[Oracle]Difference between a database and an instance(数据库 实例 区别)

Difference between a database and an instance [Oracle]
http://www.adp-gmbh.ch/ora/misc/database_vs_instance.html

引用

The terms instance and database are closely related, but don't refer to the same thing.
The database is the set of files where application data (the reason for a database) and meta data is stored.
An instance is the software (and memory) that Oracle uses to manipulate the data in the database. In order for the instance to be able to manipulate that data, the instance must open the database. A database can be opened (or mounted) by more than one instance, however, an instance can open at most one database.

Oracle Concepts: The Instance and the Database：
http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/20713


白话Oracle数据库和实例的关系：
http://blog.csdn.net/java2000_net/archive/2009/01/05/3710588.aspx


ORACLE实例与数据库的区别：
http://www.itpub.net/thread-1105403-1-1.html


查看当前的实例号：

SQL> show parameter instance_number;

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
instance_number                      integer     0