oracle name server

[Rpger Tavener]

We are experiencing slow performance when we start the Oracle Name server on our primary server. It takes as long as 15-20 minutes to start. Also, registering new databases usually just times out. All other network components seem to be working ok. No other performance issues have been reported. Any insight on this?

Thanks

[harry d brown jr]

Roger,

Are you using DNS? What are the contents of /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/nsswitch.conf?

live free or die
harry

[Bill Hassell]

Very common problem with the DNS server. To prove this, place the important IP addresses and hostnames in /etc/hosts and rename the resolv.conf file to something like resolv.conf.old. Now try your system...it should respond normally.

What is happening is that all socket requests (telnet, rlogin, SQLnet, etc) are asking the DNS server for IP and hostname information and when it refuses to respond or is overloaded, your local server will be appear to be almost crippled as each network task will take 20 seconds or so to timeout.

A problem DNS server will do bad things to an entire network so for reliability, create nsswitch.conf, and use files then dns, and put the important addresses in /etc/hosts.

[Jeff Schussele]

I agree with Bill except for relying on /etc/hosts.
Becomes an admin headache in large environments.
You should hound the DNS dudes to have no fewer than 2 servers - 3 is even better, PROPERLY config & monitor/maintain them. Then set the search order to go thru all of them before hitting the hosts file.
/etc/hosts should be the resolver of absolutely LAST resort.