To perform a cold backup, the database must be offline. You can choose to automatically change the state of a database.

Select Take the database OFFLINE BEFORE the backup starts to shutdown and startup, in a mount state, the target database before the backup is started.

Select Bring the database ONLINE AFTER the backup completes to shutdown and startup, in an open state, the target database after the backup successfully completes.

The Oracle database initialization parameter file contains information to initialize the database and instance. It is used here when the target database is started in the mount or open state. Starting with Oracle 9i, initialization parameters can also be maintained in a binary server parameter file (SPFILE). Do not enter a parameter file name if you are using an SPFILE.

For information on database state, as it pertains to backup, refer to the Oracle Backup and Recovery Guide.