UNIX: Checklist for Resolving Connect AS SYSDBA Issues [ID 69642.

1]
Modified 21-AUG-2009 Type TROUBLESHOOTING Status PUBLISHED

Introduction:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This bulletin lists the documented causes of getting
---> prompted for a password when trying to CONNECT as SYSDBA
---> errors such as ORA-01031, ORA-01034, ORA-06401, ORA-03113,ORA-09925,
ORA-09817, ORA-12705, ORA-12547
The dbacheck script in note 67984.1 may help troubleshoot issues of this nature.

a) SQLNET.ORA Checks:
---------------------
1. The "sqlnet.ora" can be found in the following locations (listed by search or
der):
$TNS_ADMIN/sqlnet.ora
$HOME/sqlnet.ora
$ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/sqlnet.ora
Depending upon your operating system, it may also be located in:
/var/opt/oracle/sqlnet.ora
/etc/sqlnet.ora
A corrupted "sqlnet.ora" file, or one with security options set, will cause
a 'connect internal' request to prompt for a password.
To determine if this is the problem, locate the "sqlnet.ora" that is being us
ed.
The one being used will be the first one found according to the search order
listed above.
Next, move the file so that it will not be found by this search:
% mv sqlnet.ora sqlnet.ora_save
Try to connect internal again.
If it still fails, search for other "sqlnet.ora" files according to the searc
h order listed
above and repeat using the move command until you are sure there are no other
"sqlnet.ora" files being used.
If this does not resolve the issue, use the move command to put all the
"sqlnet.ora" files back where they were before you made the change:
% mv sqlnet.ora_save sqlnet.ora
If moving the "sqlnet.ora" resolves the issue, then verify the contents of th
e file:
a) SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES
If you are not using database links, comment this line out or try setting
it to:
SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (BEQ,NONE)
 Remark: on certain platforms, this is the default behavior.
b) SQLNET.CRYPTO_SEED
This should not be set in a "sqlnet.ora" file on UNIX.
If it is, comment the line out. (This setting is added to the "sqlnet.ora"
if it is built by one of Oracle's network cofiguration products shipped wi
th client products)
c) AUTOMATIC_IPC
If this is set to "ON" it can force a "TWO_TASK" connection.
Try setting this to "OFF":
AUTOMATIC_IPC = OFF

2. Set the permissions correctly in the "TNS_ADMIN" files.

The environment variable TNS_ADMIN defines the directory where the "sqlnet.or
a",
"tnsnames.ora", and "listener.ora" files reside.
These files must contain the correct permissions, which are set when "root.sh
" runs
during installation.
As root, run "root.sh" or edit the permissions on the "sqlnet.ora", "tnsnames
.ora",
and "listener.ora" files by hand as follows:
$ cd $TNS_ADMIN
$ chmod 644 sqlnet.ora tnsnames.ora listener.ora
$ ls -l sqlnet.ora tnsnames.ora listener.ora
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 1628 Jul 12 15:25 listener.ora
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 586 Jun 1 12:07 sqlnet.ora
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 82274 Jul 12 15:23 tnsnames.ora

b) Software and Operating System Issues:

----------------------------------------
1. Be sure $ORACLE_HOME is set to the correct directory and does not have any
typing mistakes:
% cd $ORACLE_HOME
% pwd
If this returns a location other than your "ORACLE_HOME" or is invalid, you
will need to reset the value of this environment variable:
sh or ksh:
----------
$ ORACLE_HOME=<path_to_ORACLE_HOME>
$ export ORACLE_HOME
Example:
$ ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/7.3.3
$ export ORACLE_HOME
csh:
----
 % setenv ORACLE_HOME <path_to_ORACLE_HOME>
Example:
% setenv ORACLE_HOME /u01/app/oracle/product/7.3.3

