turns out i needed to fully qualify both the server name and the tns entry. it now connects if i use pno_prod..blah.AD.blah.COM. tnsping finds it that way and sqlplus connects OK. however not if i use just pno_prod. any further suggestions? tnsnames stanza: PNO_PROD.blau.AD.blah.COM = (DESCRIPTION = (CONNECT_DATA = (Service_Name = PNO_PROD) ) (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(PORT = 1523)(HOST = foo.blah.AD.blah.COM)) (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(PORT = 1528)(HOST = foo.blah.AD.blah.COM)) ) ) sqlnet.ora: # SQLNET.ORA Network Configuration File: D:\oracle\ora81\network\admin\sqlnet.ora # Generated by Oracle configuration tools. NAMES.DEFAULT_DOMAIN = blech.ad.blah.com #SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES= (NTS) #SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES= (NONE) #NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES, ONAMES, HOSTNAME) NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES) -- -- Bill "Shrek" Thater ORACLE DBA shrekdba@xxxxxxxxx ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "He's one who knows that life is just a leap of faith, so spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape." -- "The Cape" -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l