Preface

The SQL*Net for Alpha OpenVMS Configuration and User's Guide, Release 3 (8.1.7) describes how to configure and maintain SQL*Net on Alpha OpenVMS. The purpose of this guide is to explain how to configure and use SQL*Net 8.1.7 for Alpha OpenVMS, including the following components:

• Transparent Network Substrate (TNS) Listener

• Oracle Names

• Oracle Advanced Networking Option

• Oracle Intelligent Agent and Simple Network Management Protocol support

The configuration and use of the protocols, TCP/IP and Alpha OpenVMS Mailboxes, are detailed in this guide.

Oracle8i and Oracle8i Enterprise Edition

Unless noted otherwise, features and functionality described in this document are common to both Oracle8i and Oracle8i Enterprise Edition.

The following topics are covered in this Preface:

• Audience

• How is this Guide Organized

• Conventions Used in this Guide

• Related Publications

• Oracle Services and Support

Audience

This guide is intended for users who configure and use SQL*Net 8.1.7 for Alpha OpenVMS.

This guide assumes that the user has a fundamental knowledge of the Alpha OpenVMS operating system; it does not document any features of Alpha OpenVMS except when they affect or are affected by SQL*Net.

Only those SQL*Net features that are specific to the Alpha OpenVMS environment are documented in this guide. For general, non-platform-specific information about SQL*Net, refer to the documents listed in the section "Related Publications" later in this chapter.

How is this Guide Organized

This guide is divided into the following chapters and appendices:

Chapter 1, "Introduction to SQL*Net on Alpha OpenVMS"

This chapter provides general conceptual information about SQL*Net release 8.1.7 in the Alpha OpenVMS environment. It presents a configuration overview, describes the possible SQL*Net installations, and explains the role of the Transparent Network Substrate.

Chapter 2, "The Protocol Adapters"

This chapter provides information about the Mailbox, TCP/IP, and bequeath protocol adapters on Alpha OpenVMS.

Chapter 3, "TNS Listener"

This chapter provides information about the TNS Listener on Alpha OpenVMS.

Chapter 4, "Oracle Names"

This chapter provides Alpha OpenVMS-specific information about Oracle Names. It describes the requirements and explains how to start Oracle Names from the DCL prompt.

Chapter 5, "Oracle Intelligent Agent and SNMP Support"

This chapter provides Alpha OpenVMS-specific information about installing and running the Oracle Intelligent Agent.

Chapter 6, "Advanced Security Option"

This chapter provides Alpha OpenVMS-specific information about installing the Advanced Security Option (ASO).

Appendix A, "Major Changes and Enhancements"

This appendix lists the major changes from previous releases of SQL*Net to SQL*Net 8.1.7 or Net8.

Appendix B, "ORASRV_NETV2_<SID> Command Procedure"

This appendix shows the contents of the ORASRV_NETV2_<SID>_COM.SAMPLE file.

Appendix C, "ORASRV_BEQ_<sid> Command Procedure Sample File"

This appendix shows the contents of the ORASRV_BEQ_COM.SAMPLE file.

Conventions Used in this Guide

This section explains the following:

• Syntax

• SQL*Net Terms Used in this Guide

Syntax

This guide uses the following conventions:

Convention	Meaning
Monospace text	Represents command line text. Type this text exactly as shown.
< >	Text enclosed in angle brackets represents a variable. Substitute an appropriate value for the variable text. Do not type the brackets.
[ ]	Square brackets enclose optional items or indicate a function key. Do not type the brackets.
|	A vertical bar represents an "or" option among several options. You must enter only one of the options. Do not type the vertical bar.
/directory	A slash before a directory name indicates that it is a subdirectory. The path name may be either uppercase or lowercase.
$	Represents the OpenVMS command prompt. Your prompt may differ.
\	In examples of commands you type online, a backward slash at the end of a line signifies that you must type the entire command on one line. Do not type the backslash.

Special notes alert you to particular information within the body of the manual.