If your "ORACLE_HOME" contains a link or the instance was started with the
"ORACLE_HOME" set to another value, the instance may try to start using the
memory location that another instance is using.
An example of this might be:
You have "ORACLE_HOME" set to "/u01/app/oracle/product/7.3.3" and start the
instance.
Then you do something like:
% ln -s /u01/app/oracle/product/7.3.3 /u01/app/oracle/7.3.3
% setenv ORACLE_HOME /u01/app/oracle/7.3.3
% svrmgrl
SVRMGR> connect internal
If this prompts for a password then most likely the combination of your
"ORACLE_HOME" and "ORACLE_SID" hash to the same shared memory address of
another running instance. Otherwise you may be able to connect internal
but you will receive an ORA-01034 "Oracle not available" error.
In most cases using a link as part of your "ORACLE_HOME" is fine as long as
you are consistent.
Oracle recommends that links not be used as part of the "ORACLE_HOME", but
their use is supported.
2. Check that $ORACLE_SID is set to the correct SID, (including capitalization),
and does not have any typos:
% echo $ORACLE_SID
Refer to Note:1048876.6 for more information.
3. Ensure $TWO_TASK is not set.
To check if "TWO_TASK" is set, do the following:
sh, ksh or on HP/UX only csh:
-----------------------------
env |grep -i two
- or -
echo $TWO_TASK
csh:
----
setenv |grep -i two
If any lines are returned such as:
TWO_TASK=
- or -
TWO_TASK=PROD
You will need to unset the environment variable "TWO_TASK":
sh or ksh:
 ----------
unset TWO_TASK
csh:
----
unsetenv TWO_TASK
Example :
$ TWO_TASK=V817
$ export TWO_TASK
$ sqlplus /nolog
SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Fri Dec 31 10:12:25 2004
(c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
SQL> conn / as sysdba
ERROR:
ORA-01031: insufficient privileges
$ unset TWO_TASK
$ sqlplus /nolog
SQL> conn / as sysdba
Connected.
If you are running Oracle release 8.0.4, and upon starting "svrmgrl" you
receive an ORA-06401 "NETCMN: invalid driver designator" error, you should
also unset two_task.
The login connect string may be getting its value from the TWO_TASK
environment variable if this is set for the user.
4. Check the permissions on the Oracle executable:
% cd $ORACLE_HOME/bin
% ls -l oracle ('ls -n oracle' should work as well)
The permissions should be rwsr-s--x, or 6751.
If the permissions are incorrect, do the following as the "oracle"
software owner:
% chmod 6751 oracle
If you receive an ORA-03113 "end-of-file on communication" error followed
by a prompt for a password, then you may also need to check the ownership
and permissions on the dump directories.
These directories must belong to Oracle, group dba, (or the appropriates name
s
for your installation).
This error may occur while creating a database.
Permissions should be: 755 (drwxr-xr-x)
Also, the alert.log must not be greater than 2 Gigabytes in size.
When you start up "nomount" an Oracle pseudo process will try to write the
"alert.log" file in "udump".
When Oracle cannot do this (either because of permissions or because of the
"alert.log" being greater than 2 Gigabytes in size), it will issue the
ORA-03113 error.
5. "osdba" group checks:
 a. Make sure the operating system user issuing the CONNECT INTERNAL belongs
to the "osdba" group as defined in the "$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/lib/config.s"
or "$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/lib/config.c". Typically this is set to "dba".
To verify the operating system groups the user belongs to, do the followin
g:
% id
uid=1030(oracle) gid=1030(dba)
The "gid" here is "dba" so the "config.s" or "config.c" may contain an
entry such as:
/* 0x0008 15 */ .ascii "dba\0"
If these do not match, you either need to add the operating system user
to the group as it is seen in the "config" file, or modify the "config"
file and relink the "oracle" binary.
Refer to entry Note:50507.1 section 3 for more details.
b. A corrupted config.o also causes this to fail. Regenerate the config.o .
Refer to entry Note:50507.1 section 3 for more details.
c. Be sure you are not logged in as the "root" user and that the environment
variables "USER", "USERNAME", and "LOGNAME" are not set to "root".
The "root" user is a special case and cannot connect to Oracle as the
"internal" user unless the effective group is changed to the "osdba" group
,
which is typically "dba".
To do this, either modify the "/etc/password" file (not recommended) or
use the "newgrp" command:
# newgrp dba
"newgrp" always opens a new shell, so you cannot issue "newgrp" from
within a shell script.
Keep this in mind if you plan on executing scripts as the "root" user.
d. Check for any errors in the /etc/group and /etc/passwd file, verify that t
he
"osdba" group is only listed once in the "/etc/group" file and that the us
ers
belonging to the dba group are properly comma separated, a proper entry lo
oks like:
dba::108:oracle,oracleas
Potential causes for problems are multiple entries for the same group or o
racle user
in the /etc/passwd file; typically a Unix/ Linux kernel will only take the
first one
into consideration.
Another possible cause for ORA-01031 is very long lines in /etc/group,
Sun support suggests the /etc/group line should be at most 512 characters
including the new line character. This problem may also occur on other Uni
x systems.
 e. Check that the oracle user uid and gid are matching with /etc/passwd and
/etc/group :
$ id
uid=500(oracle) gid=235(dba)
$ grep oracle /etc/passwd
oracle:x:500:235:oracle:/home/oracle:/bin/bash
^^^
$ grep dba /etc/group
dba:x:253:oracle
^^^
This type of mismatch will also causes an ORA-1031 error.

