the trace directory.

Hope this helps

 

[louisas]

Thanks guru. Your comments were very helpful

Louisa