Using unlimited file size is a bad idea because as soon as you remove the maxsize parameter value some developer will manage to move an infinite insert into production (that is, an infinite loop containing an insert statement). Cleaning up the mess from a job filling a disk is a lot worse than having to alter the maximum file size larger. If you are actively monitoring your space usage you should have plenty of notice that you need to increase the max size. -- Mark D Powell -- Phone (313) 592-5148 -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of genegurevich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 11:13 AM To: Dennis Williams; oracle-l Subject: Re: autoextend Dennis, Regarding your point #2 (MAXSIZE). We are debating setting it to unlimited. The argument for not setting it to unlimited is that we currently have the MAXSIZE set to about 3 times the current size of the file. And we only need to expand this file once in the last several years. And I think there is a general sence of not giving Oracle too much access. I am however leaning towards setting it to unlimited precisely to avoid that "gotcha". This is a very high profile application and we can't afford to have it running out of space. Plus we will have OEM monitoring set up to notify us when the tablespace is close to being filled and therefore we should know when it is going to be expanded. with the monitoring turned on, I can't see a scenario when unlimited maxsize will cause problems. Is there anything that I 'm missing here? thank you Gene Gurevich Oracle Engineering 224-405-4079 "Dennis Williams" <oracledba.willia ms@xxxxxxxxx> To genegurevich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 09/21/2006 11:04 cc AM Subject Re: autoextend Gene, Nope, it will only extend when it needs. Look at RESIZE to immediately change the size. Also be sure to mention your platform and Oracle version. But more importantly, consider two issues: 1. How will the monitoring be done at the server level? For example if that is the responsibility of your system administrators, then you need to talk to them first. 2. Be cautious with the MAXSIZE limit. This can become a hidden "gotcha". You think since autoextend is turned on your users won't run out of space. Then months from now you get a call in the middle of the night and after digging around you discover the MAXSIZE was hit. Dennis Williams On 9/21/06, genegurevich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx < genegurevich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Hi everybody: I am looking into turning autoextend on on a few of my prod tablespaces and I want to make sure that i understand it all correctly. I am issuing the command alter database datafile FILENAME autoextend on increment XXXM maxsize XXXM; This will force Oracle to increase the size of the FILENAME by XXXM (assuming that this space is available in the filesystem) whenever the tablespace runs out of space. It will not however affect the way the space is allocated for the object within my tablespace. Am I correct here? thank you Gene Gurevich -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l