6. Verify that the file system is not mounted no set uid:

% mount
/u07 on /dev/md/dsk/d7 nosuid/read/write
If the filesytem is mounted "nosuid", as seen in this example, you will need
to unmount the filesystem and mount it without the "nosuid" option.
Consult your operating system documentation or your operating system vendor
for instruction on modifying mount options.
7. Please read the following warning before you attempt to use the information
in this step:
******************************************************************
* *
* WARNING: If you remove segments that belong to a running *
* instance you will crash the instance, and this may *
* cause database corruption. *
* *
* Please call Oracle Support Services for assistance *
* if you have any doubts about removing shared memory *
* segments. *
* *
******************************************************************
If an instance crashed or was killed off using "kill" there may be shared
memory segments hanging around that belong to the down instance.
If there are no other instances running on the machine you can issue:
% ipcs -b
T ID KEY MODE OWNER GROUP SEGSZ
Shared Memory:
m 0 0x50000ffe --rw-r--r-- root root 68
m 1601 0x0eedcdb8 --rw-r----- oracle dba 4530176

In this case the "ID" of "1601" is owned by "oracle" and if there are no
other instances running in most cases this can safely be removed:
% ipcrm -m 1601
If your SGA is split into multiple segments you will have to remove all
segments associated with the instance. If there are other instances
running, and you are not sure which memory segments belong to the failed
 instance, you can do the following:
a. Shut down all the instances on the machine and remove whatever shared
memory still exists that is owned by the software owner.
b. Reboot the machine.
c. If your Oracle software is release 7.3.3 or newer, you can connect into
each instance that is up and identify the shared memory owned by that
instance:
% svrmgrl
SVRMGR> connect internal
SVRMGR> oradebug ipc
In Oracle8:
-----------
Area #0 `Fixed Size', containing Subareas 0-0
Total size 000000000000b8c0, Minimum Subarea size 00000000
Subarea Shmid Size Stable Addr
0 7205 000000000000c000 80000000

