ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve service name

Hi there,

I'm having issues connecting to an Oracle 9i database using Toad with one of my computers.

Let me provide some details regarding the situation:

- A new instance of a database we are using here has been set up on a new server. As such, I updated the TNSNames.ora file on both of my computers with the appropriate information.

- One of my computers can connect to the database on the new server just fine. (Windows XP)

- The other one gives me an error: ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve service name. (Windows 97). I attemted to ping the server from both computers and I can do that with no issues. I'm just wondering why I get that error even though the TNSNames.ora file has the same information on both computers.

Any suggestions or advise you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Thanks!
ChuckieT

Hi,

could it be that one of them is using the dns and not tns?
check your sqlnet.ora and see if it is using the dns or the tns.

Galit.

It's strange, but on the computer where it does not work, I can't find an sqlnet.ora file. Could this be causing the problem? If so, how can I resolve it?

Hi,

you have two ways to do that:

1. remove the sqlnet.ora file in the machine where it does not work.
2. correct the sqlnet.ora so it will work with the tnsnames.

the easiest way is 1.

Galit.

But I don't have a sqlnet.ora file on the computer that doesn't work.

Copy it from the one which has or create a new one - if the tnsnames includes .world extentions you need the sqlnet to include it as well.
an sqlnet sample:

# SQLNET.ORA Network Configuration File: O:\ORAWIN95\NET80\ADMIN\sqlnet.ora
# Generated by Oracle configuration tools.

NAME.DEFAULT_ZONE = world

NAMES.DEFAULT_DOMAIN = world

sqlnet.authentication_services = (NTS)

NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES,HOSTNAME )

Sorry for the late response, I was on vacation.

I tried what you suggested and I still get the same error. Any ideas?

does the tns names contains any extention (like .world)?
if so try and remove it.
in any case you might want to consider using dns instead of a tns this way you can avoid this differences between variouse machines.

I checked my TNSNames file and there are no .world extensions.

How would I go about using DNS instead of TNS with Toad?

1. if you want send me your tnsname+sqlnet and i will take a look at it.
2. to add to the dns u need someone to add the dbname and the hostname/ip to the company dns. after that you need to change the sqlnet from tnsnames to hostname and it will work.

Galit.