Naming Methods Configuration Overview

Users initiate a connect request by passing a user name and password along with an connect identifier for the service to which they wish to connect. The connect identifier, which is mapped to a connect descriptor, is resolved by a naming method for the client. The connect descriptor contains the:

Once the connect identifier is resolved, the uses the network route information in the connect descriptor to contact a listener. The listener, through a protocol, accepts the client connection. It compares the client information with the information it has received from the database service, as well as information it has stored in its own configuration file, listener.ora. If the information matches, a connection is granted.

Naming method configuration consists of creating connect descriptors for services and configuring clients to access the naming method.

You can use Oracle Net Configuration Assistant to specify usage of the following naming methods in the sqlnet.ora file:

 

Local naming

Stores net service names in a tnsnames.ora file stored on a client

 
Local naming is most appropriate for simple distributed networks with a small number of services that change infrequently.

Directory naming

Stores services and net service names in a centralized LDAP-compliant directory server

Oracle Names

Stores services and net service names in an Oracle Names server

Host naming

Enables users to connect to an Oracle database server by using a host name alias. Host names are mapped to a connect descriptor in an existing names resolution service, such as Domain Name System (DNS), Network Information Service (NIS), or a centrally-maintained set of /etc/hosts files.

 
No client configuration is required to take advantage of this feature. This method is recommended for simple TCP/IP environments.

External naming

Stores service information in an a third-party naming service, including NIS or Cell Directory Service (CDS)

 

See Also: Specify Naming Methods

 

See Also: Chapter 9, Configuring Naming Methods, in the Oracle Net Services Administrator's Guide