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Preface

Part I Net8 Overview and Concepts

1 Introduction to Net8

Net8 Overview

Oracle Connectivity Overview

Configuration Overview

Naming Method Configuration

Listener Configuration on the Server

2 Net8 Concepts

Networking Environments

Distributed Processing

Distributed Databases

Connect Operations

Connecting to Servers

Disconnecting from Servers

Exception Operations

Net8 Connection Models

Multi-Threaded Server Model

Dedicated Server Model

Client Connection Options

Client Load Balancing for Multiple Listeners

Connect-Time Failover for Multiple Listeners

Transparent Application Failover for High Availability

Service Registration to the Listener

Benefits

Registration with the Default Local Listener

Registration with a Non-Default Listener

Registration with Remote Listeners

Connection Load Balancing

Configuration

Database Identification by Service Name Rather than SID

Connect Descriptors Using SERVICE_NAME and INSTANCE_NAME

Multiple Instances Belonging to the Same Service

Single Instance Belonging to Multiple Services

Migration

Service Resolution through Naming Methods

Local Naming

Directory Naming

Oracle Names

Host Naming

External Naming

Net8 and an LDAP-Compliant Directory Server

Overview

Directory Naming Overview

Directory Entries

Adding or Modifying Entries in the Directory

Client Connections Using Directory Naming

Specifying Absolute Names

Net8 Naming and Directory Design

3 Net8 Architecture

Transparent Network Substrate (TNS)

