Hi, I am faced with the strangest problem and I was really hoping someone could give me some suggestion/hints!! Basically I have configured TAF on my OPS environment (8.1.7.3 solaris 2.8) and once i put the tnsnames and listener.ora file in place I shutdown and restart the listener for the changes in the l.ora file to take effect. Then when I test my sql connection I get the following error: TNS-12514: TNS:listener could not resolve SERVICE_NAME given in connect descriptor HOWEVER...if I shutdown the database and the listener..startup the listener first and then the database..it all works..I just dont understand it..am at a total loss. Can anyone please advise??? I thought at first it was because pmon was taking time to register with the listener after the listener is restarted..but I dont know that it is that anymore..as I have waited and checked the listener log for service registration..and then tested sqlplus... Thanks in advance Fawzia ********************************************************************** Information in this email is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended for the addressee only. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your system. You should not otherwise copy it, retransmit it or use or disclose its contents to anyone. Thank you for your co-operation. ********************************************************************** -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Malik, Fawzia INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).