problem creating link to Oracle db

can you connect using SQL PLus?

The only tool in the oracle program files is the microsoft odbc Administrator and some ole help files
entering sqlplus at commandline prompt returns "sqlplus is not recognized as an internal or external command"

try installing the client again checking the options... you should first do the connection through SQLPLUS once that's done and it's working fine... you need to change certain registry keys (I will look them up for you) to get OLEDB to work (aka linked servers)

I installed sqlplus and tried to connect to the oracle db and got...

could not resolve the connect identifier specified

so the tnsnames.ora file in the client directory cannot be getting read.

post your TNSMNames.ora file back... thanks

tnsnames.ora

ghwtst =
 (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = wora2)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVICE_NAME = ghwtst)
    )
 )

ghwprd =
 (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = wora2)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVICE_NAME = ghwprd)
    )
 )

ECLR =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = wdel1)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SID = ECLR))
  )

ECLT =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = wdel1)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SID = ECLT))
  )

out these four databases, are you unable to connect to any?

can you ping the servers WDEL1, WORA2

Can you TNSPing them and see what error do you get?

can ping both servers from sql box
tnsping returns  "tnsping is not recognized as an internal or external command"

Tnsping should be installed by default...

<drive>:\Oracle\...\bin\tnsping.exe

Thanks EugeneZ I was looking for that MS KB to help him out but coudln't find it...

Be careful with the registry changes

for 10g [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
           \Microsoft\Transaction Server    \Microsoft\MSDTC\MTxOCI]
           \Local Computer\My Computer]     "OracleXaLib"="oraclient10.dll"
           "OracleXaLib"="oraclient10.dll"   "OracleSqlLib"="orasql10.dll"  
           "OracleSqlLib"="orasql10.dll"     "OracleOciLib"="oci.dll"
           "OracleOciLib"="oci.dll"

Thanks Eugene I will read the articles. Einstein there is no tnsping.exe in the bin folder.

Have done a custom reinstall of both client and the oracle windows interfaces.
I now have  network\ADMIN\ folder so have put both tnsnames.ora and sqlnet.ora
files in this folder and removed the TNS_ADMIN enviroment variable.

Was able to create an odbc connection "YAY" TNS Service Name drop down had the relevant servers.
created the link but get an error message 7399 OLE DB Provider 'Microsoft.jet.oledb.4.0' IDBInitialize::Initialize returned ox80004005

copied tnsping.exe from other oracle directory on differnet pc to oracle bin directory on sql server.

C:\Documents and Settings\RobeMorg>tnsping wora2

TNS Ping Utility for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 12-JUL-2
006 12:59:14

Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Message 3511 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNSMessage
 3512 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNSAttempting to
contact (DESCRIPTION=(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=wora2.ghw.co.nz))(ADDRESS=(PROT
OCOL=TCP)(HOST=172.30.1.80)(PORT=1521)))
Message 3509 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNS

The error you got is related to the registry keys I mentioned.. change them and restart your machine

All I have under transaction server is setup

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Transaction Server\Setup

these following keys exist
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
             \Microsoft\MSDTC\MTxOCI]
             "OracleXaLib"="oraclient10.dll"
             "OracleSqlLib"="orasql10.dll"  
               "OracleOciLib"="oci.dll"

then you are alright, did you restart your machine after the Oracle client installation? OCX will not initiate untill you restart.

Hi Einstine98, rebooted server and tried tnsping again with same result

Message 3511 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNSMessage
 3512 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNSAttempting to
contact (DESCRIPTION=(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=wora2.ghw.co.nz))(ADDRESS=(PROT
OCOL=TCP)(HOST=172.30.1.80)(PORT=1521)))
Message 3509 not found; No message file for product=NETWORK, facility=TNS

Should also mention that I can connect to the database from sqlplus

The operating system is windows server 2003

solution was to change...
sp_addlinkedserver 'server', 'Oracle', 'MSDAORA', 'server'
sp_addlinkedsrvlogin 'server', false, 'sa', 'UID','PWD'

to

sp_addlinkedserver 'server', 'Oracle', 'MSDAORA', 'server'
sp_addlinkedsrvlogin 'server', false, null, 'UID','PWD'

D