Now, I know this error is common and has been discussed a lot -- after all, I have been trying to figure it out for over a week, almost full time. Please help.
Here is my working environment -- and I know it works because I have set it up many times. I am trying to rebuild my system because we had to rebuild the workstation.
OS is Windows 7 - 64 bit.
Database (back end) is 11.2.0.1.0 - 64 bit
Database (front end) is Access 2010 - 32 bit (Access exists only as a 32 bit application)
Dedicated server - FE and BE on same workstation
No network connections (stand-alone development system).
Here is my process for installing on a newly created Windows workstation.
1. Install Oracle database software, not creating a database.
2. Create Listener with netca.
3. Create database with dbca. (I do it this way because I want to increase the maximum number of processes -- it's the easiest way).
4. Import production database via impdp (Import Dump utility).
5. Test login via SQLPlus in command prompt window.
- Connection works
- Database imported
5. Run Net Manager from Start->OraDB11g_home1->Net Manager
6. Install 32 bit Oracle Client Administrator.
7. Run c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe.
- Create User DSN and System DSN
8. In Windows create TNS_ADMIN system environment variable
- Yes I know you don't need to set these environment variables (at least that is what I have seen said many times) but if I don't create them I get error:
ORA-12154: TNS: Could not resolve the connect identifies specified
8. Open Access front-end and we get successful connection to the backend database.
9. Open database using SQLPlus in command prompt window.
- Get ORA-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error.
After attempt to log on via SQLPlus the following entry is placed in the sqlnet.log file (I do not show all because there is no way to transfer information except by keyboard):
Fatal NI connect error 12528, connection to:
<listener string>
blah .. blah
Tns error struct:
ns main err code: 12564
TNS-12564: TNS:connection refused
ns secondary err code: 0
nt main err code: 0
nt secondary err code: 0
nt OS err code: 0
There is a lot of history (i.e. many failed attempts) in coming to this process. I think it would be inappropriate to post a dissertation on this discussion board.
If you need more information on that history I will be glad to provide some answers where I am able.