Re: Oracle Names Server

> > I've read somewhere it will be replaced by LDAP in 9i.

It will be replaced by LDAP, and Oracle product for that is Oracle Internet Directory (OiD) which is available now.

Recently, I filled out a TAR on Metalink for Names Server. Oracle's first response was that I should switch to OiD instead of Names Server. When I asked Oracle Support if that meant that they were no longer supporting Names Server, they said "no", that they were still supporting Names. To which my reply was "well, can I get some support"! But I digress....

> > > How many client systems do you need before it becomes fesable?
> >
> > If you have a situation where developers start assembling their own
> > tnsnames.ora, two clients is already sufficient, and anything above 10
> > mandatory.
> >
>
> Only two or ten clients? Wow, we have hundereds and no Names server :-)

Something like Names Server may make your life much, much easier with hundreds of clients. We have hundreds of clients and making TNS changes is as easy as just changing one entry in Names Server. All clients are instantly updated.  

> When new application software arrives that requires the Oracle
> Client/networking products, we always have to assemble our own
> sql*net config. (using easy config, net assist, notepad or vi) and
> then "copy" the file to each client.

With Names Server, you do not have to copy the file to each client. The clients come to the server.  

> Doesn't the use of Names require a sqlnet.ora file on each client?

Yes it does. In fact, the SQLNET.ORA file is what tells the client where the Names Server is with the NAMES.PREFERRED_SERVERS parameter. But once the SQLNET.ORA file is copied to the client, you don't have to copy anything else to the client so long as they resolve TNS entries from the Names Server.

HTH,
Brian

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