RE: Delete Datafile and Recover DB Without Using Backup?

I'm trying to create a db link from a 9i database to an 8i database on another server. I've edited the tnsnames.ora file for the 9i database, adding an entry for the 8i database, and created the link on the 9i database, using OEM. But when I test the link in OEM (by clicking "Test"), the alert box tells me the link is not active. Do I need to bounce the 9i database so that it picks up the altered tnsnames.ora file? That is, does Oracle only scan the tnsnames.ora file at startup, or should it look afresh at the tnsnames.ora file each time name resolution is required?

Thanks,

Paul Vincent
DBA
University of Central England

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