Setting up tnsnames.ora

(Oracle only, Windows and Linux)

The tnsnames.ora file is a way of specifying a shortcut for an Oracle connection. Instead of using one of the connection string formats (such as the EZ-connect syntax) directly in configuration files, you can put all that information in your tnsnames.ora file and give it a shortcut name like TIdb.

If you are using a tnsnames.ora file to connect to your database, follow these steps on all portal product machines.

  1. Set up a tnsnames.ora file containing information needed to connect to your Transaction Insight, Foresight Archive and Retrieval System, and Foresight Operational Monitor databases. Your Oracle database manager can supply this, or you can copy it from another machine that connects to the same databases. See the example below.

  2. Create a new environment variable to tell Oracle where to find tnsnames.ora:

    1. Click New under the Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment Variables > System variables pane.

    2. For Variable Name, type TNS_ADMIN.

    3. For Variable Value, type the directory path to tnsnames.ora.

      This is the directory path only. Do not include the filename.

    4. Click OK until you return to your desktop.

    5. Restart your machine

 Example simple tnsnames.ora file

This example shows a single Net Service Name (ora12_testbox) which points to an Oracle server on machine at IP address 192.168.1.40 with a SID of ora12. You should be able to connect to the machine of your choice by changing the HOST= and SID= entries to suit your local environment.

# tnsnames.ora Network Configuration File: C:\oracleinstantclient\tnsnames.ora
ora12_testbox =
 (DESCRIPTION =
 (ADDRESS_LIST =
 (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 192.168.1.40)(PORT = 1521))
 )
 (CONNECT_DATA =
 (SID = ora12)
 (SERVER = DEDICATED)
 )
 )