RE: using ifile in the tnsnames.ora file

From: Mercadante, Thomas F \(LABOR\) <Thomas.Mercadante_at_labor.state.ny.us>
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 08:04:59 -0500
Message-ID: <ABB9D76E187C5146AB5683F5A07336FFE08B11@EXCNYSM0A1AJ.nysemail.nyenet>

Cques,

I always thought that the whole "ifile" business was bad practice. Maybe I'm lazy, but when I want to look at the init.ora file, or the tnsnames.ora file, I don't want to have to go searching other files to see what I'm looking for.

I like things simple and clear, and the ifile thing is neither.

This is, of course, simply my opinion.

Tom

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From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org
[mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Jacques Kilchoer Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 4:38 PM To: oracle-l
Subject: RE: using ifile in the tnsnames.ora file

Sorry, I should do better proof-reading. I corrected a sentence below.

Recently however, when creating database links, I noticed that the database link FAILED WHEN using an alias that is coming from an "ifile" in the tnsnames.ora (unable to resolve service name)

De la part de Jacques Kilchoer
Objet : using ifile in the tnsnames.ora file

Do you use an IFILE parameter in a network configuration file (tnsnames.ora, sqlnet.ora, other) to consolidate entries in a central location? I guess it's an obsolete practice and I should stop.

I've been using IFILE parametes in the tnsnames.ora file for as long as I've been using Oracle. Recently however, when creating database links, I noticed that the database link failed when using an alias that is coming from an "ifile" in the tnsnames.ora (unable to resolve service name), even though SQL*Plus on the server could use that entry. I've never had problems using an IFILE in the tnsnames.ora except the one I recently encountered with database links.

Imagine my surprise when I saw this on Tom Kyte's website:

http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?p=100:11:0::::P11_QUESTION_ID:4890 21635775

Quoter: "IFILE is not supported for
tnsnames/listener/sqlnet/protocol.ora files."

I checked the network administration / reference manuals for 8.0.6, 8.1.7, 9.0, 9.2, 10.1, the "ifile" parameter is never mentioned for the network configuration files (sqlnet.ora, tnsnames.ora, listener.ora, cman.ora, names.ora, ldap.ora) - but it is mentioned in the server reference manual as a valid parameter for the init.ora file.

Is this a new limitation? For example I quickly found Metalink note 1017689.102 that tells me I can use ifile in the tnsnames.ora and listener.ora files with an Oracle 8.0 listener.

I found a couple of recent notes that mentioned a tnsnames.ora containing an ifile (Notes 397684.1 and 397567.1) but both of these notes had the comment "This document is being delivered to you via Oracle Support's Rapid Visibility (RaV) process, and therefore has not been subject to an independent technical review."

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Received on Fri Feb 09 2007 - 07:04:59 CST