Directory Tree Differences by Release

Optimal Flexible Architecture has necessitated changes to the Oracle Database directory tree.

The differences are listed as follows:

  • Top-Level Oracle Directory
    When you install an Oracle Database Optimal Flexible Architecture-compliant database, there is a top-level Oracle base directory, DRIVE_LETTER: \app\username, where DRIVE_LETTER is the hard drive letter.
  • Database File Names
    Database files do not have the SID in the database file name.
  • Database File Name Extensions
    In an Optimal Flexible Architecture-compliant release, database file names have the following extensions:

Top-Level Oracle Directory

When you install an Oracle Database Optimal Flexible Architecture-compliant database, there is a top-level Oracle base directory, DRIVE_LETTER: \app\username, where DRIVE_LETTER is the hard drive letter.

The Oracle base directory contains \ORACLE_HOME directories, \oradata directories (for database files), \diag (for diagnostic data), \flash_recovery_area (for recovery operations), and \admin directories (for database administration files).

Database File Names

Database files do not have the SID in the database file name.

For example, the first control file is named control01.ctl. The SID in the file name is not necessary because all the database files for a particular database are placed in \oradata under a directory called DB_UNIQUE_NAME that is named for that database.

Database File Name Extensions

In an Optimal Flexible Architecture-compliant release, database file names have the following extensions:

  • .ctl for control files

  • .log for log files

  • .dbf for data files