Lesson 1
Configuring Net8
To be useful, a database must be accessible from computers other than the one on which the database resides.
Oracle supplies Net8 for this purpose. Net8 consists of a listener and a set of network adaptors that allow client software to communicate with Oracle databases using a standard networking protocol such as TCP/IP .
Net8 exists to provide a common interface to client applications that need to connect to an Oracle database. Applications are written to use Net8, and Net8 takes care of dealing with the underlying network protocols that are being used. Thus, the same client application that runs in a TCP/IP environment can run in an SPX/IPX environment, in an LU6.2 environment, and so forth.
This module will show you how to configure Net8 so that you can connect to your COIN instance from any PC with Oracle client software installed. You will learn about the three key Net8 configuration files: listener.ora, tnsnames.ora, and sqlnet.ora. You also will learn about the listener control program, and how it can be used to stop and start the listener, and monitor listener status. Finally, you will learn how to use the Net8 Easy Config software to configure a client PC so that it recognizes, and can connect to, your COIN database.
Oracle supplies Net8 for this purpose. Net8 consists of a listener and a set of network adaptors that allow client software to communicate with Oracle databases using a standard networking protocol such as TCP/IP .
Net8 exists to provide a common interface to client applications that need to connect to an Oracle database. Applications are written to use Net8, and Net8 takes care of dealing with the underlying network protocols that are being used. Thus, the same client application that runs in a TCP/IP environment can run in an SPX/IPX environment, in an LU6.2 environment, and so forth.
This module will show you how to configure Net8 so that you can connect to your COIN instance from any PC with Oracle client software installed. You will learn about the three key Net8 configuration files: listener.ora, tnsnames.ora, and sqlnet.ora. You also will learn about the listener control program, and how it can be used to stop and start the listener, and monitor listener status. Finally, you will learn how to use the Net8 Easy Config software to configure a client PC so that it recognizes, and can connect to, your COIN database.
- Net8: Oracle's generic networking protocol, used to connect two databases to each other, or to connect client software to a database server. Net8 insulates Oracle and client applications from the underlying network protocol being used.
- listener: A process that runs on a database server, and listens for incoming requests from clients that want to connect to databases on that server.
- network adaptor:A Net8 component that adapts the Net8 software for a particular networking protocal. For example, the Net8 TCP/IP adaptor allows you to run Net8 over a TCP/IP network.
- TCP/IP : A networking protocal widely used in the UNIX world, and which happens to be the most commonly used protocol by clients that need to connect to Oracle servers.
- SPX/IPX: A networking protocol used on Novel NetWare networks.
- LU6.2: A networking protocol used in IBM mainframe environments.
- Edit the listener.ora file, and add an entry for another database instance
- Edit the tnsnames.ora file, and add a new service name for use by client software
- Use the ping command to verify connectivity to the host
- Use the tnsping command to verify connectivity to the Net8 listener
- Start and stop the Net8 listener
- Connect to a remote database over the network