Additional Information:	Refers you to portions of this manual, another manual, or the online documentation. All references to other manuals refer to the most recent version of that manual, unless otherwise noted.
Attention:	Alerts you to important information that will help you use the system.
Note:	Highlights helpful hints and practical tips that can save time and make installation or other procedures easier.
Warning:	Warns of actions which, if not carried out properly, could be damaging or destructive to your operations.

SQL*Net Terms Used in this Guide

Readers of this guide should be familiar with the following terms as they are used in Oracle networking documents.

• TNS-based product--A product based on the Transparent Network Substrate (TNS) refers to software that directly calls or uses TNS. An example would be SQL*Net 8.1.7.

• TNS community--A TNS community corresponds to what is typically called a network. It consists of several clients or nodes that fulfill the following conditions:
  • Connected and can communicate using one common network transport protocol (regardless of media or distance)

  • Run TNS-based products, such as SQL*Net 8.1.7

    Communities are given names, but because they are based on a single protocol they may also be referred to using phrases such as the TCP/IP community.

• TNS network/application network--A TNS network (also called an application network) is a network that consists of one or more TNS communities running TNS-based products. A simple example is one TNS community in which two nodes are running SQL*Net release 8.1.7.

• TNS client--A TNS client is an application that is a member of a TNS community and that is running TNS-based software such as SQL*Net release 8.1.7. A TNS client may be either a requestor or a provider of a service.

• Initiator--An initiator is a TNS client application that requests a connection to another client in a TNS network. Every TNS connection is originated by an initiator. An example is an Oracle Forms application that accesses an Oracle8 database using SQL*Net release 8.1.7.

• TNS connection--A TNS connection is an application-level connection between two TNS clients on the same TNS network. The initiator and destination can belong to the same TNS community or to different TNS communities. A TNS connection between two clients in the same community requires neither navigation nor an interchange. A TNS connection that spans multiple communities requires an Interchange to navigate and establish the connection path. The figure below shows a logical TNS connection that spans two different transport protocol communities.

• Connect descriptor--An initiator requests a TNS connection using a connect descriptor, which identifies the destination application and usually contains initial application connection information (such as a database system ID). Usually the connect descriptor is identified by a service name, a short alias for the connect descriptor. The connect descriptors and their corresponding service names are stored in the Oracle Names Server for the network (if one exists) or in the TNSNAMES.ORA file.

• Path--A path is the series of nodes traversed by a connection, beginning with the start point (the initiator) to the end point (the destination).

Related Publications

OpenVMS Publications

Oracle8 for Alpha OpenVMS Installation Guide	Oracle8 for Alpha OpenVMS Server and Tools Administrator's Guide
Release notes associated with Oracle product on Alpha OpenVMS

Product-Specific Publications

Net8 Administrator's Guide	Oracle8 Server Utilities
Oracle8 Server Concepts	Oracle8 Server Distributed Systems I:Distributed Data
Oracle8 Server Administrator's Guide	Oracle8 Server Distributed Systems II:Replicated Data
Oracle8 Server Tuning	Oracle8 Parallel Server
Oracle8 Server Application Developer's Guide	Product-specific README and DOC files in the product directories (for example, ORA_RDBMS:README.DOC)
Oracle8 Server SQL Reference

Oracle Services and Support

A wide range of information about Oracle products and global services is available on the Internet, from:

http://www.oracle.com

The sections below provide URLs for selected services.

Oracle Support Services

Technical Support contact information worldwide is listed at:

http://www.oracle.com/support

Templates are provided to help you prepare information about your problem before you call. You will also need your CSI number (if applicable) or complete contact details, including any special project information.

Products and Documentation

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Links to Stores in other countries are provided from this site.

Product documentation can be found at:

http://docs.oracle.com

Customer Service

Global Customer Service contacts are listed at:

http://www.oracle.com/support/

Education and Training

Training information and worldwide schedules are available from:

http://education.oracle.com

Oracle Technology Network

Register with the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) at:

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