Question:

I'm using the function GET_TIME of the DBMS_UTILITY-package. It seems to
me that the functionality from Oracle 8.0.5 to 8.1.5 has changed.

The manual of Oracle 8.1.5 describes GET_TIME as follows:
"
This function finds out the current time in 100th's of a second. It is
primarily useful for determining elapsed
time.

Syntax

DBMS_UTILITY.GET_TIME
  RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

None.

Returns

Time is the number of 100th's of a second from some arbitrary epoch.
"

Does anyone know what "some arbitrary epoch" means?!
 

Answer:

AFAIK the counter/timer is reset once the database is bounced.
This was true in Oracle 7, so the behavior didn't change.
Get_time is not a proper clock.

Hth,

Sybrand Bakker, Oracle DBA