Steps to change database name only

$ cat /etc/redhat-release

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.7 (Tikanga)

SQL> select * from v$version;

BANNER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production

PL/SQL Release 11.2.0.2.0 - Production

CORE    11.2.0.2.0      Production

TNS for Linux: Version 11.2.0.2.0 - Production

NLSRTL Version 11.2.0.2.0 – Production

Now, I want to change only database name from DUMMYDB to DEMODB for my standalone dev database

Follow the same steps from my last post Steps to Rename database name and DBID

NOTE: This is tested on my Standalone Development database, for RAC please see [Doc ID 464922.1]

STEP 1 ) Shut down the database and open database in mount

SQL> select name from v$database;

NAME

---------

DUMMYDB

SQL> select instance_name,status from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NAME       STATUS

----------------                ------------

DUMMYDB                       OPEN

SQL> shut immediate

Database closed.

Database dismounted.

ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL> startup mount

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 1068937216 bytes

Fixed Size                  2233336 bytes

Variable Size             683674632 bytes

Database Buffers          377487360 bytes

Redo Buffers                5541888 bytes

Database mounted.

SQL>

Step 2) Invoke the DBNEWID utility (nid) specifying the new database name in DBNAME and set=YES

$ nid  TARGET=/   dbname=DEMODB  SETNAME=YES

DBNEWID: Release 11.2.0.2.0 - Production on Tue Sep 18 14:00:18 2012

Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.

Connected to database DUMMYDB (DBID=471263051)

Connected to server version 11.2.0

Control Files in database:

    /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/control01.ctl

    /opt/oracle/app/fast_recovery_area/TESTDB/control02.ctl

Change database name of database DUMMYDB to DEMODB? (Y/[N]) => Y

Proceeding with operation

Changing database name from DUMMYDB to DEMODB

    Control File /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/control01.ctl - modified

    Control File /opt/oracle/app/fast_recovery_area/TESTDB/control02.ctl - modified

    Datafile /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/system01.db - wrote new name

    Datafile /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/users01.db - wrote new name

    Datafile /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/sysaux01.db - wrote new name

    Datafile /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/undotbs01.db - wrote new name

    Control File /opt/oracle/oradata/TESTDB/control01.ctl - wrote new name

    Control File /opt/oracle/app/fast_recovery_area/TESTDB/control02.ctl - wrote new name

    Instance shut down

Database name changed to DEMODB.

Modify parameter file and generate a new password file before restarting.

Succesfully changed database name.

DBNEWID - Completed succesfully.

Step 3) Make changes to pfile and password file and opened the database with resetlogs option

$ cd $ORACLE_HOME/dbs

Edit pfile   ---->  initDEMODB.ora

Vi   initDEMODB.ora

Change ‘dbname’

NOTE: database need not to be open with RESTLOGS option

$ export ORACLE_SID=DEMODB

$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Tue Sep 18 14:03:10 2012

Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Connected to an idle instance.

SQL> startup

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 1068937216 bytes

Fixed Size                  2233336 bytes

Variable Size             616565768 bytes

Database Buffers          444596224 bytes

Redo Buffers                5541888 bytes

Database mounted.

Database opened.

SQL> select name from v$database;

NAME

---------

DEMODB

Now, your database name has been changed :-)

See:  How to Change the DBID, DBNAME Using NID Utility in version 10gR2 onwards (Doc ID 863800.1)