ORACLE ERROR - ORA -12571 -packet failure

[thebull1]

Hi all,
I have a user's PC with Oracle 8.0.5 that has started misbehaving. When I try to connect to the database its returning the named error and cannot connect.
How do I go around this? I can be able to ping the database from the PC.

 

[sem]

Are you able to tnsping the database or just ping the host?

Regards, Dima

 

[thebull1]

Hi Sem,
Yes Im able to ping the host without a problem.

 

[sem]

So why are you sure that the listener is running? Are you behind firewall?

Regards, Dima

 

[thebull1]

we are able to ping the server but we are not able to tnsping the database. It gives us the error "ORACLE ERROR - ORA -12571 -packet failure ". The listener is running, and the other users are able to connect to the database.We do not have any fire wall installed.

 

[sem]

Do you have anitivirus software running that may block some ports?

Regards, Dima

 

[thebull1]

we had anti virus(Mcafee virus scan v4.5.1) but we removed on advice from someone else and still we are getting the same error message.

 

[jsimons23]

Hello,
I've just spent the last two days fixing this error on my PC. No one seems to really know how they fixed it when they do, but, I think I do.

I believe this issue is due primarily to an outgoing port being blocked. This typically will originate when one is behind a restricting firewall. The problem always seems to throw people off because they apparently change nothing, yet they suddenly begin receiving the error.

The cause -- Restricting firewall leaves one outgoing port open, and this is mapped and used for Oracle. User installs Edonkey, Imesh, napster, Gnuetella, etc . . some file trading program -- file trading program sets up the outgoing port on top of the Oracle mapped outgoing port. Oracle suddenly does not work.

Solution -- Remove the file sharing programs. Simple.

Hope this helps.

-Jon

 

[thebull1]

Hi Jon,
Thanks a lot for the response... you are right about this very nagging error. My particular user has a lot of software that he downloads everyday,and I guess one of them could be restricting the Oracle port. We solved the problem by formatting his drive,and I still felt it was not he best of solutions. Now I know hwat to do next time...
Thanks again Jon, regards.