The Methods tab allows you to prioritize naming methods. Net8 will attempt to make a connection using the selected naming methods in the order specified until it succeeds in establishing a connection.

TNSNAMES:

TNSNAMES uses a local file, TNSNAMES.ORA, to store net service names on the client. This file is locally maintained to point the client to the services it needs. This naming method works best on small networks, and is not limited by protocol. To enter net service names which will be saved to the TNSNAMES.ORA file, see Using Net Service Names.

ONAMES:

ONAMES specifies Net8 to use Oracle Names servers to resolve a net service name to a network address. Oracle Names is a distributed naming service developed for Oracle environments. Oracle Names stores and maintains net service names and addresses in an integrated system of Names Servers. If you specify ONAMES, Net8 will forward a client's connect request to a nearby Oracle Names server in an attempt to resolve the net service name to an address.

IMPORTANT: If you selected ONAMES, you need to specify a Preferred Names Server or use the Discover Oracle Names Server option in order for the client to know about Oracle Names servers.

Additional Information:

• Configuring the Client to Use Preferred Names Servers

• Discovering Oracle Names Servers

HOSTNAME:

HOSTNAME specifies Net8 to resolve a hostname to an address. This option may be used only if all of the following are true:

• Your client and server are using a TCP/IP protocol.

• The hostname is resolved through an IP address translation mechanism such as DNS, NIS, or a centrally maintained TCP/IP hosts file.

• No Oracle Connection Manager features are requested.

• The original or canonical host name of the machine matches exactly the global database name; or if the host name is aliased to be the same as any global database names defined on the host machine.

Cell Directory Service (CDS), Netware Directory Service (NDS), and Network Information Service (NIS) are all native naming services supported by Net8. If you are using a native naming service, Net8 will forward the connect request to that service in an attempt to resolve the net service name to an address.

Note: If you select either CDS, NDS, or NIS, you will need to specify additional parameters.

< button:

Click to move a naming method from the Available Methods list to the Selected Methods list.

> button:

Click to move a naming method from the Selected Methods to the Available Methods list.

Promote button:

Click to move a naming method up in the Selected Methods list. Net8 tries to use the first method to resolve a net service name. If it cannot use the first method, it uses the second method, and so on.

Demote button:

Click to move an authentication method down in the Selected Methods list.