Understanding SQL*Net

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Preface

Purpose

Understanding SQL*Net provides the information you need to understand and use the SQL*Net release 2.3 product. SQL*Net allows Oracle tools and applications to access, manipulate, share, and store data in Oracle databases residing on remote servers. In addition, SQL*Net enables data access between multiple database servers. This guide describes:

Note: This manual contains examples and figures that refer to specific machine types, network protocols, and operating systems. These references are examples of possible configurations and are not representative of all configurations.

Audience

The information in this manual is intended primarily for network or database administrators (DBAs). This guide is also for anyone who wants to understand how SQL*Net release 2.3 works.

Documentation Set

Use this guide in conjunction with the other manuals in the Oracle network products documentation set. This set consists of manuals that help you to set up an integrated, heterogeneous network and to use the applications and services provided. The documentation consists of the following manuals:

Note: Secure Network Services versions 1 and 1.1 include encryption and checksumming; version 2. also includes support for enhanced authentication.

How This Manual Is Organized

Understanding SQL*Net consists of six chapters and four appendices.

Chapter 1 - Introduction to SQL*Net

This chapter is an introduction to SQL*Net version 2 and how SQL*Net connections are established. It describes the general features of SQL*Net, and highlights the features new to this release.

Chapter 2 - SQL*Net Version 2 Architecture

This chapter explains the SQL*Net architecture and describes how the components of a SQL*Net network work together. It explains how connection requests to a multi-threaded server are handled, and explains how listener load balancing works.

Chapter 3 - Network Layout and Naming Issues

This chapter outlines considerations for planning a version 2 installation. It discusses the relationships of the network products, and discusses how to plan your network for future growth and flexibility.

Chapter 4 - Migrating from an Earlier Version of SQL*Net

This chapter describes how to migrate from a SQL*Net version 1 installation or from SQL*Net version 2. It describes how to upgrade from SQL*Net version 1 and manage coexistence of two versions of SQL*Net during the migration. It also describes migration issues in a mixed environment of various SQL*Net version 2 releases.

Chapter 5 - Using SQL*Net

This chapter explains how SQL*Net is used after it has been configured. The chapter describes how to start and test the network, how to use the Listener Control Utility, how to control the clients, how to initiate connections through various tools, and how to use some distributed database features.

Chapter 6 - Configuring Oracle SNMP Support

This chapter provides a general overview of tasks to perform to configure Oracle SNMP Support for the Oracle7 Server, listener, Oracle Names, and Interchange. For detailed information on Management Information Base (MIB) variables used in the Oracle SNMP Support feature see the Oracle SNMP Support Reference Guide.

Appendix A - Contents of Configuration Files

This appendix describes the contents of the configuration files for SQL*Net: TNSNAMES.ORA, LISTENER.ORA, SQLNET.ORA, and PROTOCOL.ORA. (The configuration files associated with the MultiProtocol Interchange and Oracle Names are described in the Oracle MultiProtocol Interchange Administrator's Guide and the Oracle Names Administrator's Guide, respectively.)

Appendix B - Syntax Rules for Configuration Files

This appendix describes the syntax rules for configuration files. Although Oracle Network Manager creates the configuration files, this information might be useful if you need to manually edit or troubleshoot the files.

Appendix C - Common Error Messages

This appendix describes the most common causes of problems while configuring or using SQL*Net release 2.x, and discusses some of the common error messages and how to resolve them.

Appendix D - SQL*Net OPEN

This appendix describes the application programming interface (API) to SQL*Net. Using SQL*Net OPEN, programmers can develop non-database applications that take advantage of Oracle's complete set of networking products.

Related Publications

In addition to this guide and the other Oracle network product manuals, you may want to refer to the following documents published by Oracle Corporation:

Notational Conventions

The following syntax conventions are used in this manual:

Monospace normal Monospace shows what displays on the computer screen or contains text you need to enter exactly as shown.
Monospace italics Monospace in italics represents a variable. Substitute an appropriate value.
[ ] Brackets enclose optional items. Do not enter the brackets.
( ) Parentheses enclose many transparent network substrate (TNS) keyword-value pairs. They must be entered as shown; for example, (KEYWORD=value).
| A vertical bar represents a choice of two or more options. You must enter one of the options. Do not enter the vertical bar.
Punctuation Punctuation other than brackets and vertical bars must be entered as shown.
UPPERCASE Uppercase characters within the text represent command names, filenames, and directory names.
Note: Some operating systems are case sensitive. Although our convention is to present command names, filenames, and directory names in uppercase, that does not necessarily mean that they should be in uppercase on your platforms.

Your Comments Are Welcome

We value and appreciate your comments as an Oracle products user. As we write, revise, and evaluate our work, your opinions are the most important input we receive. At the back of this manual is a Reader's Comment Form; we encourage you to use this form to tell us what you like and dislike about this (or other) Oracle manuals. If the form is gone, or you would like to contact us, please use the following address:

Oracle Network Products Documentation Manager
Oracle Corporation
500 Oracle Parkway
Box 659410
Redwood Shores, CA 94065


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