Configuring Oracle Net Services

5.1 Locating Oracle Net Services Configuration Files

Oracle Net Services configuration files are typically, but not always, located in the $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin directory. Depending on the type of file, Oracle Net uses a different search order to locate the file.

The search order for the sqlnet.ora and ldap.ora files is as follows:

The directory specified by the TNS_ADMIN environment variable, if this environment variable is set
The $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin directory

The search order for the cman.ora, listener.ora, and tnsnames.ora files is as follows:

The directory specified by the TNS_ADMIN environment variable, if this environment variable is set
One of the following directories:
- On Oracle Solaris:
```
/var/opt/oracle
```
- On other platforms:
```
/etc
```
The $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin directory

For some system-level configuration files, users may have a corresponding user-level configuration file stored in their home directory. The settings in the user-level file override the settings in the system-level file. The following table lists the system-level configuration files and the corresponding user-level configuration files:

System-Level Configuration File	User-Level Configuration File
`sqlnet.ora`	`$HOME/.sqlnet.ora`
`tnsnames.ora`	`$HOME/.tnsnames.ora`

Example 5-1 Sample Configuration Files

The $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/samples directory contains samples of the cman.ora, listener.ora, sqlnet.ora, and tnsnames.ora configuration files.

Note:

The cman.ora file is installed only if you select Connection Manager as part of a custom option during a client custom installation.
In a Read-only Oracle Home, the configuration files are located in the $ORACLE_BASE_HOME/network/admin directory.

5.2 Using Adapters Utility

The adapters utility displays the transport protocols, naming methods, and Oracle Advanced Security options that Oracle Database supports on the system.

5.3 Using Oracle Protocol Support

Oracle protocol support is a component of Oracle Net. It includes the following:

Each of the IPC, TCP/IP, and TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer protocol support have an address specification that is used in the Oracle Net Services configuration files and in the DISPATCHER initialization parameter. The following sections describe the address specifications for each of the protocol supports.

Related Topics

Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide

5.3.1 IPC Protocol Support

The IPC protocol support can be used only when the client program and Oracle Database are installed on the same system. This protocol support requires a listener. It is installed and linked to all client tools and the oracle executable.

The IPC protocol support requires an address specification in the following format:

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL=IPC)(KEY=key))

The following table describes the parameters used in this address specification:

Parameter	Description
PROTOCOL	The protocol to be used. The value is IPC. It is not case-sensitive.
KEY	Any name that is different from any other name used for an IPC KEY on the same system.

The following is a sample IPC protocol address:

(ADDRESS= (PROTOCOL=IPC)(KEY=EXTPROC))

5.3.2 TCP/IP Protocol Support

TCP/IP is the standard communication protocol used for client/server communication over a network. The TCP/IP protocol support enables communication between client programs and Oracle Database, whether they are installed on the same or different systems. If the TCP/IP protocol is installed on the system, then the TCP/IP protocol support is installed and linked to all client tools and to the oracle executable.

The TCP/IP protocol support requires an address specification in the following format:

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=hostname)(PORT=port))

The following table describes the parameters used in this address specification:

Parameter	Description
PROTOCOL	The protocol support to be used. The value is TCP. It is not case-sensitive.
HOST	The host name or the host IP address.
PORT	The TCP/IP port. Specify the port as either a number or the alias name mapped to the port in the `/etc/services` file. Oracle recommends a value of 1521.

The following is a sample TCP/IP protocol address:

(ADDRESS= (PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=MADRID)(PORT=1521))

5.3.3 TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer Protocol Support

The TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer protocol support enables an Oracle application on a client to communicate with remote Oracle Database instances through TCP/IP and Secure Sockets Layer.

The TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer protocol support requires an address specification in the following format:

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL=TCPS)(HOST=hostname)(PORT=port))

The following table describes the parameters used in this address specification:

Parameter	Description
PROTOCOL	The protocol to be used. The value is TCPS. It is not case-sensitive.
HOST	The host name or the host IP address.
PORT	The TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer port. Specify the port as either a number or the alias name mapped to the port in the `/etc/services` file. Oracle recommends a value of 2484.

The following is a sample TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer protocol address:

(ADDRESS= (PROTOCOL=TCPS)(HOST=MADRID)(PORT=2484))

5.4 Setting Up the Listener for TCP/IP or TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer

Oracle recommends that you reserve a port for the listener in the /etc/services file of each Oracle Net Services node on the network. The default port is 1521. The entry lists the listener name and the port number. For example:

oraclelistener    1521/tcp

In this example, oraclelistener is the name of the listener as defined in the listener.ora file. Reserve multiple ports if you intend to start multiple listeners.

If you intend to use Secure Sockets Layer, then you should define a port for TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer in the /etc/services file. Oracle recommends a value of 2484. For example:

oraclelistenerssl     2484/tcps

In this example, oraclelistenerssl is the name of the listener as defined in the listener.ora file. Reserve multiple ports if you intend to start multiple listeners.