It is recommended to configure the connection via the TNS tab.

The configuration with TNS also enables the use of a failover cluster instead of a single server configuration for the Oracle database. Please contact your DB administrator about this topic.

TNS name or content

For TNS configuration, use one of the following possibilities:

  1. Enter the name of a connection that is available in the "tnsnames.ora" file in the Oracle client directory.

  2. Enter a complete section like it can be found in a "tnsnames.ora" file.

Example:

(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS_LIST=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=192.168.99.101)(PORT=1521)))(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SERVICE_NAME=xe)))

Enter the complete section in one line. This entry has the advantage that ibaPDA can run while an upgrade of the Oracle server is being performed. ODP.NET reads tnsnames.ora only once. If the content of the file changes, you only need to add the changed part of the file to the Oracle configuration in the ibaPDA client and apply the new configuration.

Path to tnsnames.ora

If an Oracle client is already installed on the computer, the appropriate tnsnames.ora file can be searched for. You can also specify the path to the file or select it using the browser button.

If the file does not exist, a suitable file must be created or made available by the DB administrator. Save the file on your computer and enter the path.

If you specify the complete contents of the tnsnames.ora file in the first line (TNS name or content), then the Path field can remain empty. If you specify only the TNS name, you must specify the path to the complete file.

As soon as you have specified a path, you can use the gear button to set this path as the default path.

Automatic search

The search is first done in the registry key TNS_ADMIN. There you can enter the reference to tnsnames.ora as admin.

If the file is found there, then the search is done in the default directory for an Oracle client. If the file is also found there, then the ibaPDA server directory is searched.

If tnsnames.ora is found, then the path is also shown in the Path field.

If you overwrite the path manually, then the entered path is valid.

If no tnsnames.ora file is found via the automatic search, then an error message appears with a dialog, in which you can select the file.