How To Connect Using A Sqlplus Preliminary Connection (Doc ID 986640.1)

In this Document

Goal

Solution

References

This document is being delivered to you via Oracle Support's Rapid Visibility (RaV) process and therefore has not been subject to an independent technical review.

APPLIES TO:

Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition - Version 10.2.0.1 to 12.1.0.2 [Release 10.2 to 12.1]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
***Checked for relevance on 03-Nov-2011***

GOAL

Show a way to connect to a database through Sqlplus when all other connection methods are hanging. Using a Sqlplus preliminary connection you will be able to connect to the database
since no session is actually created, but you will have limited access to the SGA.  This will help in capturing diagnostic information like a systemstate dump to aid in problem resolution.

SOLUTION

There are two ways to connect to sqlplus using a preliminary connection.
sqlplus -prelim / as sysdba

sqlplus /nolog

set _prelim on

connect / as sysdba

For example:

SQL> set _prelim on

SQL> connect / as sysdba

Prelim connection established

REFERENCES

NOTE:61552.1 -
Troubleshooting Oracle Database Hanging Issues for versions from 7 to 9--Exhaustive.