ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve service name

My system has only 1 sqlnet.ora and tnsnames.ora (duplicates exist in the SAMPLES folder as usual). Here are other deails.

ORACLE_HOME=D:\oracle\ora92
TNS_ADMIN=D:\oracle\ora92\network\admin

Location of sqlnet.ora: D:\oracle\ora92\network\admin
Location of tnsnames.ora: D:\oracle\ora92\network\admin


Contents of SQLNet.ora
_________________________________________
# SQLNET.ORA Network Configuration File: D:\oracle\ora92\network\admin\sqlnet.ora
# Generated by Oracle configuration tools.

NAMES.DEFAULT_DOMAIN = domainname

SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES= (NTS)

NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES, ONAMES, HOSTNAME)




Contents of TNSNames.ora
_________________________________________
# TNSNAMES.ORA Network Configuration File: D:\oracle\ora92\network\admin\tnsnames.ora
# Generated by Oracle configuration tools.

EXTPROC_CONNECTION_DATA.domain.name =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC0))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SID = PLSExtProc)
      (PRESENTATION = RO)
    )
  )

INST1_HTTP.domain.name =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pc836)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = SHARED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = MODOSE)
      (PRESENTATION = http://HRService)
    )
  )

PC836 =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pc836)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = pc836)
    )
  )

test =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pc930)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = test)
    )
  )






I am able to connect to my own server pc836 but not to test instance on pc 930. Others are able to connect to both the servers using exactly the same TNS entries.

Connection details are perfect. I am able to connect using connect descriptors by directly entering them into SQLPlus. It is like, TNSNames.ora is there, is being recognized and being read but not being used. Is there any settings or any config files to be tweaked?

1. The service name is "test" - I suppose, cause others are able to connect to it - but check to be sure...
2. Check if your pc836 can resolve names like  pc930 ("ping -a pc930"...you must get the IP) or use IP instead or pc930 names... What you get? (Install free version http://syntheticbytes.com/oracle/ro/WinSID.html to check connectivity at listener level...).

What error message you got at connection attempt?

Connectivity are fine.

All hosts are able to ping each other and hostname to IP conversions and vice versa are all fine.

TNSPing also resolves connections when using hostname adapter, but fails when using tnsnames adaptor. Wierd.

Installing WinSID would require some talking with systems guys. I would do that if absolutely required.

And the error message is....?

Show me the message please and comment out the SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES= (NTS) in the sqlnet.ora file...

Commented out as suggested. Error message is ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve service name.

I got it. Thanks for poinitng it out. I had read every bit of it, but just overlooked. It was due to the NAMES.DEFAULT_DOMAIN entry in sqlnet.ora file. I commented it and it working.

Though it would be better to have this entry and I would see if I can modify it in such a way that it doesn't cause a problem. I will also play with the default value of this entry WORLD.

Thanks for all the help. It was an A+ effort from you. My gratitude :)

It was my pleasure to help you out...Best regards...

delete all entry
try:
netmgr utility

Metanil

Hi Anil,

Thanks for the help.

But it wouldn't have helped to use netmgr as it does exactly what I was doing manually. Besides, the problem had something to do with the value of an entry. Regardless of whetehr I did it manually or with NetMgr, it wouldn't help unless I know what entries are needed and which aren't and what values to give them. Thanks for the effort.