This thread is for ubuntu but I think it has some information that might 
help:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=579805
Specifically about redirecting output to a file instead of null from 
/etc/init.d/oracle-xe

JD
Bryan O'Neal wrote:
> I emailed Go Daddy and they indicated it was above the support I paid 
> for.  Sot of a "Sorry, you loose, thanks for playing"
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us 
> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] *On Behalf Of 
> *JD Austin
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:51 AM
> *To:* Main PLUG discussion list
> *Subject:* Re: Installing Oracle XE on a 64bit system - FreeBeer tothe 
> firstperson who correctly solves my problem!
>
> From the sounds of it you've done everything correctly.
> Have you asked Godaddy for help?
>
> JD
> Bryan O'Neal wrote:
>> /etc/init.d/oracle-xe restart gives you what you would expect; 
>> it shuts down down the DB and the listener and then starts them.  The 
>> VPS has a dedicated 512MB and a burstable 2GB of memory.  Oracle is 
>> set to start with the machine.  It works perfectly in every 
>> environment i tried save the Go Daddy environment.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *From:* plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us 
>> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] *On Behalf Of 
>> *JD Austin
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:54 AM
>> *To:* Main PLUG discussion list
>> *Subject:* Re: Installing Oracle XE on a 64bit system - Free Beer 
>> tothe firstperson who correctly solves my problem!
>>
>> Bryan O'Neal wrote:
>>> That log file does not exist on the problem machine.  In fact the entire
>>> bdump directory is empty.
>>>
>>>   
>> It's sounding like corruption or that oracle refuses to even start.
>> How much memory do you have on the VPS?
>> Do you have oracle set to start when the machine starts?
>> Have you tried /etc/init.d/oracle-xe restart    to see what happens?
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>>> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of JD
>>> Austin
>>> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:07 PM
>>> To: Main PLUG discussion list
>>> Subject: Re: Installing Oracle XE on a 64bit system - Free Beer to the
>>> firstperson who correctly solves my problem!
>>>
>>> Bryan O'Neal wrote:
>>>   
>>>> Got VNC working, will likely do NX, I have used it before and liked it
>>>>     
>>>
>>>   
>>>> quite a bit, but forgot all about it.
>>>>
>>>> Still no go on Oracle.
>>>>
>>>>   
>>>>     
>>> Check the Oracle alert log to see what's going on:
>>> tail /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/admin/XE/bdump/alert_XE.log
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>>
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>
>
> -- 
> JD Austin
> Twin Geckos Technology Services LLC
> email: jd@twingeckos.com
> http://www.twingeckos.com
> phone/fax: 480.288.8195 
>
>   
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-- 
JD Austin
Twin Geckos Technology Services LLC
email: jd@twingeckos.com
http://www.twingeckos.com
phone/fax: 480.288.8195