Names Server

The Oracle Names Server is a server process that hands out TNS connect strings to clients. One can think of it as a central TNSNAMES.ORA server. Oracle Names enable clients to easily connect to a database without regard to specific physical locations or configurations on the network.

Migration path

The Names Server is not available with Oracle 10g anymore and 10g clients (and higher versions) cannot use a Names Server to resolve connect strings. Users still using the names server should migrate to Oracle Internet Directory with LDAP directory naming.

Test

Get running status:

$ namesctl status

Check if the names server resolve names:

$ namesctl query orcl \*

Stop/ start

Start:

$ namesctl start

Stop:

$ namesctl stop