At this point, the server admins don't want us to install any additional software on the server. They didn't give a reason why. Perhaps just laziness? I do like the idea of using the client, tho. It keeps people out of the oracle db home. I'll see if I can lean on that idea more with the server admins. Jeremy From: Andrew Kerber [mailto:andrew.kerber@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 1:54 PM To: SHEEHAN, JEREMY Cc: ORACLE-L Subject: Re: non-oracle user sourcing oracle environment Some reason why you cant just install the oracle client and let the user use the sqlplus there? On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 12:50 PM, SHEEHAN, JEREMY <JEREMY.SHEEHAN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:JEREMY.SHEEHAN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: Hey all, I've got an issue trying to get a user to source (and use) sqlplus from an oracle database environment. We're not allowed to use sticky bits. We're not allowed to add the user to the dba group. We're not allowed to use any sudo commands. I'm running 10.2.0.4 in AIX 5.3.7. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! Jeremy -- Andrew W. Kerber 'If at first you dont succeed, dont take up skydiving.'