Just curious because I started my listener and then copied in an old version of listener.ora that had errors in it. Although I did not stop and restert the listener I started getting problems. When I copied back the correct listener.ora it was OK....even though I had not stopped and started the listener. I had assumed that the listener.ora was only read when lsnrctl was run...maybe I am wrong? Oracle 9.2 on Solaris John Dunn Product Consultant Sefas Innovation Limited Direct Dial +44 (0) 117 373 6122 www.sefas.com PLEASE NOTE SEFAS INNOVATION HAVE MOVED TO: Sefas Innovation Ltd, CityPoint, Temple Gate, Bristol BS1 6PL, UK. Tel: +44(0) 117 373 6114 Fax: +44 (0) 117 373 6115 NEW DIRECT DIAL: +44 (0) 117 373 6122 -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l