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How to connect to Oracle database in SAS?


In my project, our client widely use Oracle database for their data. I hope Oracle is widely used database. So here I will explain making connection from SAS to Oracle database, my routine activity. Also, you will find the common issues and how to rectify them.

Exploring tnsnames.ora

To make connection to Oracle database, we should make an entry in tnsnames.ora. The tnsnames.ora file will be inside Oracle DB client installation drive. By default installation directory and tnsnames.ora file will be in /base-directory/oracle/product/11.2.0/client_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora
Base-directory = Can be any directory.

What will be inside tnsnames.ora file?

The tnsnames.ora file is a configuration file for Oracle client which holds information about the server. To make it simple, your machine needs to contact another machine and this entry holds the address of another machine. So what does the address will look like? The below image is the sample tns entry.

TNS entry with schema name CHSLKJE
In above image, only the service-name, ip address and port number varies for each entry. The service name is also known as schema or SID of Oracle database.

How to check whether the entry is correct?

Oracle client has a utility called tnsping. Using tnsping you can ping the database. The output will be success if the entry is right or it will show error messages like Timed Out etc.

You need to set environment variable to run this command. Without environment variable you will get the error - tnsping: command not found. Comment below if you need to know the environment variable of you system.

Other methods:

You can run LIBNAME statement for Oracle database in SAS Enterprise Guide to check the entry. If the library get assigned then the entry is correct.  

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