Hi, Also from a security perspective it is possible to use a later listener on an earlier database to solve security issues in the listener if they have not been fixed in the earlier version. Although an old example, Oracle suggest using the 8.1.7 listener for fixing security bugs in 7.3.4 in security alerts 14, 15 and 16 - see http://otn.oracle.com/deplo y/security/alerts.htm - so yes you can definitely use later listeners on older databases, i wouldn't do it the other way though. hth kind regards Pete -- Pete Finnigan email:pete@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Web site: http://www.petefinnigan.com - Oracle security audit specialists Book:Oracle security step-by-step Guide - see http://store.sans.org for details. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------