Oracle Net8 Configuration and Troubleshooting

Hugo Toledo is a principal consultant in the Oracle practice for Saraswati Systems Corporation (SSC) in Chicago, Illinois. Hugo has over 14 years of experience designing and deploying distributed software solutions. Hugo has specialized in the area of Oracle connectivity since 1989, and is the author of Oracle Networking, published by Oracle Press in 1996. Jonathan Gennick is a writer and editor. His writing career began in 1997, when he coauthored Teach Yourself PL/SQL in 21 Days (Sams). Since then, he has written Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly & Associates, 1998) and Oracle SQL*Plus Pocket Reference (O'Reilly & Associates, 2000). He has also has been a technical editor or reviewer for numerous other books for O'Reilly and other publishers. Jonathan is a former manager in KPMG's Public Services Systems Integration practice, where he was also the lead database administrator for the utilities group working out of KPMG's Detroit office. He has more than a decade of experience with relational databases.

Preface I. How Net8 Works 1. Oracle's Network Architecture and Products Goals of Net8 Net8 Components Stack Communications Management Utilities 2. Name Resolution Local Naming Directory Naming Centralized Naming Host Naming External Name Resolution Choosing the Method to Use II. Net8 Configuration 3. Client Configuration The Overall Process Installing the Net8 Client Software Configuring Your Profile Defining Net Service Names Using LDAP Using Oracle Names Using External Naming Methods Testing Client Connectivity 4. Basic Server Configuration The Overall Process Software to Install Configuring a Listener The Listener Control Utility Securing a Listener Modifying and Deleting a Listener Detecting Dead Connections 5. Multi-Threaded Server Understanding MTS Planning for MTS Database Initialization File Changes Forcing a Dedicated Server Connection Viewing MTS Status Online MTS Modifications 6. Net8 and LDAP What Is LDAP? Client Configuration for LDAP Defining Net Service Names in an LDAP Directory 7. Oracle Names Configuring a Names Server Managing a Names Server Discovery and Client Configuration Domains and Regions 8. Net8 Failover and Load Balancing Failover Load Balancing 9. Connection Manager Connection Manager Benefits Connection Manager Architecture Configuring Connection Manager Configuring a Client Managing Connection Manager III. Net8 Troubleshooting 10. Net8 Troubleshooting Techniques Testing Connectivity to the Server Looking at Net8 Log Files Generating Net8 Trace Files 11. Solutions to Common Problems Net8 General Problems Connection Manager Problems Multi-Threaded Server Problems Oracle Names Problems IV. Appendixes A. The sqlnet.ora File B. The tnsnames.ora File C. The listener.ora File D. The names.ora File E. Environment and Registry Variables F. MTS Initialization Parameters G. MTS Performance Views Index