In Oracle7:
-----------
-------------- Shared memory --------------
Seg Id Address Size
2016 80000000 4308992
Total: # of segments = 1, size = 4308992
Note the "Shmid" for Oracle8 and "Seg Id" for Oracle7 for each running inst
ance.
By process of elimination find the segments that do not belong to an
instance and remove them.
8. If you are prompted for a password and then receive error ORA-09925 "Unable
to create audit trail file" or error ORA-09817 "write to audit file failed",
along with "SVR4 Error: 28: No space left on device", do the following:
Check your "pfile". It is typically in the "$ORACLE_HOME/dbs" directory
and will be named "init<your_sid>.ora, where "<your_sid>" is the value of
"ORACLE_SID" in your environment. If the "init<your_sid>.ora" file has
the "ifile" parameter set, you will also have to check the included file
as well. You are looking for the parameter "audit_file_dest".
Alternatively retreive the parameter by typing: show parameter audit_file_de
st .
If "audit_file_dest" is set, change to that directory; otherwise change to
the default directory , from version 10.2 onwards the first default value
for parameter AUDIT_FILE_DEST is: $ORACLE_BASE/admin/$ORACLE_SID/adump,
the second default value for the directory is: $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/audit
(this is the only default directory for pre 10.2 RDBMS versions).
Make sure that if the first default directory exists, that it is also writab
le,
otherwise if this directory exist but is not writable, an error
ORA-09925 "Unable to create audit trail file" is raised.
If not any of the default directories exist, then create one. Ensure that yo
u have
 enough space to create the audit file. The audit file is generally 600 bytes
in size. If it does exist, verify you can write to the directory:
% touch afile
If it could not create the called "afile", you need to change the permission
s
on your audit directory:
% chmod 751
9. If connect internal prompts you for a password and then you receive an
ORA-12705 "invalid or unknown NLS parameter value specified" error, you
need to verify the settings for "ORA_NLS", "ORA_NLS32", "ORA_NLS33" or
"NLS_LANG".
You will need to consult your Installation and Configuration Guide for the
proper settings for these environment variables.
10. If you have installed Oracle software and are trying to connect with
Server Manager to create or start the database, and receive a TNS-12571
"packet writer failure" error, please refer to Note:1064635.6
11. If in SVRMGRL (Server Manager line mode), you are running the "startup.sql"
script and receive the following error:
ld:so.1: oracle_home/bin/svrmgrl fatal relocation error
symbol not found kgffiop
RDBMS v7.3.2 is installed.
RDBMS v8.0.4 is a separate "oracle_home", and you are attempting to have
it coexist.
This is due to the wrong version of the client shared library "libclntsh.so.
1"
being used at runtime.
Verify environment variable settings.
You need to ensure that "ORACLE_HOME" and "LD_LIBRARY_PATH" are set correctl
y.
For C-shell, type:
% setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH $ORACLE_HOME/lib
% setenv ORACLE_HOME /u01/app/oracle/product/8.0.4
For Bourne or Korn shell, type:
$ LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/lib
$ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
$ ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/8.0.4
$ export ORACLE_HOME
12. Ensure that the disk the instance resides on has not reached 100% capacity.
% df -k
If it has reached 100% capacity, this may be the cause of 'connect internal'
prompting for a password.
Additional disk space will need to be made available before 'connect interna
l'
 will work.
For additional information refer to Note:97849.1
13. Delete process.dat and regid.dat files in $ORACLE_HOME/otrace/admin director
y.
Oracle Trace is enabled by default on 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 (depends on platform)
This can caused high disk space usage by these files and cause a number of
apparently mysterious side effects.
See Note:45482.1 for more details.
14. When you get ora-1031 "Insufficient privileges" on connect internal after yo
u
supply a valid password and you have multiple instances running from the sam
e
ORACLE_HOME, be sure that if an instance has REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE set t
o
exclusive that the file $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/orapw<sid> does exist, otherwise it
defaults to the use of the file orapw that consequently causes access proble
ms
for any other database that has the parameter set to shared.
Set the parameter REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE to shared for all instances that
share
the common password file and create an exclusive orapw<sid> password files f
or any
instances that have this set to exclusive.
15. Check permissions on /etc/passwd file (Unix only).
If Oracle cannot open the password file, connect internal fails with
ORA-1031, since Oracle is not able to verify if the user trying to connect
is indeed in the dba group.
Example:
--------
# chmod 711 /etc/passwd
# ls -ltr passwd
-rwx--x--x 1 root sys 901 Sep 21 14:26 passwd
$ sqlplus '/ as sysdba'
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.1.0 - Production on Sat Sep 21 16:21:18 2002
Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
ERROR:
ORA-01031: insufficient privileges
Trussing sqlplus will show also the problem:
25338: munmap(0xFF210000, 8192) = 0
25338: lwp_mutex_wakeup(0xFF3E0778) = 0
25338: lwp_mutex_lock(0xFF3E0778) = 0
25338: time() = 1032582594
25338: open("/etc/passwd", O_RDONLY) Err#13 EACCES
25338: getrlimit(RLIMIT_NOFILE, 0xFFBE8B28) = 0
16. Check the /etc/hosts file (Unix only). First check the permissions to make s
ure
the file can be read at all. It is possible 'connect / as sysdba' succeeds b
ut a
subsequent startup command fails with ORA-01031, this can happen if the host
name
is not properly configured in /etc/hosts, by updating the /etc/hosts file wi
th a
host name that includes a fully qualified domain name this issue can be reso
lved.

c) Operating System Specific checks:

