so what is the "8.1.0" which is unique in each OS string ? Linuxi386/Linux-2.0.34-8.1.0 SVR4-be-64bit-8.1.0 IBMPC/WIN_NT-8.1.0 > Frank -----Original Message----- From: Mladen Gogala [mailto:gogala@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 1:54 PM To: Mark.Bobak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: davidsharples@xxxxxxxxx; Stephane Faroult; onkarnath.tiwary@xxxxxxxxx; gorbyx@xxxxxxxxx; ORACLE-L Subject: Re: running os command from pl/sql block When everybody is publishing port string, let me join the fray: SQL> select dbms_utility.port_string from dual; PORT_STRING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Linuxi386/Linux-2.0.34-8.1.0 SQL> It doesn't even say "IBMPC". -- Mladen Gogala http://www.mgogala.com -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l