Parameter - MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE

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

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

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