------------------------------------
1. On OpenVMS, check that the privileges have been granted at the Operating Syst
em
level:
$ SET DEFAULT SYS$SYSTEM:
$ RUN AUTHORIZE
If the list returned by AUTHORIZE does not contain ORA_<SID>_DBA, or ORA_DBA,
then you do not have the correct OS privileges to issue a connect internal.
If ORA_<SID>_DBA was added AFTER ORA_DBA, then ORA_DBA needs to be removed
and granted again to be updated.
Please refer to Note:1010852.6 for more details.
2. On Windows NT, check if DBA_AUTHORIZATION is set to BYPASS in the registry.
3. On Windows NT, if you are able to connect internally but then startup fails
for some reason, successive connect internal attempts might prompt for a
password. You may also receive errors such as:
ORA-12705: invalid or unknown NLS parameter value specified
ORA-01012: not logged on
LCC-00161: Oracle error (possible syntax error)
ORA-01031: insufficient privileges
Refer to entry Note:1027964.6 for suggestions on how to resolve this problem
4. If you are using Multi-Threaded Server (MTS), make sure you are using a dedic
ated
server connection.
A dedicated server connection is required to start up or shutdown the databas
e.
Unless the database alias in the "TNSNAMES.ORA" file includes a parameter to
make
a dedicated server connection, it will make a shared connection to a dispatch
er.
See Note:1058680.6 for more details.
5. On Solaris, if the file "/etc/.name_service_door" has incorrect permissions,
Oracle cannot read the file. You will receive a message that "The Oracle
user cannot access "/etc/.name_service_door" (permission denied).
This file is a flavor of IPC specific to Solaris which Oracle software is usi
ng
This can also cause connect internal problems. See entry Note:1066589.6
6. You are on Digital Unix, running SVRMGRL (Server Manager line mode), and you
receive an ORA-12547 "TNS:lost contact" error and a password prompt.
This problem occurs when using Parallel Server and the True Cluster software
together.
If Parallel Server is not linked in, svrmgrl works as expected.
 Oracle V8.0.5 requires an Operating System patch which previous versions of
Oracle did not require.
The above patch allows svrmgrl to communicate with the TCR software.
You can determine if the patch is applied by running:
% nm /usr/ccs/lib/libssn.a | grep adjust
If this returns nothing, then you need to:
1. Obtain the patch for TCR 1.5 from Digital.
This patch is for the MC SCN and adds the symbol "adjustSequenceNumber"
to the library /usr/ccs/lib/libssn.a.
2. Apply the patch.
3. Relink Oracle
Another possibility is that you need to raise the value of kernel parameter
per-proc-stack-size
when increased from its default value of 2097152 to 83886080 resolved this pr
oblem.
7. You are on version 6.2 of the Silicon Graphics UNIX (IRIX) operating system
and you have recently installed RDBMS release 8.0.3.
If you are logged on as "oracle/dba" and an attempt to log in to Server Manag
er
using "connect/internal" prompts you for a password, you should refer to entr
y
Note:1040607.6
8. On AIX 4.3.3 after applying ML5 or higher you can not longer connect as inter
nal
or if on 9.X '/ as sysdba' does not work as well.
This is a known AIX bug and it occurs on all RS6000 ports including SP2.
There is two workarounds and one solution. They are as follows:
1) Use mkpasswd command to remove the index.
This is valid until a new user is added to "/etc/passwd" or modified:
# mkpasswd -v -d
2) Touch the "/etc/passwd" file.
If the "/etc/passwd" file is newer than the index it will not use the
password file index:
# touch /etc/passwd
3) Obtain APAR IY22458 from IBM.
Any questions about this APAR should be directed to IBM.

d) Additional Information:
--------------------------
1. In the "Oracle7 Administrator's Reference for UNIX", there is a note that sta
tes:
If REMOTE_OS_AUTHENT is set to true, users who are members of the dba group
on the remote machine are able to connect as INTERNAL without a password.
However, if you are connecting remotely, that is connecting via anything
except the bequeath adapter, you will be prompted for a password regardless
 of the value of "REMOTE_OS_AUTHENT".
Refer to bug 644988

References:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Note:1048876.6 UNIX: Connect internal prompts for password after install
Note:1064635.6 ORA-12571: PACKET WRITER FAILURE WHEN STARTING SVRMGR
Note:1010852.6 OPENVMS: ORA-01031: WHEN ISSUING "CONNECT INTERNAL" IN SQL*DBA O
R SERVER MANAGER
Note:1027964.6 LCC-00161 AND ORA-01031 ON STARTUP
Note:1058680.6 ORA-00106 or ORA-01031 ERROR when trying to STARTUP or SHUTDOWN
DATABASE
Note:1066589.6 UNIX: Connect Internal asks for password when TWO_TASK is set
Note:1040607.6 SGI: ORA-01012 ORA-01031: WHEN USING SRVMGR AFTER 8.0.3 INSTALL
Note:97849.1 Connect internal Requires Password
Note:50507.1 SYSDBA and SYSOPER Privileges in Oracle8 and Oracle7
Note:18089.1 UNIX: Connect INTERNAL / AS SYSBDA Privilege on Oracle 7/8
Note:242490.1 How to properly configure the "/etc/hosts" file on Linux
Bug:644988 REMOTE_OS_AUTHENT=TRUE: NOT ALLOWING USERS TO CONNECT INTERNAL W
ITHOUT PASSWORD

Search Words:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
svrmgrm sqldba sqlplus sqlnet
remote_login_passwordfile

Show Related Information Related

Products
* Oracle Database Products > Oracle Database > Oracle Database > Oracle Serv
er - Enterprise Edition
Keywords
BEQ; OBJECT PRIVILEGES; PASSWORD
Errors
LCC-161; ORA-1012; ORA-1031; ORA-1034; ORA-12705; ORA-3113; ORA-6401; ORA-9817;
ORA-9925
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