From the documentation:
startup_clauses
The startup_clauses
let you mount and open the database so that it is accessible to users.
MOUNT
Clause
Use the MOUNT
clause to mount the database. Do not use this clause when the database is already mounted.
MOUNT STANDBY DATABASE
You can specify MOUNT STANDBY DATABASE
to mount a physical standby database. The keywords STANDBY DATABASE
are optional, because Oracle Database determines automatically whether the database to be mounted is a primary or standby database. As soon as this statement executes, the standby instance can receive redo data from the primary instance.
startup mount
is the same as startup nomount; alter database mount
.
So there is no practical difference between the two approaches you showed, if the commands are run consecutively (i.e. you are not doing anything else while it is started but not mounted). However, including STANDBY DATABASE
in the command clearly shows intent, so I think it's generally better to include it, particularly if you're scripting this as part of a switchover process.