Gus, Can't you just do: alter tablespace <tablespace_name> read only; for each of your application tablespaces? That way, it doesn't matter how the database is opened...? -Mark ________________________________________ From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gus Spier [gus.spier@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 23:09 To: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: database decommission checklist we are de-commissioning a database, but the requirement is to keep this particular DB available in read-only status for 90 days. Not really a problem, but in order to guarantee the DB doesn't open read/write if the host reboots, we have to edit the dbstart script such that, when it reads the oratab, it starts the other databases on the server normally. But ... when it comes to the SID for our read-only DB, it goes "STARTUP MOUNT;" Then opens the DB "READ-ONLY" R, Gus -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l