8.1.7 on RH 6.2 - sqlplus won't start after new install

I just installed 8.1.7 on RH 6.2. The first postinstall taks is to log on using sqlplus and change passwords.

error:
$sqlplus

Message file sp1<lang>.msb not found
Error 6 initializing SQL*Plus

Later, aafter some fiddling, I got

$ sqlplus

SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Tue Mar 6 08:45:23 2001

(c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.

Enter user-name: system
Enter password:
ERROR:
ORA-12571: TNS:packet writer failure

According to my manual, error 12571 doesn't even exist.

Any help or clues?

Thanks,

JC Received on Tue Mar 06 2001 - 07:47:56 CST