About Other Storage Structures

Other storage structures that can exist in an Oracle database include the initialization parameter file, the password file, and backup files.

Initialization Parameter File

Initialization parameters are used by the Oracle instance at startup to determine the run-time properties and resources for the database. Some parameters can be set or modified while the database is running. Other initialization parameters require the database to be restarted for the changes to take effect. See "Viewing and Modifying Initialization Parameters."

Password File

A database can use a password file to authenticate administrative users with SYSDBA, SYSOPER, and SYSBACKUP privileges. A password file is required for remote connections to the database with any of these privileges. These privileges enable a DBA to start and shut down the database, back up and recover the database, and perform other high-level administrative tasks. This password file is outside of the database itself, thereby enabling the authentication of a DBA when the database is not yet started. (A DBA must authenticate before starting the database.)

When you invoke DBCA as part of the Oracle Database installation process, DBCA creates a password file with one entry: the SYS user. Granting SYSDBA, SYSOPER, or SYSBACKUP to a user adds that user to the password file automatically.

Note:

Oracle Database can also use operating system authentication to authenticate users with the SYSDBA, SYSOPER, and SYSBACKUP privileges. Operating system authentication takes precedence over password file authentication. See "Starting SQL*Plus and Connecting to the Database."

Backup Files

Backup files are not technically database files, but are copies of the database in some form that can be used to recover the database if a failure causes loss of data.