Adv. Replication, NT Oracle8, failover and Global Names

For Oracle8 on NT, page 9-2 of the Enterprise Edition manual states:

"Before creating a database, it is important to understand that starting with Oracle8 Enterprise Edition, all mounted Oracle databases in a network MUST have unique database names."

So far I have 4 instances up and running with the same db_name (all on different NT Servers.) How can this be true?

Usually, name resolution comes down to the tnsnames.ora file. On a given machine I can specify the following databases all with the same db_name:

db1.WORLD =
  (DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 100.200.100.1)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = dbx))

  )
db2.WORLD =
  (DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 100.200.100.2)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = dbx))

  )
db3.WORLD =
  (DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 100.200.100.3)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = dbx))

  )
db4.WORLD =
  (DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 100.200.100.4)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = dbx))

  )

Each db# is resolved vi the tnsnames.ora file finding its corresponding IP address, port and SID. On a given server, the db_name is unique.

In any case, Replication manager does not ask you for a connect string. It assumes that you will use Global_names (an init.ora parameter.) Does this mean you need to use Oracle Name server? How does else it find a Global named database?

Can anyone offer some advice on db naming in an adv. Replication environment where you desire to use two databases (one as a failover and exact copy [even in name] to the other?)

-Frank

-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum Received on Mon Jul 06 1998 - 16:11:20 CDT