Overview of Stack Communications

Stack Communications in a Typical Net8 Client/Server Environment

Net8 Client-Side Interaction

Server-Side Interaction

Server-to-Server Interaction

Stack Communications for Clients Connecting to a Directory Server

Stack Communications for JDBC Clients

Stack Communications for Oracle8i JServer Clients

4 Net8 Products and Tools

Net8 Client

Net8 Server

Oracle Protocols

TCP/IP

TCP/IP with SSL

SPX

Named Pipes

LU6.2

Bequeath

Oracle Connection Manager

Oracle Connection Manager Processes

Connection Concentration

Net8 Access Control

Multi-Protocol Support

Oracle Names

Overview

Administrative Regions

Domains

Oracle Names As Data Repository

Data Stored in an Oracle Names Server

Organizing and Naming Network Components

Using Multiple Regions to Decentralize Administrative Responsibilities

Differences Between Versions of Oracle Names

Understanding Discovery

External Naming Services

Authentication Methods

Oracle Advanced Security

Network Security

Single Sign-On

Distributed Computing Environment Integration

Administration Tools

Net8 Configuration Assistant

Net8 Assistant

Control Utilities

5 Planning Your Network

Planning Overview

Defining Your Network Layout

Resolving Names to Connect Descriptors

Improving Large Network Performance

Using Shared Servers or Prespawned Dedicated Servers

Increasing Listener Queuesize

Enabling Connection Pooling

Enabling Connection Concentration

Enabling Client Load Balancing

Adjusting the Session Data Unit (SDU) Size for Data Transfer Optimization

Persistent Buffer Flushing for TCP/IP

Planning Summary

Part II Configuration

6 Configuring Naming Methods

Configuration Overview

Understanding Connect Descriptors

Configuration Models

Naming Methods

Configuring the Local Naming Method

Configuring the tnsnames.ora File During Installation

Configuring the tnsnames.ora File After Installation

Configuring the Directory Naming Method

Directory Naming Configuration Steps

Modifying Connectivity Information for Database Service Entries

Adding Users to and Removing Users from the OracleNetAdmins Group

Exporting Net Service Names from a tnsnames.ora File

Exporting Network Objects from an Oracle Names Server

Configuring the Oracle Names Method

Task 1: Consider Oracle Names Options

Task 2: Install Necessary Components

Task 3: Create an Oracle Names Server

Task 4: Configure Clients and Database Servers To Use Oracle Names Servers

Task 5: Configure the Listener

Task 6: Register Data with the Oracle Names Server

Task 7: (Optional) Delegate Domains to Delegated Administrative Regions

Task 8: Connect to the Database

Configuring the Host Naming Method

Task 1: Configure the Listener with the Global Database Name

Task 2: Configure HOSTNAME as the First Naming Method

Task 3: Set Up Host Name Resolution Environment

Task 4: Connect to the Database

Configuring External Naming Methods

Configuring NIS

Configuring NDS

7 Configuring the Listener

Configuration Overview

Default Listening Protocol Addresses

Configuration During Installation

Configuration with Net8 Assistant

Re-Starting the Listener After a listener.ora File Modification

Configuring Listener Protocol Addresses

Configuring Listening Addresses for Oracle8i JServer

Configuring a Listener that Uses a Non-Default Address

Configuring the LOCAL_LISTENER Parameter

Configuring a Naming Method

Handling Large Volumes of Connection Requests

Configuring Static Service Information

Configuring Prespawned Dedicated Servers

8 Enabling Advanced Net8 Features

Configuring Advanced Network Address and Connect Data Information

Creating a List of Listener Protocol Addresses

Configuring Address List Parameters

Configuring Advanced Connect Data Parameters

Configuring Transparent Application Failover

FAILOVER_MODE Parameters

TAF Implementation

Configuring Client Attributes for Names Resolution

Configuring a Default Domain for Clients

Prioritizing Naming Methods

Routing Connection Requests

Configuring Advanced Profile Information

Configuring Preferred Oracle Names Servers

Configuring Oracle Connection Manager Features

Enabling Connection Concentration

Enabling Multi-Protocol Support

Enabling Net8 Access Control

Configuring Clients for Oracle Connection Manager

Configuring Connections to Non-Oracle Database Services

Configuring Net8 for External Procedures

Configuring Net8 for Oracle Heterogeneous Services

Configuring Net8 for an Oracle Rdb Database

9 Configuring Multi-Threaded Server

Overview

Configuring MTS with the MTS_DISPATCHERS Parameter

Setting the Initial Number of Dispatchers

Enabling Connection Pooling

Allocating Resources

Using MTS on Clients

Overriding MTS on Clients

10 Enabling Net8 Enhancements for Programmers

Net8 OPEN

Net8 OPEN API Function Calls

Finding the Net8 OPEN Applications Program Interface

Building Your Own Application

Configuring the System to Use Your Net8 OPEN Application

Sample Programs

Net8 OPEN API Errors

UNIX Client Programming

Signal Handler and Alarm Programming

Bequeath

Part III Net8 Testing and Troubleshooting

11 Establishing a Connection and Testing the Network

Connecting to a Database

Using Net8 Control Utilities

Net8 Component Startup Overview

Entering a Connect String

Connect Identifier Syntax Characteristics

Initiating Connections

Testing the Network

Testing an Oracle Names Server

Testing Network Objects Using Net8 Assistant or NAMESCTL Utility

Testing a Listener

Testing Oracle Connection Manager

Testing Configuration on the Server

Testing Network Connectivity from the Client

12 Troubleshooting

Diagnosing Net8

Server Diagnostics

Client Diagnostics

Resolving the Most Common Error Messages

Troubleshooting Tips from the Field

Questions to Ask When Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Network Problems Using Log and Trace Files

Logging Error Information

Error Stacks

Log File Names

Understanding and Setting Log Parameters

Setting Log Settings During Runtime of Control Utilities

Using Log Files

Understanding Listener Log Files

Understanding Oracle Connection Manager Logs

Tracing Error Information

Trace File Names

Understanding and Setting Trace Parameters

Setting Trace Settings During Runtime of Control Utilities

Evaluating Net8 Traces

Using the Trace Assistant to Examine Your Trace Files

Contacting Oracle Customer Support

Part IV Reference

A Control Utilities

Operating Modes

Listener Control Utility (LSNRCTL)

SET and SHOW Commands

Security

LSNRCTL Commands

Oracle Names Control Utility (NAMESCTL)

SET and SHOW Commands

Security

NAMESCTL's Distributed Operation

Confirmation Mode in NAMESCTL

NAMESCTL Commands

Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL)

SET and SHOW Commands

Shutdown Commands

CMCTL Commands

B Protocol Addresses

ADDRESSes and ADDRESS_LISTs

Protocol Parameters

Recommended Port Numbers

Port Number Limitations

C Configuration Parameters

Syntax Rules for Configuration Files

Further Syntax Rules for Configuration Files

Network Character Set

Character Set

Profile Parameters (sqlnet.ora)

Local Naming Parameters (tnsnames.ora)

General Syntax

Multiple Descriptions

Multiple Address Lists

Changed Functionality of Client Load Balancing and DESCRIPTION_LISTs

Examples

DESCRIPTIONS and DESCRIPTION_LISTs

ADDRESSes and ADDRESS_LISTs

Optional Parameters for Lists

CONNECT_DATA Section

Listener Parameters (listener.ora)

Listener Address Section

SID_LIST_listener_name Static Service Section

Control Parameters

Oracle Names Parameters (names.ora)

Oracle Connection Manager Parameters (cman.ora)

Protocol-Specific Parameters (protocol.ora)

Directory Server Access Parameters (ldap.ora)

Configuration File Changes in Release 8.1

Obsolete Parameters for Release 8.1

Configuration File Syntax Changes

tnsnames.ora Changes

cman.ora Changes

D LDAP Schema for Net8

Structural Object Classes

orclDBServer

orclNetService

orclNetDescription

orclNetDescriptionList

orclNetAddress

orclNetAddressList

Attributes

Glossary

Index