cannot connect to oracle server

Anon

Hi All,
i just installed oracle client 8.1.6 and am trying to connect to the oracle server. I am getting the following error message when I do so.

SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.6.0.0 - Production on Thu May 24 14:12:20 2001

ERROR:
Error while trying to retrieve text for error ORA-12154

the env variables ORACLE_HOME, ORACLE_BASE, ORACLE_SID, ORACLE_TERM exist. Also in the thsnames.ora file i put in the ip address instead of the host name on which the oracle server resides.
Any suggesstions on how to help me connect using oracle client to the oracle server will be greatly appreciated..
BTW the oracle server is 8.1.6 too.

Thanks

Anon

That is "tnsnames.ora" not "thsnames.ora" (notice the "n" versus the "h").

The "Error while trying to retrieve text for error" means that the Oracle client libraries can't find the message files on your system. Check your environment variables again.

If trying to connect with "sqlplus username/password@servicename" gives a ORA-12154, then (95%+ chance) you have a mistake in either your tnsnames.ora or your sqlnet.ora. ORA-12154 is a client-side problem. Other error messages would imply a server-side problem.

How about posting your tnsnames.ora and sqlnet.ora?

-- Michael
Darkstreak Consulting
www.darkstreak.com

Anon

HI Michael,
thanx for the help. Here are the 2 files sqlnet.ora and the tnsnames.ora.

TNSNAMES.ORA Configuration File:/export/Oracle816/network/admin/tnsnames.ora

Generated by Oracle configuration tools.

BX =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = brahma)(PORT = 1521))
)
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = BX) )
)

SQLNET.ORA Configuration File:/export/Oracle816/network/admin/sqlnet.ora

Generated by Oracle configuration tools.

NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES, ONAMES, HOSTNAME)

-Noel.

Anon

I assume you are trying to connect using SQL*Plus by doing:
sqlplus yourusername/yourpassword@BX

1) Make sure that there is at least one blank line after the last ")" in your tnsnames.ora. This makes a big difference on some OSes and SQL*Net versions. It is an old problem, but sometimes people still run into it.

2) Make sure that you can reach the target machine. Also check to make sure that your domain names are being resolved correctly.
ping brahma
ping brahma.your.domain.name
ping ip.ad.dr.ss
traceroute brahma
traceroute brahma.your.domain.name
traceroute ip.ad.dr.ss
traceroute is called tracert on the Windows platforms.

3) Try a tnsping: (located in the bin directory in your Oracle directory tree)
tnsping BX

4) If tnsping fails, check to make sure that you can reach port 1521 on brahma:
telnet brahma 1521
telnet brahma.your.domain.name 1521
telnet ip.ad.dr.ss 1521
These should be able to connect, but shouldn't give you any textual response. If you can connect, then the problem is still on the client-side. If you can't connect, then your problem is really network related or the server's Listener is not accessible.

-- Michael
Darkstreak Consulting
www.darkstreak.com