Using Oracle XE 10g Client

Oracle 10g XE Client is different from the client that the Oracle Express Edition (XE) server installs for you. First of all, with XE Client, we don't get the same configuration files that we get in an XE server (no tnsnames.ora – you need to use another notation to connect to a remote server). Also, the Windows registry keys are stored in another Windows registry directory.

Using sqplus command line utility

sqlplus user/password@IP_ADDRESS/ORACLE_SID

Using sqlplus command line utility without providing password

sqlplus user@IP_ADDRESS/ORACLE_SID

Connect using Flex2SQL

Oracle XE 10g Client uses another Windows registry directory than the one that it use in the server edition. We just need to rename that directory to the server registry directory name.

Change:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREORACLEKEY_XEClient

To:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREORACLEKEY_XE

Then in Flex2SQL use the same notation as your server name:

IP_ADDRESS/ORACLE_SID

Environment changes in Linux

Add this to your $HOME/.bashrc:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/client/bin

export TNS_ADMIN=/home/mertech/oracle_admin

export ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/client

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/client/lib

Using tnsnames.ora

As you see in the paths, we have a TNS_ADMIN variable. That's the equivalent of the $ORACLE_HOME/admin/network file of a complete Oracle 10g server installation. Create a tnsnames.ora file in that directory (use this one as an example):

# tnsnames.ora Network Configuration File: /home/mertech/oracle_admin/tnsnames.ora

ORCL10 =
(DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = localpc)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED)
(SERVICE_NAME = orcl10)
)
) 

EXTPROC_CONNECTION_DATA =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC)) )
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = PLSExtProc)
(PRESENTATION = RO)
)
)

ORCL2 =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 192.168.1.67)(PORT = 1522))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED)
(SERVICE_NAME = orcl2)
)
)

SERVER1 =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 192.168.1.9)(PORT = 1522))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED)
 (SERVICE_NAME = orcl11g)
)
)

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