How to unmount oracle database? According to the oracle docs, during shutdown, 3 steps are performed:

Close the database.
Unmount the database.
Shut down the instance.

Is it possible to make only first 2 steps?
Yes, it's possible. 

SQL&gt; alter database close;

Database altered.

SQL&gt; select open_mode from v$database;

OPEN_MODE
--------------------
MOUNTED

SQL&gt; alter database dismount;

Database altered.

SQL&gt; select open_mode from v$database;
select open_mode from v$database
                      *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-01507: database not mounted