title: Why doesn't Oracle reset processes when I restart the database
body: <p>I am getting Oracle maximum processes exceeded error. To increase the the maximum allowed processes I log in as sysdba:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ sqlplus / as sysdba
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I try to see processes parameter:</p>
  
  <pre><code>sql&gt; show parameter processes
  ERROR:
  ORA-01012: not logged on
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I presume that sqlplus is not able to login due to processes being exceeded.</p>
  
  <p>I try to shutdown the instance so that processes will be closed:</p>
  
  <pre><code>SQL&gt; shutdown immediate
  ORA-24324: service handle not initialized
  ORA-24323: value not allowed
  ORA-00020: maximum number of processes (%s) exceeded
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I try to kill the Oracle service, that should kill the processes:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ sudo service oracle-xe restart
  [sudo] password for kshitiz: 
  Shutting down Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance.
  Stopping Oracle Net Listener.
  
  Starting Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I login as sysdba again but it gives the same error.</p>
  
  <p>How do I kill the processes so that the database is manageable again? And how should I diagnose why this error is occuring (which application is responsible for hogging the database)?</p>
  
  <p>I am on <code>Oracle 10g express</code> and <code>Ubuntu 13.10</code>.</p>