Problem(Abstract)
What value is required for the SQL*Net connect string in Cognos Connection when trying to connect to an Oracle data source?
Resolving the problem
The value required is the Oracle instance_name.
You will find this in the tnsnames.ora file of the server where Cognos is running. The Oracle client should be installed and this value should have been added to the tnsnames.ora file to reference the database and server where the Oracle database is running.
The entries look like: MYCOGNOSDATA = (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = MYDATA.MYCOMPANY.COM)(PORT = 1521)) ) (CONNECT_DATA = (SID = GOSL) (SERVER = DEDICATED) ) )
In this example The SQL*Net connect string would be the first line: MYCOGNOSDATA
1. Using Windows Explorer locate the file ojdbc14.jar, this should be in the folder c:\Oracle\Product\10.2.0\db_1\jdbc\lib (but may be in a different location depending on the Oracle installation).
2. Copy this file to the folder c:\Program Files\Cognos\c8\webapps\p2pd\WEB-INF\lib
If you are trying to reach oracle database server on a different machine, then you must install oracle client for 10g on cognos server and configure the listener and tnsnames.ora and test the connection through sql*net.
XE=1(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST= dbs2.zpint.dom)(P
ORT=1521))(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SER VICE_NAME=XE)))
Once you reach the database server successfully, your parameters to build an Oracle connection string will be;
SQL*Net connect string: XE
Collation sequence: <leave it empty>
Signon_____________________
User ID [Checkbox enabled]
Password [Checkbox enabled]
Create a signon that the Everyone group can use: {Default enabled}
User ID: <request from oracle dba, if you are not the one>
Password: <request from oracle dba, if you are not the one>
Confirm Password:
Test the connection… by clicking on it. The status should show ‘Succecceded’!
SQL*Net connect string is not the IP address of the machine, but Service Name. (in your case it is ‘XE’)