C
Configuration Parameters and the Registry

The registry stores the Oracle configuration parameters. This appendix describes only the configuration parameters that apply to Oracle8 for Windows NT.

Specific topics discussed are:

• About Configuration Parameters
• Registry Overview
• Registry Parameters
• Modifying a Registry Value
• Adding a Registry Parameter

About Configuration Parameters

Oracle8 software uses configuration parameters to locate files and specify runtime parameters common to all Oracle products. When an Oracle program or application requires a translation for a particular configuration variable, Oracle8 consults the associated parameter. Oracle parameters are stored in the registry.

Registry Overview

Oracle8 stores its configuration information in a database (the registry) that is organized in a tree format. The tree format consists of keys in the registry and parameter values for the keys. Keys and parameter values can be viewed and modified in the Registry Editor.

Keys are folders that appear in left pane of a Registry Editor window. A key contains subkeys or parameters.

ATTENTION: The Registry Editor allows you to view and modify registry keys and parameter values. Normally, you do not need to do so, and in fact, are liable to break your system if you make incorrect changes.

Parameters in the Registry Editor appear as a string that consists of three components:

• name of the parameter
• value class or type of entry
• value itself

For example, parameter ORACLE_HOME has the following entry in the registry:

ORACLE_HOME:REG_EXPAND_SZ:ORCL

Value classes for Oracle8 parameters are:

• string value with a REG_SZ, REG_EXPAND_SZ (for an expandable string), or REG_MULTI_SZ (for multiple strings) prefix to identify parameter value entry as a data string
• binary value with a REG_DWORD prefix to identify a value entry as a DWORD (hexadecimal data) entry

Registry Parameters

This section describes the main Oracle8 database registry parameters. Other products, such as Oracle Enterprise Manager, have additional keys and parameters.

This section describes the parameters for the following keys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES

  Additional Information: To modify any of the values listed below, see the section "Modifying a Registry Value" in this appendix.

  WARNING: Only advanced users should change the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE contains the following:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ORACLE_HOMES\ORACLE1 subkey
• the following parameters:

  Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
  A2OW1Z15	Specifies the location of Oracle Migration Assistant files.	ORACLE_HOME\A20WIZ15
  API	Specifies location of files for Oracle Installer.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS
  COMPANY_NAME	Specifies the name of the company entered during the installation process.	company name entered during installation
  CORE40	Specifies the location of the database message files.	ORACLE_HOME\CORE40
  EXECUTE_SQL	Specifies the executable to spawn SQL*Plus for the Oracle Installer.	PLUS40
  MSHELP	Specifies the location from where Windows help is invoked.	ORACLE_HOME\MSHELP
  MSHELP_TOOLS	Specifies the location of the Windows help files.	ORACLE_HOME\MSHELP
  NET80	Specifies the location of the Net8 directory.	ORACLE_HOME\NET80
  NLS_LANG	Specifies the supported language, territory, and character set. This parameter includes three components: language, territory, and character set. This parameter specifies the language in which the messages are displayed, the territory and its conventions for calculating week and day numbers, and the character set displayed. The default value causes all messages to be displayed in American English.	AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8ISO885981
  NLSRTL32	Specifies the location of the Oracle7 NLS message files.	ORACLE_HOME\NLSRTL32
  NLSRTL33	Specifies the location of the Oracle8 database NLS message files.	ORACLE_HOME\NLSRTL33
  ORA_NLS32	Specifies the location of the system boot file and NLS loadable data files used by the Oracle7 NLSRTL.	ORACLE_HOME\NLSRTL32 \DATA
  ORA_NLS33	Specifies the location of the system boot file and NLS loadable data files used by Oracle8 NLSRTL.	ORACLE_HOME\NLSRTL33 \DATA
  ORA_ORCL_ PWFILE	Specifies the name of the password file containing the password for the database instance designated by the system identifier (SID).	ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE \PWDSID.ORA
  ORA_SID_ SHUTDOWN	When set to TRUE, shuts down the Oracle8 database identified by the SID value when OracleServiceSID is stopped. Note: This registry entry must be manually added.	n/a
  ORA_SID_ SHUTDOWN_ TIMEOUT	Sets the maximum time to wait for the shutdown to complete before the service for a particular SID stops. Note: This registry entry must be manually added.	n/a
  ORA_SHUTDOWN	When set to TRUE, enables the selected Oracle8 database to be shut down when OracleServiceSID is stopped.	FALSE
  ORA_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT	Sets the maximum time to wait for the service to stop. You may set ORA_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT to any value greater than 30 seconds; values less than 30 are ignored). Note: This registry entry must be manually added.	n/a
  ORACLE_GROUP_ NAME	Specifies the name of the group containing icons of the Oracle products installed. The parameter is added to your registry when you first install Oracle products, even if Oracle Installer does not create a program group for the Oracle products you have installed. (For example, if you have installed only Net8 software.)	Oracle for Windows NT
  ORACLE_HOME	Specifies the Oracle home directory in which Oracle products are installed. This directory is the top directory in the Oracle directory hierarchy.	ORANT
  ORACLE_SID	Specifies the name of the Oracle8 database instance on the host machine. The value of this parameter is the SID for the instance.	ORCL
  OTRACE73	Specifies the location of the Oracle7 trace files.	ORACLE_HOME\OTRACE73
  OTRACE80	Specifies the location of the Oracle8 trace files.	ORACLE_HOME\OTRACE80
  OTT_DFLT	Specifies the executable used when OTT80.EXE is called.	OTT80
  OTT80	Specifies the location of the Object Type Translator (OTT) files.	ORACLE_HOME\OTT80
  OWAST	Specifies the location of the Oracle Web Publishing Assistant files.	ORACLE_HOME\OWAST
  PLSQL23	Specifies the directory in which Oracle7 looks for PL/SQL message files.	ORACLE_HOME\PLSQL23
  PLSQL80	Specifies the directory in which Oracle8 looks for PL/SQL message files.	ORACLE_HOME\PLSQL80
  PLUS_DFLT	Specifies the executable used when SQLPLUS.EXE is called.	PLUS80
  PLUS80	Specifies the location in which to find the files needed to run SQL*Plus.	ORACLE_HOME\PLUS40
  PRO18	Specifies the location of Oracle7 Pro*C/C++ files.	ORACLE_HOME\PRO18
  PRO80	Specifies the location of Oracle8 Pro*C/C++ files.	ORACLE_HOME\PRO18
  RDBMS73	Specifies the directory Oracle7 Server and the Oracle7 Utilities use to locate messages, resource files, and SQL scripts.	ORACLE_HOME\RDBMS73
  RDBMS80	Specifies the directory Oracle8 database and the Oracle8 Utilities use to locate messages, resource files, and SQL scripts.	ORACLE_HOME\RDBMS80
  RDBMS80_ ARCHIVE	Specifies the location of the backup database files.	ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE \ARCHIVE
  RDBMS80_ CONTROL	Specifies the location of the database control files.	ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE
  SHARED_ORACLE_HOME	Specifies the Oracle home directory used by Oracle Installer.	ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE
  SQLPATH	Specifies the location of the SQL scripts that SQL*Plus uses for searching SQL scripts.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS
  SVRMGR	Specifies the location of Server Manager support files.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ORACLE_HOMES\ORACLE1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ORACLE_HOMES\ORACLE1 subkey contains the following parameters:

Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
API	Specifies location of files for Oracle Installer.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS
COMPANY_ NAME	Specifies the name of the company entered during the installation process.	company name entered during installation
NLS_LANG	Specifies the supported language, territory, and character set. This parameter includes three components: language, territory, and character set. This parameter specifies the language in which the messages are displayed, the territory and its conventions for calculating week and day numbers, and the character set displayed. The default value causes all messages to be displayed in American English.	AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8ISO885981
ORACLE_GROUP_ NAME	Specifies the name of the group containing icons of the Oracle products installed. The parameter is added to your registry when you first install Oracle products, even if Oracle Installer does not create a program group for the Oracle products you have installed. (For example, if you have installed only Net8 software.)	Oracle for Windows NT
ORACLE_HOME	Specifies the Oracle home directory in which Oracle products are installed. This directory is the top directory in the Oracle directory hierarchy.	ORANT
SHARED_ORACLE_HOME	Specifies the Oracle home directory used by Oracle Installer.	ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES contains the following subkeys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICE \ORACLE80\PERFORMANCE subkey
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICE \Service subkey

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES
\ORACLE80\PERFORMANCE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES
\ORACLE80\PERFORMANCE contains the following values

Note: Modify only Hostname, Password and Username values to point to any database.

