How to set MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE UNLIMITED

The size of the trace file in Oracle determined by the parameter is max_dump_file_size. If you set the value of this parameter to UNLIMITED the trace file will occupy the total available size in the file system if it is required. You can limit the value in session or system level by changing the value of the max_dump_file_size.

SQL> show parameter max_dump_file_size

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- -----------

max_dump_file_size                   string      unlimited

SQL> alter session set max_dump_file_size='200m';

Session altered.

SQL> show parameter max_dump_file_size

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- -----------

max_dump_file_size                   string      200M

SQL> alter system set max_dump_file_size='200m';

System altered.

Revert the value to the unlimited value.

SQL> alter system set max_dump_file_size=unlimited;

System altered.

MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE

Version Type Default Session Modifiable System Modifiable 7.3.4 Integer 10000 No No 8.0.4 Integer 10000 No No 8.0.5 Integer 10000 No No 8.0.6 Integer 10000 No No 8.1.5 Integer 10000 No No 8.1.6 String UNLIMITED Yes Immediate 8.1.7 String UNLIMITED Yes Immediate 9.0.1 String UNLIMITED Yes Immediate 9.2.0 String UNLIMITED Yes Immediate

This parameter specifies the maximum size of a dump file. The size is specified in operating system blocks.

The parameter can be set in the initialisation file e.g.

    max_dump_file_size = 10000

This limits the trace file to 10000 operating system blocks. If the size of an operating system block is 512 bytes then the trace file is limited to 5mb.

In Oracle 8.1.6 and above the default value of this parameter is UNLIMITED. If the specified size has a suffix of "K" e.g. 1000K then this is the maximum file size in kilobytes; if the specified size has a suffix of "M" e.g. 1M then this is the maximum file size in megabytes. If neither a K or M suffix is specified then it still represents the maximum file size in operating system blocks.

The operating system block size is determined by the constant SSTPBLCK (ssparams.h) which represents the minimum physical block size at device level This varies by platform.

Values include

Operating System Size in Bytes NT/2000 512 Solaris 512 HP/UX 1024 Tru 64 Unix 1024

In Oracle 8.1.6 and above this parameter can be modified at system level e.g.

    ALTER SYSTEM SET max_dump_file_size = 10000;

In Oracle 8.1.6 and above it can also be modified at session level e.g.

    ALTER SESSION SET max_dump_file_size = 10000;

In Oracle 8.1.6 and above this parameter can also be set to UNLIMITED (the default value e.g.

    ALTER SESSION SET max_dump_file_size = UNLIMITED;

Trace file size can also be set to UNLIMITED using the ORADEBUG UNLIMIT command