ORA-12500 #2

building semantic layer
1

We are getting an error “ORA-12500: TNS : listener failed to start a dedicated server process” but only with our demo laptop. Our laptop is configured as follows:
Windows NT Server 4
IIS
Oracle 8 for Windows NT
Net 8
WebI 2.5.2
Supervisor 5.0.2
Designer 5.0.2

The error is received intermittently from Webi, Supervisor and Designer. The error is also received from SQL*Plus (8.0.5.0.0) so I don’t think the problem is related to BO software but to the Oracle setup on the laptop. Also, we have never seen this error in our dvlp environment where the web server is on an NTServer and the Oracle DB is on Unix.

Searching the archives did not provide any clues as to what may be the root of the problem. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the problem? Thanks.

Traci Spears
Convergys IMG

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

2

Traci Spears:

  1. Make sure that you have the appropriate entries in your listener.ora file. This file lives in \orant\net80\admin and contains the startup and configuration information for the Oracle listener process. It contains, among other things, a defining entry for every Oracle instance/SID. An error in this file is the most likely cause of your problem.

  2. Make sure you have the appropriate entries in your tnsnames.ora file, or that sqlnet.ora is configured properly if you use that file.

  3. Make sure that the Oracle listener service is started. This service should be set to start automatically when NT starts.

  4. Make sure the Oracle instance/SID service is started. Same as the listener, this service should be set to start automatically.

  5. Make sure your IP is configured properly - primarily that localhost (127.0.0.1) is defined - and that you are referring to the right IP address/host names where applicable.

I can provide more details for any of these items if necessary.

Tracy Davenport
Bank of America

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

3

Thanks Tracy for the suggestions.

Upon further investigation, we found errors in the listener.log for a protocol adapter error.

We have only one adaptor on our Dvlp NT Server but we have three adaptors on the laptop:

  1. a loopback for Oracle
  2. a token ring for the docking station to allow connection to our LAN from our Cincinnati office
  3. an ethernet for connection to our LAN from all other office locations

What does this error mean? Why can’t we have multiple adapaters? Are there any workarounds besides fremoving all but one adapter?

Thanks.
Traci Spears
Convergys IMG

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

4

Traci,

What are describing are network topologies and hardware. These aren’t communication protocols. You can have multiple adapters. Just make sure that you have all the connectivity drivers required by Oracle to establish connection from client to server.

Oracle works with BEQUEATH (local connection), Novell IPX/SPX , TCP/IP and Named Pipes. Talk to your network admin(s)/DBA to make sure that everyone is using the same protocols and the required drivers are properly loaded: the error message you mention leads me to believe that it is not the case.

My $0.02.

Regards,

Alain Bonnemaison
NetBase Computing
Information Empowering Business
http://www.netbasecomputing.com

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

5

Traci Spears:

Is there a ORA-xxxxx message number in the listener.log file? What is it?

As Alain Bonnemaison said in his post, this looks like a networking issue. Assuming you are using (or want to use) TCP/IP as the protocol for Oracle, make sure that the TCP/IP protocol is installed and configured correctly in NT and bound to the Oracle Loopback adapter. Also, make sure the Oracle TCP/IP protocol adapter is installed in Oracle. Finally, make sure the entries in tnsnames.ora and listener.ora specify the TCP protocol and the appropriate port numbers.

Tracy Davenport
Bank of America

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

6

Tracy and Alain,

Thanks for your help. We have looked into the areas that you suggested. Here are the answers to your questions. Any addtional help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Traci

We have TCP/IP installed. When the Loopback Adapter is selected in the drop down box, the specific IP Address is set to 192.1.1.1 and Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.0. Is this the correct setting for the IP Address or should it be 127.0.0.1? How can I tell if the Loopback Adapter is “bound” to TCP/IP?

tnsnames.ora is set to TCP and port 1521. listener.ora is set to TCP and ports 1521, 1526.

Errors from listener.log:
TNSLSNR80 for 32-bit Windows: Version 8.0.5.0.0 - Production on 22-JUN-00 14:53:32

© Copyright 1997 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.

System parameter file is C:\orant\NET80\admin\listener.ora Log messages written to C:\orant\NET80\log\listener.log Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\.\pipe\oracle.worldipc)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\.\pipe\EXTPROC0ipc)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=nmp)(PIPENAME=\SDADEMO\pipe\ORAPIPE)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(DEV=160)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1521)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(DEV=180)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1526)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(DEV=184)(HOST=127.0.0.1)(PORT=1521)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\.\pipe\DWDMipc)) TIMESTAMP * CONNECT DATA [* PROTOCOL INFO] * EVENT [* SID] * RETURN CODE 22-JUN-00 11:22:08 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=dwdm)(CID=(PROGRAM=C:\orant\BIN\PLUS80W.EXE)(HOST=SDADEMO )(USER=Administrator))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1140)) * establish * dwdm * 0 22-JUN-00 11:23:17 * (CONNECT_DATA=(SID=dwdm)(CID=(PROGRAM=C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Server\WebIntelligence 2.5\wiqt\bin\wiqt.exe)(HOST=SDADEMO)(USER=SYSTEM))) * (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1214)) * establish * dwdm * 0 22-JUN-00 11:24:01 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=dwdm)(CID=(PROGRAM=C:\orant\BIN\PLUS80W.EXE)(HOST=SDADEMO )(USER=Administrator))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1237)) * establish * dwdm * 0 22-JUN-00 11:25:53 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=dwdm)(CID=(PROGRAM=C:\orant\BIN\PLUS80W.EXE)(HOST=SDADEMO )(USER=Administrator))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1350)) * establish * dwdm * 0 22-JUN-00 11:31:45 * (CONNECT_DATA=(SID=dwdm)(CID=(PROGRAM=C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Server\WebIntelligence 2.5\wiqt\bin\wiqt.exe)(HOST=SDADEMO)(USER=SYSTEM))) * (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.1.1.1)(PORT=1746)) * establish * dwdm * 12500
TNS-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process
TNS-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error
TNS-00530: Protocol adapter error

