8.2 Configuring the Directory Naming Method

With this naming method, connect identifiers are mapped to connect descriptors contained in an LDAP-compliant directory server, such as Oracle Internet Directory, Oracle Unified Directory, or Microsoft Active Directory.

A directory provides central administration of database services and network service names, making it easier to add or relocate services.

You can specify the protocol-specific and directory usage parameters either in external configuration files (such as ldap.ora and sqlnet.ora) or directly in a database client connection identifier.

• Configure Net Service Name, Database Service, and Alias Entries
  You can use Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control and Oracle Net Manager to configure network service names, network service alias entries, and database service entries. Clients can use these entries to connect to the database.
• Create Multiple Default Contexts in a Directory Naming Server
  To enable multiple default contexts, define the orclCommonContextMap with a list of associations between a domain and a DN to be used as the default oracleContext.
• Export Local Naming Entries to a Directory Naming Server
  If a tnsnames.ora file already exists, then you can export the network service names stored in that file to a directory server. These tasks assume the directory server has been installed and is running.
• Configure the LDAP Naming Adapter to Use Wallets
  The client LDAP naming adapter authenticates the LDAP bind while connecting to the LDAP directory to resolve connect string names. You can configure the adapter to use an Oracle wallet during the authentication.
• Specify LDAP Parameters Directly in a Connect Identifier
  The Directory Naming method provides an alternative way to specify LDAP name lookup, by using LDAP parameters in a database client connection identifier. With this feature, you do not need to configure external configuration files (ldap.ora or sqlnet.ora) to connect to the database.
• Export Directory Naming Entries to the tnsnames.ora file
  After you create the directory naming entries, consider exporting the entries to a local tnsnames.ora file and distributing that file to clients. Clients can use the locally saved file when the directory server is temporarily unavailable.