Optional steps
Finding tnsnames.ora files
If the Oracle client is installed on your server, the tnsnames.ora file will be located in the following directory: $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin.
You can verify if this file exists with the following commands:
echo $ORACLE_HOME
will print the file path.
sudo find / -iname tnsnames.ora
will list the locations of any tnsnames.ora files in your file system.
Note: It is not necessary to have the Oracle client installed to use tnsnames.ora with Tableau Server. This step is simply to help you work with any existing installation.
Creating new tnsnames.ora file from scratch
If no tnsnames.ora file is present on this computer, and you do not have one to copy up from a client workstation, you can create one using a text editor. Keep in mind the following restrictions:
-
The tnsnames.ora file name is case sensitive, and must be in all lower-case letters.
-
The file should not use tab-spacing.
Below is a potential template for an entry. Elements in brackets must be replaced by values obtained from your database administrator.
Note: Although a TNSNames.ora file on a Windows or Mac computer may not require the ADDRESS_LIST entry, the tnsnames.ora file on a Linux computer requires this variable.
[net_service_name]=
(DESCRIPTION=
(ADDRESS_LIST=
(ADDRESS=[protocol_address_information])
)
(CONNECT_DATA=
(SERVICE_NAME=[service_name])
)
)
For example:
Production =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = prod.corp.com)(PORT = 1521)
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = orcl)
)
)