This question is basically a sequence of my other problem. (Three sets of companies on same DB). From Oracle sake, it is a bad idea (I did not set up this way). So I want to create another instance on the same DB, and allow the TEST set of company to use it. Because I only have one application BAAN V, can the db_resource file be used for two different oracle 10g r2 instances, one prod and one test? The box is an IBM AIX 5.3 L (p550 machine). I read the set up of the db_resource, it only has a parameter for the database, not about the instance or the schema.

Chi

I disagree.

Running Muiltiple Instances of Oracle when you could have just one is worse than multiple companies in the same instance.

Each instance of oracle has huge overhead, you waste a lot of resources
that way.

Also, if you have transactions that would cross companies (via shared tables, etc.) you start forking new drivers (which take up resources) and you do not have a 2 phased commit so your DBs could become out of sync...

Dave