I am trying to use the Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Oracle to establish a
connection to an Oracle database. When using this provider the Data Link
Properties dialog box prompts me for a server name. I have been entering the
server name as the "alias" for that instance of Oracle that is defined in the
tnsnames.ora file. However, this does not work. Is the alias the proper
thing to be entering into this field? When I click on Test Connection, the
error I get is a timeout.

To describe the situation a little more completely: I am attempting to
connect to an Oracle server at work from home. We have to VPN into the work
network (which is happening with no problem). It is at this point that I am
attempting to establish the connection to the Oracle server.

I've also attempted the same thing from my computer at work (again supplying
the alias as the server name) and there I get an error saying the TNS could
not resolve the server (even though other applications are able to do so).

Any guidance would be helpful and appreciated. I am a SQL Server programmer
and it all "just works" and I am not very familiar with the Oracle world (can
you tell?).

--
Steve Bell
Liberty Software Solutions
steve (AT) liberty-solutions (DOT) com

Message posted via DBMonster.com
http://www.dbmonster.com/Uwe/Forums....tools/200706/1

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

stevebell821 wrote:
Yes, it as. Beware, however, of the entries in sqlnet.ora. It may help
to add the default domain in your alias.

Timeouts suggest everything is in order, but the incoming session is
blocked. You must allow SQL*Net traffic through your firewall - test
it with temporarily disabling your client firewall (what OS?!?)

VPN should NOT be a problem - just an extra layer.

See above - entries in sqlnet.ora may foul up things.

No - we see it all the time: no specifics.
Please make it a habit to post client and server OS, client and server
Oracle versions (these may be very different, and cause problems when
too far apart)

Not knowing what your tasks are going to be: search the archives on
SQL Server vs Oracle to find some tips about material, differences,
jargon, etc, if you are going to code against Oracle.

Never forget http://tahiti.oracle.com - that's your
documentation start.
- --
Regards,
Frank van Bortel

Top-posting is one way to shut me up...
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFGbBZ6Lw8L4IAs830RAp3FAKCS2GCyQWuxoamtsXFGJ7 1tn3yyFwCggv3o
1OZo+w3/vKbsyCMtv2il6bY=
=oYFE
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----