Testing Connectivity from Client Computers

When using Oracle Net directory naming, client computers connect to a database by specifying the database or net service name entry that appears in the Oracle Context.

For example, if the database entry under the Oracle Context in Active Directory is orcl, and the client and the database are in the same domain, then a user connects to the database through SQL*Plus by entering the following connect string:

SQL> CONNECT username@orcl
Enter password: password

If the client and the database are in different domains, then a user connects to the database through SQL*Plus by entering:

SQL> CONNECT username@orcl.domain
Enter password: password

where domain is the domain in which the Oracle Database server is located.

The LDAP naming adapter has an internal function called simplified naming, which attempts to translate a DNS-style name into an x500 (LDAP) style name (DN) based on the naming convention used in ldap.ora:DEFAULT_ADMIN_CONTEXT.

It relies on ldap.ora:default_admin_context using either an org form or a domain component (dc) form. This cues the mechanism to use either of the following conventions to convert the domain name to an x500 DN:

'dc=, dc='
'ou=, o='
'ou=, o=, c='

For example,

SQL> CONNECT SMITH@hr.example.com 
Enter password: password

The following values for default_admin_context results in the associated DN:

DEFAULT_ADMIN_CONTEXT="o=stdev"

The resulting DN is

cn=HR,cn=OracleContext,ou=EXAMPLE,o=COM


DEFAULT_ADMIN_CONTEXT="dc=oracle, dc=com"

The resulting DN is

cn=HR,cn=OracleContext,dc=EXAMPLE,dc=COM


DEFAULT_ADMIN_CONTEXT="o=oracle,c=us"

The resulting DN is

cn=HR,cn=OracleContext,o=EXAMPLE,c=COM

Note:

The value of the default_admin_context is not used literally, since the queried-name is given in a fully qualified form. The default_admin_context determines which style DN is produced, or which side to use when converting each domain in the given DN component.

DNS-style conventions enable client users to access an Oracle Database server through a directory server by entering minimal connection information, even when the client computer and Oracle Database server are in separate domains. Names following the X.500 convention are longer, especially when the client and Oracle Database server are located in different domains (also known as administrative contexts).