how to find database is running on PFILE or SPFILE
Below script will tells us if the database is running on PFILE or SPFILE SELECT DECODE(value, NULL, 'PFILE', 'SPFILE') "Init File Type" FROM sys.v_$parameter WHERE name = 'spfile'; OR SQL> show parameter spfile; NAME TYPE VALUE —— —— ———————————————— spfile string /u01/apps/oracle/10g/dbs/spfileorclkhan.ora parameter will tell you the location where the SPFILE is present as well.