We removed the ethernet adaptor yesterday afternoon. Now we are having a problem getting the OracleTNSListner80 service to start this morning. Receiving error 1067: The process terminated unexpectedly. Here are the errors this moning in listener.log:
TNSLSNR80 for 32-bit Windows: Version 8.0.5.0.0 - Production on 23-JUN-00 06:15:35

© Copyright 1997 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.

System parameter file is C:\orant\NET80\admin\listener.ora Log messages written to C:\orant\NET80\log\listener.log

Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\.\pipe\oracle.worldipc)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\.\pipe\EXTPROC0ipc)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=nmp)(PIPENAME=\SDADEMO\pipe\ORAPIPE)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(DEV=176)(HOST=127.0.0.1)(PORT=1521)) Listening on: (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(DEV=152)(HOST=127.0.0.1)(PORT=1526)) Attempted to listen on:
(DESCRIPTION=(CONNECT_TIMEOUT=0)(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(Host=127.0.0.1)(Port =1521)))
TNS-12542: TNS:address already in use
TNS-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error
TNS-00512: Address already in use
32-bit Windows Error: 48: Unknown system error

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

7

Traci - Glancing at the two log files in your email, I can tell you several things:

-Look in Oracle’s documentation the meaning of this error message -Your Ethernet adapter is simply a mean (i.e. a piece of hardware) to communicate to your RDBMS server box over your client-server connection (nothing else): if you remove it, your wkstation will no longer be able to communicate.
-You need to do some cleaning-up in your TNS file: 127.0.0.1 is a dummy IP address in that very file and should be replaced by an ip address that corresponds to that of your RDBMS server -Instead of having just one communication protocol initialized, Oracle apparently attempts to initialize at least 3: Named Pipes, TCP/IP and IPC -Named pipes and IPC are not configured: your log file still shows Oracle default values
-The IP address you entered when setting up your Oracle client tools must be that of your Oracle database server(s) - nothing else. -Your subnet mask can be anything you want (well, almost) but it is, I dare say, irrelevant in your case
-Unless you are using all 3 protocols (named pipes, ipc and tcp/ip ) altogether, go back to Oracle Installer and remove those you do not need

Also:
-I mean no disrespect but I think you are confused about things work in a client server environment. Basically, here’s what it is like

[your client wkstion w/ ip address 192.216.105.5 ] <-----your communication protocol e.g. TCP/IP---->[your RDBMS server w/ ip address equal to e.g. 192.216.105.3]

AND

[your client wkstation has tcp HOST.SAM (or HOST) file in \Windows directory list RDBMS server ip address and name]

AND

[your client wkstation has tcp SERVICES file in \Windows directory list RDBMS server service name “oratcp” and the corresponding port(s) number(s) w/ as many entried as there are open port numbers]

-when you install Oracle client tools on your workstation

[your client wkstation w/ TNSNAMES.ORA and LISTENER.ORA lists RDBMS server ip address, database instance (SID) AND the Oracle SQL*Net connectivity files required to work w/ the communication protocol you chose] <-----your communication protocol e.g. TCP/IP---->
[your RDBMS server w/ LISTENER service started and LISTENER.ORA file configured]

Hope this helps.

If it does not, I strongly suggest you to call directly Oracle technical support.

Good luck!

Regards,

Alan Bonnemaison
NetBase Computing
Information Empowering Business

http://www.netbasecomputing.com
17875 Von Karman Ave., Suite 330, Irvine, CA 92614-6257 Phone: 949-440-9477 ext 5483
Fax: 949-440-9486
Mobile & Pager: 949-278-8476

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

8

Traci Spears:

Before I go any further with this thread, let me verify an assumption I made way back at the beginning.

Your original post said:

We are getting an error “ORA-12500: TNS : listener failed to start a dedicated server process” but only with our demo laptop. Our laptop is configured as follows:
Windows NT Server 4
IIS
Oracle 8 for Windows NT
Net 8
WebI 2.5.2
Supervisor 5.0.2
Designer 5.0.2

I took that to mean this laptop is intended to run completely standalone (not connected to a network) and that the ORA-12500 error is occurring when this laptop is running standalone as it will normally be when doing demos.

Is this assumption correct?

Tracy Davenport
Bank of America

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

9

Tracy,

Our laptop is configured to operate in one of three ways:

  1. connected to a network using a Token Ring 2. connected to a network using an Ethernet 3. run completely standalone (not connected to a network)

In the first two cases, the web server and BO are on an NT server and the database is on UNIX. In the third case, the laptop contains the web server, BO and database, etc.

We use the first setup for demos in our Cincinnati office. We did one today and it worked fine in this mode.

We use the second setup for demos in our other locations across the country. This has been tested and also works fine.

We use the third setup for demos on client sites. We only get the ORA-12500 error in this third mode.

The other thing to stress is that the error does not happen every time we hit the database. We are able to log in but sometimes it takes two or three attempts. Once we are in BO, we are able to publish docs, refresh docs, etc but sometimes within a matter of secons we have to log back in. This only happens intermittently. There is no real pattern.

Thanks again for all the help.
Traci

Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)