:

For the Oracle8 Performance Monitor to display information for Oracle8 performance objects, it must actually log on to the database. Modify the following parameters if the default information is not applicable or you want to access another database:

Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
Hostname	Displays a Net8 connect string that allows you to edit the SID (two ORCL entries in this example):1 DESCRIPTION= (ADDRESS_LIST= (ADDRESS= (PROTOCOL=BEQ) (PROGRAM=oracle80) (ARGV0=oracle80orcl) (ARGS='(DESCRIPTION=(LOCAL=YES)(ADDRESS= (PROTOCOL=beq)))') ) ) (CONNECT_DATA=(SID=ORCL)) )	n/a
Password	Displays the password for the user name to access the database.	Manager
Username	Displays the user name to access the database.	SYSTEM

1 The 2:, 2:orcl, and 2:sid connect strings for local connections to Oracle8 are not supported. Instead, the new default connect string for a local connection uses the Bequeath Protocol Adapter.

The following parameters are needed by the Oracle8 Performance Monitor as entry points.

Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
Close	Specifies the close entry point for the DLL.	CloseOracle8PerformanceData
Collect	Specifies the collect entry point for the DLL.	CollectOracle8PerformanceData
Open	Specifies the open entry point for the DLL.	OpenOracle8PerformanceData
Library	Specifies the name of the Oracle8 Performance Monitor DLL. Default Value:	OPERF80.DLL

The following parameters specify Oracle8 Performance Monitor log file and object configuration file.

Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
LOGFILE	Specifies the name of the Oracle8 Performance Monitor log file. This log file reports any errors, such as Oracle8 objects not displaying or database access problems.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS \OPERF80.LOG
PERF__FILE_ NAME	Specifies the location of PERF80.ORA. PERF80.ORA contains all the performance objects displayed by the Oracle8 Performance Monitor.	ORACLE_HOME\DBS\PERF80.ORA

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES
\Service

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES contains subkeys that correspond to services:

• OracleClientCache80
• OracleServiceSID
• OracleStartSID
• OracleTNSListener80
• OracleNames80
• OracleWebAssistant

If you installed other products, you may also see other subkeys for additional services.

Each service subkey contains the following parameters:

Parameter	Description	Default Value Entry
DisplayName	Specifies the service name of the instances whose SID is SID.	OracleServiceORCL
ImagePath	Specifies the fully-qualified path name of the executable invoked by the service and any command-line arguments passed into the executable at runtime.	ORACLE_HOME\BIN \ORACLE80.EXE ORCL
ObjectName	Specifies the logon user account and machine to which the service should log on.	LocalSystem

Modifying a Registry Value

CAUTION: Do not edit your registry unless it is absolutely necessary. If there is an error in your registry, Oracle8 may become nonfunctional. In fact, the registry itself can become unstable.

To edit the Oracle-related settings:

1. Start the Registry in either of two ways:
   • From the command prompt, enter:

     C:\>REGEDT32
     

   • Choose Start>Run, enter REGEDT32 in the Open field, and choose OK.

   The Registry Editor window appears:

   

2. Navigate to the values you want to view or modify by double-clicking keys.

   The left-hand side of the windows shows the hierarchy of registry keys, and the right-hand side of the window shows various values associated with a key:

   

3. Double-click the parameter to edit.

   An editor dialog box appears:

   

4. Make any necessary edits.
5. Choose OK.
6. From the Registry menu, choose Exit.

Adding a Registry Parameter

To add a parameter to the registry:

1. Start the registry in either of two ways:
   • From the command prompt, enter:

     C:\>REGEDT32
     

   • Choose Start>Run, enter REGEDT32 in the Open field, and choose OK.

   The Registry Editor window appears.

2. Navigate to the key where you want to add the new value.
3. Choose the Add Value option in the Edit menu.

   The Add Value dialog box appears:

   

4. In the Value Name field, enter the name that you want to assign to the currently selected key.
5. In the Data Type box, select the value class that you want to assign the added value:
   • REG_SZ, REG_EXPAND_SZ (for an expandable string) or REG_MULTI_SZ (for multiple strings) for a data string.
   • binary value with a REG_DWORD prefix to identify a value entry as a DWORD (hexadecimal data) entry
6. Choose OK.

   An editor dialog box appropriate for the data type appears:

   

7. Enter the value itself for the parameter.

   The Registry Editor adds the parameter.

8. Choose Exit from the Registry menu.

   The registry exits.

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