Connection problems while trying to use Oracle client tools

I'm using Oracle 8.0.5 on a Linux platform and trying to use the client software on Windows 98 from Personal Oracle 8. Whenever I try to establish a connection using SQL/Plus, ODBC drivers, or tnsping, I get a Windows invalid page fault.

Several people in this news group trying to help have suggested that it's my Oracle installation or the listener was not running, or a firewall was not allowing the connection. In an effort to prove that it's not my Oracle installation on the remote host, I downloaded the JDBC drivers and wrote a quick Java program and ran it from the same client that is having problems. From the Java program I hit the server using the SCOTT demo account and did a straight select off of the DEPT table. The results were it worked without a hitch. The Java program returned all rows and I included a sniplet from the listener log file showing the connection made by the Java program which I ran twice.

09-SEP-01 01:00:52 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=MYDB)(CID=(PROGRAM=)(HOST=__jdbc__)(USER=))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.168.0.128)(PORT=1037)) * establish *
MYDB * 0
09-SEP-01 01:11:17 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=MYDB)(CID=(PROGRAM=)(HOST=__jdbc__)(USER=))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.168.0.128)(PORT=1038)) * establish *
MYDB * 0 So now this isolates the problem a little further. I know now that it's not a problem with the listener configuration, network configuration, or firewall issues.

When I try to use any of the client utilities that came with Personal Oracle 8 (SQL/Plus, tnsping, Oracle Navigator, ODBC), all I get is an invalid page fualt error from some unknown module. My server never gets a chance to see the connection. The listener does not record a connection and neither does my network logging software. I've installed the client software on two separate machines and ended up with the same results. However, SQL/Plus is able to use the BEQ-LOCAL protocol to attach to Peronal Oracle 8 running on the same client.

All I can determine is my Oracle software that comes with Personal Oracle 8 is buggy. I really don't care about using SQL/Plus on the client. All I really wanted to do was use the ODBC drivers.

-- 
Cory Phillips
cory_h_phillips_at_yahoo.com