Re: updating tnsnames.ora and host file

Paul,

I should probably expand a little more on my answer. It seems that I wasn't clear enough.

At our installation, we have lots of servers running Oracle on them. I wasn't referring to those servers.

At our installation, most of our desktop clients are running Windows NT with Novell Netware. What we did was create a shared Novell drive that all Netware clients automatically get mapped to. This can also be accomplished through Windows domains and file sharing. We then placed the TNSNAMES file on the shared network drive. All workstations now have access to that TNSNAMES file.

After installing Oracle client software on a workstation, we go into Explorer and navigate to %ORACLE_HOME%\network\admin. From there, we create a shortcut to the shared, networked TNSNAMES file. Make sure that this shortcut is called "TNSNAMES.ORA". Now when the client software accesses TNSNAMES, it is really being pointed to the shared, network drive and the TNSNAMES file there.

As a DBA, I only have to update this one, shared TNSNAMES file. All clients point to it and are instantly updated as well! For security sake, we made the shared, networked TNSNAMES file read-only for everyone. Only DBAs are given write access to this file. That way, no one person can "accidentally" overwrite information and screw it up for everyone.

HTH,
Brian

Paul Durdin wrote:
>
> Unfortunately there are several hundred users with different Oracle servers
> that they connect to. I don't have enough info to create a single
> comprehensive file. If IT had been planned in the first place....
>
> The second option sounds possible but will involve a lot of negotiation with
> others to get implemented
>
> --
> Paul Durdin
>
> Brian Peasland <peasland_at_edcmail.cr.usgs.gov> wrote in message
> news:3A1A8194.2AD7C062_at_edcmail.cr.usgs.gov...
> > Paul,
> >
> > You can do one of two things which might help you out.
> >
> > 1) put your TNSNAMES.ORA file on a central server. Have everyone point
> > to that TNSNAMES file. Then you only have to update one file and
> > everyone is instantly updated!
> > 2) Implement Oracle Names Server or Oralce Internet Directory (OiD).
> > Both of these will do TNS names resolution similar to a Domain Names
> > Server (DNS).
> >
> > HTH,
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > Paul Durdin wrote:
> > >
> > > I need to programmatically update the tnsnames.ora and hosts file as
 part of
> > > an installation package. This keeps cropping up and I wondered how other
> > > folk manage this.
> > >
> > > I am forever needing to make changes to the files. I can do this as
 part of
> > > an install package or from SMS as part of a script. Ideally I need a
 utility
> > > that lets me add / amend / delete entries.
> > >
> > > I'm at the point of writing my own, but firstly I cant believe that
 someone
> > > hasn't already done this (e.g. Oracle?) and I note that Easy NetConfig
> > > complains long and hard if I make manually changes to tnsnames.ora
> > >
> > > --
> > > Paul Durdin
> > > Taradata Ltd
> > > PaulDurdin_at_iee.org
> > > +44 (0) 1276 857408 (home)
> > > +44 (0) 1276 502855 (office)
> > > +44 (0) 1276 509594 (fax)
> > > 07973 338 380 (mobile)
> >
> > --
> > ========================================
> > Brian Peasland
> > Raytheons Systems at
> > USGS EROS Data Center
> > These opinions are my own and do not
> > necessarily reflect the opinions of my
> > company!
> > ========================================
 

-- 
========================================
Brian Peasland
Raytheons Systems at
  USGS EROS Data Center
These opinions are my own and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of my 
company!
========================================