Log in to the database with sqlplus and select * from dual@DBLINKNAME; Since you used OEM, you don't really know what syntax it used to create the dblink.... You do not have to bounce the db to use a new dblink -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Vincent Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 6:46 AM To: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Question about db links and tnsnames.ora (Reposted - previous post had wrong subject line. Sorry!) I'm trying to create a db link from a 9i database to an 8i database on another server. I've edited the tnsnames.ora file for the 9i database, adding an entry for the 8i database, and created the link on the 9i database, using OEM. But when I test the link in OEM (by clicking "Test"), the alert box tells me the link is not active. Do I need to bounce the 9i database so that it picks up the altered tnsnames.ora file? That is, does Oracle only scan the tnsnames.ora file at startup, or should it look afresh at the tnsnames.ora file each time name resolution is required? Thanks, Paul Vincent DBA University of Central England -- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l