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  • 1.  Linus <-> Solaris dbaccess connection with NETTYPE issues

    Posted Thu May 07, 2026 06:39 PM

    Greetings folks.

    Bottom line on top:
    An Informix server on a Linux host (which requires Socket protocols) needs to connect to a server on a Solaris host, which only supports tli protocols.

    Disclaimer/warning: I'm back in my usual form. 😁

    We are trying to set a Linux box for informix and it seems OK for local connection.  But when I try dbaccess <database>@<solaris server> I get this:

    25507: Unknown error message -25507

    Well, actually, finderr on that number has 3 semi-coherent messages, which I will take on one at a time:

    The value of the NETTYPE configuration parameter in the ONCONFIG file is not
    the same as the NETTYPE setting in the sqlhosts file.

    Let's see: My onconfig NETTYPE settings are:

    ipcshm,1,50,CPU
    soctcp,32,500,NET

    While on sqlhosts, the entry for that solaris host is:

    <server>  ontlitcp    <host>      <port#>  # Hiding actual server names & ports

    Indeed, my onconfig has no NETTYPE for the Solaris protocol, tli.  So lemme add such a parameter on the Linux side:

    NETTYPE tlitcp,32,500,NET   # Copied from Solaris prod server.

    Now we need to bounce the Linux Informix server: 

    The specified service name or protocol is unknown. Error -25507.

    OUCH! Referring to this IBM article, we see that adding that tli NETTYPE was a mistake; Linux will not support tli in any manner.  So let's take it out of $ONCONFIG... And the server comes up.  This is consistent with the third paragraph in that finderr output:

    The protocol entry in the ONCONFIG file or sqlhosts file is not supported by
    the operating system on your computer.

    HMMmm... Let's see about editing that sqlhosts entry for the tli, substituting soc for tli.  Sounds counter-intuitive to me but..

    <server>  ontsoctcp    <host>      <port#>

    Nope: I still get that 25507 error, though no crash, of course.  But it makes sense: My target server is still under Solaris and uses tli for for connections.

    BTW, since I'm using port numbers, there is no issue of "service name not found"; I'm not using a service name.  So the 2nd paragraph from finderr is not relevant.

    Another BTW: I am able to connect to the target host via telnet using the target host name and port number.  So I think I've eliminated two suggestions I would otherwise be sure to get.

    So there we have the short and long of it.  We are open to suggestions here.

    Thanks much!



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    +-------------------------------------------------+
    | If you're a bird, be an early, early bird |
    | and catch a fat for for your breakfast plate. |
    | Yes, if you're a bird, be an early, early bird. |
    | But if you're a worm, sleep late! |
    +--------------------------- Shell Silverstein ---+
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Linus <-> Solaris dbaccess connection with NETTYPE issues

    Posted Thu May 07, 2026 07:49 PM
    Jacob:

    No. The communications is TCP either way. The only difference between sockets and TLI are the library calls the software uses to make and manage the connections, otherwise they are the same (indeed for the longest time Informix on Solaris supported both libraries - ontlitcp and onsoctcp).

    So, on the Linux side, just use onsoctcp with the IP of the Solaris server and the same port number and POOF!

    Art

    Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
    ASK Database Management


    Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference.  Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.










  • 3.  RE: Linus <-> Solaris dbaccess connection with NETTYPE issues

    Posted Fri May 08, 2026 06:52 AM

    Hi Jacob,

    Is it possible you mistyped the protocol name, 'cause 'ontsoctcp' should actually read 'onsoctcp'?



    ------------------------------
    Sincerely,
    Dennis
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  • 4.  RE: Linus <-> Solaris dbaccess connection with NETTYPE issues

    Posted Fri May 08, 2026 10:52 AM

    YIKES! Dennis, you must have been a detective in a previous life, to notice that typo.  Nobody sees their own typos!  Thanks TREMENDOUS for seeing that.

    That said: This was the problem for only one of my servers.  For the other server, there really was a problem with the tli/tcp choice and Art's answer got me over that hump.

    Happily, I can announce to my colleagues that both test servers are now accessible from the Linux box, at least for user Informix.  On the other hand, if I try it as myself on the linux box I get:

    $ dbaccess jake@test-server -

      951: Incorrect password or user jake@test-host.zzz.com[test-host] is not known on the database server.

    No such file or directory

    (Obviously I have masked revealing information or I gonna get yelled at.  πŸ”)

    This may be more a network security issue here than any Informix issue.  But for now that root problem seems to be solved.

    Many thanks, Art and Dennis!



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    +-----------------------------------------------------------+
    | I am pleased to report that I had no problems today. |
    | I had only issues, opportunities, challenges and valuable |
    | learning experiences. |
    +------------------------------------------ Jacob S --------+
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  • 5.  RE: Linus <-> Solaris dbaccess connection with NETTYPE issues

    Posted Fri May 08, 2026 12:55 PM

    Jacob:

    -951 error means that you do not have a valid login on the target host! It's in the error text:

     951: Incorrect password or user jake@test-host.zzz.com[test-host] is not known on the database server.

    Art



    ------------------------------
    Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
    ASK Database Management Corp.
    www.askdbmgt.com
    ------------------------------