What might cause a query using NL (in 9204) use Hash Outer Join (in 9208) when all optimizer and memory parameter being same. I checked optimizer parameter values using 10053 trace. The tables involved are analyzed identical, contain identical data (9208 was cloned from 9204), they run on identical servers and only one person logs in and runs the test. Memory sizes etc are all identical. Any ideas? Rjamya ---------------------------------------------- Got RAC?