Oracle SQLNet V1 ( TCP/IP ) problems

Hello,         

        I am working on a CLIENT/SERVER project with 486 PC as SERVER running SCO UNIX and ORACLE7. The Clients are MS-WINDOWS machines ( 386 PC running WINDOWS in Enhanced mode ) using NETMANAGE's WINSOCK for TCP/IP services. All the database access at the Client site is performed via SQL*NET V1 ( TCP/IP ). The Client program uses VISUAL BASIC and ORACLE7 ODBC driver to access the SERVER ORACLE database via SQL*NET V1 over TCP/IP ( the physical media is an ethernet LAN ).

        We have encountered following problems in our project. If anyone has faced similar problems and/or has any solutions/workarounds please let me know.

        My e-mail address: pankaj_k1_at_verifone.com

PROBLEM NO. 1 ( PROBABLE PROBLEM AREA : VISUAL BASIC )

        An attempt to perform the following operation in VB fails at the last step:

• Open the remote ORACLE database
• Close the remote ORACLE database
• Open the remote ORACLE database

        The VISUAL BASIC code to do this is given below:

	Sub Connect ()
    		Dim LocalDB As Database
    		Conn$ = "ODBC;UID=viking;PWD=viking;DSN=v7;DATABASE=scott"
    		Set LocalDB = OpenDatabase("", False, False, Conn$)
    		db.Text1.Text = "Login Successful"
		// Wait for a Key Press to Proceed.
        	LocalDB.Close
        	db.Text1.Text = "Logout Successful"
	End Sub

	The first run of this sub-routine succeeds but the second run
	( without terminating the program ) fails while executing the
	OpenDatabase call and a Database Login window pops up. Specifying 
	the password via this window prints the following error message:

		ORA-06107:NETTCP:ORACLE network server not found

	If the program is terminated and run again then the OpenDatabase
	call succeeds.

PROBLEM NO. 2 ( PROBABLE PROBLEM AREA : TCP/IP SQL*NET V1 )

	This problem shows up when the Client goes down ( is reset or
	powered off ) without closing an active connection with the SERVER 
	database.

	The problem can be reproduced by just using the SQL*NET V1 at
	the Client ( without VISUAL BASIC and ODBC) by carrying out
	following steps:



	-- Connect to the SERVER database using the SQL*NET utility


	   NETTEST from WINDOWS. 


	-- Now power off the Client machine. 

	-- Power On the client machine.


	-- Try connecting to the SERVER database by NETTEST.



	The Connect operation succeeds for first 5 - 6 times but fails
	subsequently. ( WINDOWS hangs and a reboot is required ) 

PROBLEM NO. 3 ( PROBABLE PROBLEM AREA : SQL*NET V1 SETTINGS AT CLIENT )

	According to the SQL*NET for WINDOWS documentation, it should be
	possible to have more than one ORACLE DATABASE connection active
	from the same Client machine if WIN_REMOTE_SESSIONS parameter
	is set properly and NETINIT7 program has been run to reserve
	space for SQL*NET connections. Even after carrying out these
	steps, I have not been able to have multiples connections.

	ORACLE.INI setting in WINDOWS directory:

		WIN_REMOTE_SESSIONS=4

	WIN.INI setting for running NETINIT7:

		load=C:\ORAWIN\BIN\NETINIT7

	After bringing up the WINDOWS, The ORACLE initializer ( NETINIT7 )
	shows that space for 4 connections have been reserved.

	Now, one DATABASE connection is established by logging into the
	database through CRYSTAL REPORTS of VISUAL BASIC and this program
	is iconized.

	An attemp to establish the second DATABASE connection through the
	NETTEST program fails with following error message:

		ORA-06107:NETTCP:ORACLE network server not found.

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