directory naming

A naming method that resolves a database service or net service name to a connect descriptor, stored in a central directory server.

A directory provides central administration of database services and net service names, reducing the work effort associated with adding or relocating services. Although net service names can be configured to alias a service, the directory can refer to a database service directly without using a net service name. The database service is automatically added as an entry to the directory during installation.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Create Network Route Information for a Database Service

Create a Net Service Name

Prioritize Naming Methods

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Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Directory Naming Configuration Overview

Server Configuration During Installation

During a Custom server installation, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant prompts you to:

• Select the type of directory server

• Identify the location of the directory

• Select or create an Oracle Context from which the server can look up, create, and modify connect identifiers

• Configure directory naming as the preferred naming method to use

If directory usage is configured properly, Database Configuration Assistant attempts to connect to the directory and register a database service entry in the directory. The database service entry is configured with a connect descriptor, containing network information about the:

• Address of the listener

• Name of the database service

Client Configuration During Installation

During all client installations, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant prompts you to configure the following directory usage settings:

• Specify the type of directory

• Identify the location of the directory

• Select a default Oracle Context from which the client can look up connect identifiers

• Directory naming as the preferred naming method to use

Configuration with Oracle Net Configuration Assistant After Installation

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant can also be run in stand-alone mode to:

• Configure the client or server (as previously described)

• Create the Oracle schema

• Create an Oracle Context

To run Oracle Net Configuration Assistant in stand-alone mode:

• On UNIX, run netca at $ORACLE_HOME/bin.

• On Windows NT, choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Network Administration > Oracle Net Configuration Assistant.

Configuration with Oracle Net Manager

Oracle Net Manager enables you to:

• Change the Oracle Context

• Change authentication credentials

• Create net service names

• Create net service aliases

• Configure multiple routes to a listener through multiple protocol addresses

• Configure advanced CONNECT_DATA information for either a database service or net service name

• Migrate net service name entries from a tnsnames.ora file to a directory server

To access directory naming configuration, from the navigator pane, choose Directory Service Naming.

For more information, see Oracle Net Configuration Assistant help system.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

naming context

Server Configuration During Installation

A subtree that resides entirely on one directory server. It is a contiguous subtree, that is, it must begin at an entry that serves as the top of the subtree, and extend downward to either leaf entries or references to subordinate naming contexts. It can range in size from a single entry to the entire Directory Information Tree (DIT).

An Oracle Context can be created under a naming context.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Directory Naming Overview

Directory naming is one of the primary naming methods used to resolve a connect identifier to a connect descriptor that the client uses to connect to a database. Directory naming stores connect identifiers and their connect descriptors in an LDAP-compliant directory server. The connect identifiers are stored under an Oracle Context subtree that contains entries for use with Oracle software.

An end user enters a connect string that includes the connect identifier in the following format:

CONNECT username/password@connect_identifier

In the following example sales is the connect identifier that is looked up in the directory:

CONNECT scott/tiger@sales

The connect descriptor returned to the client includes the:

• Protocol address location of the listener

• Service name of the database

The client uses the protocol address information to connect to a listener. The listener, configured with the same address information, receives the request. If the listener is listening for requests to the same database service as specified in the connect descriptor, a connection is granted.

For directory naming to happen, configure a directory server for Oracle Net Services features, and configure clients to access the directory.

For more information, see Chapter 3, Configuration Management Concepts, in the Oracle10i Net Administrator's Guide.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Directory Naming Requirements for Oracle Net Manager

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

directory server

A directory server that is accessed with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). A LDAP-compliant directory can provide centralized storage and retrieval of database network components, user and corporate policies preferences, user authentication and security information, replacing client-side and server-side localized files.

Oracle Net supports the following directory services:

• Oracle Internet Directory

• Microsoft Active Directory

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Directory Server Authentication dialog box

The Directory Server Authentication dialog box enables you to set authentication credentials for the selected Oracle Context in the directory server.

Oracle Net Manager must be authenticated with the directory server to perform any directory server operations, such as viewing, adding, or modifying Oracle Net entries in the directory.

User

Enter an authorized user that has access to the directory.

If you want to add or modify entries, then enter a directory administrator user that has been given add and modify privileges in the form of a distinguished name (DN). c=US,o=EXAMPLE,ou=admin,cn=scott, for example, is the DN for an administrator named Scott.

Password

Enter the password for the user.

Note: If you want to simply view objects and the directory has been set up with "anonymous" privileges, then leave the User and Password fields blank.

By default, Oracle Net Manager tries to authenticate with the directory using one of the following methods:

• Native Authentication: A Windows NT operating system user name and password is used.

• Strong Authentication: A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate is used.

Related Topics

Set Authentication Credentials

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

discovery

The process of locating Oracle Names servers. During discovery, one Oracle Names server is located. After the first one is discovered, the discovered Oracle Names server pings all other Oracle Names server in the administrative region. A list of Oracle Names servers is then created and saved to .sdns.ora on UNIX and sdns.ora on Windows. This list is sorted in order of response time.

Discovery searches for the first Oracle Names server in the following order:

1. A preferred Oracle Names servers in the sqlnet.ora file

2. A well-known Oracle Names server

3. A local Oracle Names server configured with TCP/IP on port 1575

For information on discovering Oracle Names servers, see Discover other Oracle Names Servers.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Edit menu

The Edit menu enables you to add, remove or rename a net service name, a listener, or an Oracle Names server from opened folders.

Create

Choose to create a network object.

Delete

Choose to delete a network object.

Rename

Choose to rename a network object.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

domain

Any tree or subtree within the Domain Name System (DNS) namespace. Domain most commonly refers to a group of computers whose host names share a common suffix, the domain name.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Exporting tnsnames.ora File Entries to Directory Server

Net service names already configured in a tnsnames.ora file can be exported to a directory server. The export is performed for one domain at a time.

Exporting a tnsnames.ora file creates net service name in the currently selected Oracle Context in the directory. If you need to change the Oracle Context, choose Command > Directory Server > Change Oracle Context.

To export net service names stored in a tnsnames.ora file to a directory server:

1. Choose Command > Directory > Export Service Names. The Directory Migration Wizard starts.

2. Choose Next.

   If multiple domains were detected, the Select Domain page appears. Continue to step 3.

   If the net service names are not domain qualified, the Select Net Service Names page appears. Skip to Step 4.

3. Select the network domain whose net service names you want to export, and then choose Next. The Select Net Service Names page appears.

4. Select the net service names from the list to export, and then choose Next. The Select Destination Context page appears.

   In the Select Destination Context page, perform the following:

   a. From the Directory Naming Context list, select the directory naming context that contains the Oracle Context. The directory naming context is part of a directory subtree that contains one or more Oracle Contexts that contain Oracle entries.

   b. From the Oracle Context list, select the Oracle Context to which you want to export the selected net service names.

   c. Choose Next. The Directory Server Update page appears with the status of the export operation.

5. Choose Finish to dismiss the Directory Server Migration Wizard.

Related Topics

Oracle Net Services Overview

Copyright © 1996, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.