problem while net 8 configuration (oracle 8i)

Hi all,
I am trying to create a net 8 configuration to oracle server on another machine from my oracle client. But while testing the configuration when I enter the username password and hoststring and press enter, it says credentials failed.
Can anyone please tell what might be wrong. (Others are able to connect to the same server from their oracle client).

start with "tnsping" ($ORACLE_HOME/bin I think) and make sure you can "tnsping foo" where "foo" should be defined in your tnsnames.ora file ($ORACLE_HOME/network/admin.

that'll confirm your db is reachabelf rom the box you're on.

Then try sqlplus user@foo

must make sure you're "@foo" specifier is good before wondering why your user/pass credentials dont' work.

-c