Threshold=disk-blocks Nothreshold This qualifier can be used only when extensible journaling is enabled. It cannot be used with fixed-size journaling. The Threshold qualifier sets an approximate limit on the size of the active .aij file. When the size of the active .aij file exceeds the threshold, you cannot initiate new transactions until the backup process finishes backing up and truncating (resetting) the active .aij file. During the backup operation, existing transactions can continue to write to the .aij file. Before new transactions can start, all activity issuing from existing transactions (including activity occurring after the threshold is exceeded) must be moved from the active .aij disk file to the .aij backup file. At that time, the active .aij file will be completely truncated. If you use the default, the Nothreshold qualifier, each backup cycle will completely back up the active .aij file. Oracle Corporation recommends using the Nothreshold qualifier. An appropriate value for the Threshold qualifier depends on the activity of your database, how much disk space you want to use, whether backup operations will be continuous, and how long you are willing to wait for a backup operation to complete. See the Oracle Rdb7 Guide to Database Performance and Tuning for more information on setting SPAM thresholds.