yes both ways is the same issue . sqlplus /nolog connect/ as sysdba and sqlplus '/ as sysdba' have the same issue "Powell, Mark D" <mark.powell@xxxxxxx> wrote: Fred, you did not list the sqlplus command option which you used. sqlplus /nolog then at the prompt > connect / as sysdba --------------------------------- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fuad Arshad Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 10:09 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: connect as sysdba ora-1031 We're having this issue which started today and we cant get ot the bottom of it looged in as the oracle owner TWO_TASK is unset SQL> connect sys@dbname as sysdba Enter password: Connected. SQL> connect / as sysdba ERROR: ORA-01031: insufficient privileges Warning: You are no longer connected to ORACLE. now the user i'm using is the oracle software owner password file is not corrupted remote_login_password is also set to exclusive. what steps can i take to further debug this. i"m thinking about oradebug but then since i'm disconnected how would oradebug capture anything . need some advice before i brave the tar and all the same questions with oracle.