Not really needed. The DB_UNIQUE_NAME I believe only gets involved in DG and RAC. Nothing to say you can't be a touch more creative. Actually I do something of the sorts. DB_UNIQUE_NAME = DBNAME.SITE.COUNTRY. SO you could have FOX.NEWYORK.US and FOX.LONDON.UK. Richard Goulet Senior Oracle DBA/Na Team Leader From: K R [mailto:kp0773@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 3:17 PM To: Goulet, Richard Cc: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: db_unique_name thanks Richard, by the way if ever we start to failover the standby database then should we be able to change the db_unique_name to be same as db_name ( as at that point the old primary database is no more in the dataguard configuration ) On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 12:02 PM, Goulet, Richard <Richard.Goulet@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: DB_UNIQUE_NAME must be different between the primart and standby as follows: Primary Db_name=fox Db_unique_name =foxp Standby Db_name=fox Db_unique_name=foxs Rather simplistic, but I think you'll catch on. Richard Goulet Senior Oracle DBA/Na Team Leader From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of K R Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 2:47 PM To: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: db_unique_name All, I have the primary db on server A , and planning to make the standby on server B. Can I have the db_unique_name same same as db_name in standby database.? appreicate any suggestion. thanks Kart