Difference Between Service Name & SERVICE

From: Doug <dbv_at_hotmail.com>
Date: 20 Nov 2001 06:57:52 -0800
Message-ID: <47fbb8f.0111200657.271691e8@posting.google.com>

What is the difference between service name & SERVICE_NAME in TNSNAMES.ORA? It seems that Service Name in the following example is LINUX.HOSTNAME.COM and SERVICE_NAME is a1.hostname.com. In this case they don't match, but they might match. If they can be different values why are they called the same thing? This is confusing. Can anyone tell me what LINUX.HOSTNAME.COM is called? Service Name, or something else?

Thanks,
Doug

LINUX.HOSTNAME.COM =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = a1.hostname.com)(PORT = 1521))

    )
(CONNECT_DATA =

      (SERVICE_NAME = a1.hostname.com)
    )
  ) Received on Tue Nov 20 2001 - 08:57:52 CST

Difference Between Service Name & SERVICE_NAME