ORA-12514 Error when using Net Configuration Assistant

Question

I have recently installed Oracle 11g on a Windows 2008 server and am now trying to connect via the Oracle client on my local machine.
Here is how I've been using Net Configuration Assistant so far:
Listener Configuration
The name of my listener is LISTENER_PROXIMA (proxima is the name of the server). Does this need to be named something else? Something specific?
I'm using TCP to connect.
I'm using standard port 1521.
Naming Methods
Local Naming and Easy Connect Naming
Local Net Service Name
Service name is ADMI04 (checked this against the lsnrstl service status on the server and it's correct)
Using TCP
Using the hostname proxima.domain-name.com
I'm attempting to connect as SYS (but have tried others with the same result)
When I go to test the connection I keep getting the ORA-12514 error. Does anyone know what I should do? Reinstall the listener? If so, are there any suggestions or guidance for that?
Thank you.

Answer 1

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A couple of important points.
First, the listener is a server side only process. It's entire purpose in life is to receive requests for connections to databases and set up those connections. Once the connection is established, the listener is out of the picture. It creates the connection. It doesn't sustain the connection. One listener, with the default name of LISTENER, running from one oracle home, listening on a single port, will serve multiple database instances of multiple versions running from multiple homes. It is an unnecessary complexity to try to have multiple listeners or to name the listener as if it belongs to a particular database. That would be like the telephone company building a separate switchboard for each customer.
Second, the tnsnames.ora file is a client side issue. It's purpose is for address resolution - the tns equivalent of the 'hosts' file further down the network stack. The only reason it exists on a host machine is because that machine can also run client processes.
Assume you have the following in your tnsnames.ora:
larry =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = myhost)(PORT = 1521))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVICE_NAME = curley)
  )Now, when you issue a connect, say like this:
$> sqlplus scott/tiger@larrytns will look in your tnsnames.ora for an entry called 'larry'. Next, tns sends a request to (PORT = 1521) on (HOST = myhost) using (PROTOCOL = TCP), asking for a connection to (SERVICE_NAME = curley).
Where is (HOST = myhost) on the network? When the request gets passed from tns to the next layer in the network stack, the name 'myhost' will get resolved to an IP address, either via a local 'hosts' file, via DNS, or possibly other less used mechanisms. You can also hard-code the ip address (HOST = 123.456.789.101) in the tnsnames.ora.
Next, the request arrives at port 1521 on myhost. Hopefully, there is a listener on myhost configured to listen on port 1521, and that listener knows about SERVICE_NAME = curley. If so, you'll be connected.
What can go wrong?
First, there may not be an entry for 'larry' in your tnsnames. In that case you get "ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified" No need to go looking for a problem on the host, with the listener, etc. If you can't place a telephone call because you don't know the number (can't find your telephone directory (tnsnames.ora) or can't find the party you are looking for listed in it (no entry for larry)) you don't look for problems at the telephone switchboard.
Maybe the entry for larry was found, but myhost couldn't be resolved to an IP address (say there was no entry for myhost in the local hosts file). This will result in "ORA-12545: Connect failed because target host or object does not exist"
Maybe there was an entry for myserver in the local hosts file, but it specified a bad IP address. This will result in "ORA-12545: Connect failed because target host or object does not exist"
Maybe the IP was good, but there is no listener running: "ORA-12541: TNS:no listener"
Maybe the IP was good, there is a listener at myhost, but it is listening on a different port. "ORA-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error"
Maybe the IP was good, there is a listener at myhost, it is listening on the specified port, but doesn't know about SERVICE_NAME = curley. "ORA-12514: TNS:listener does not currently know of service requested in connect descriptor"
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