Recovering a Control File

Recovering from Permanent Media Failure Using a Control File Copy

This procedure assumes that one of the control files specified in the CONTROL_FILES parameter is inaccessible due to a permanent media failure, and you have a multiplexed copy of the control file.

1. With the instance shut down, use an operating system command to copy the current copy of the control file to a new, accessible location:

   % cp /u01/oracle/prod/control01.ctl  /u04/oracle/prod/control03.ctl
   
   

2. Edit the CONTROL_FILES parameter in the initialization parameter file to replace the bad location with the new location:

   CONTROL_FILES = (/u01/oracle/prod/control01.ctl,
                    /u02/oracle/prod/control02.ctl,
                    /u04/oracle/prod/control03.ctl)
   
   

3. Start SQL*Plus and open the database:

   SQL> STARTUP
   
   

In any case where you have multiplexed control files, and you must get the database up in minimum time, you can do so by editing the CONTROL_FILES initialization parameter to remove the bad control file and restarting the database immediately. Then you can perform the reconstruction of the bad control file and at some later time shut down and restart the database after editing the CONTROL_FILES initialization parameter to include the recovered control file.