# ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified

**URL:** <https://forums.toadworld.com/t/ora-12154-tns-could-not-resolve-the-connect-identifier-specified/58560>\
**Category:** Toad for Oracle & DevOps Toolkit\
**Created:** [November 20, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/ora-12154-tns-could-not-resolve-the-connect-identifier-specified/58560 "2023-11-20T23:43:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kelly.forbush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kelly.forbush](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/kelly.forbush)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/ora-12154-tns-could-not-resolve-the-connect-identifier-specified/58560/1 "2023-11-20T23:43:44Z")

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I need help getting past this error.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/3X/6/1/616326c8bfb61873a609ca4e028f304c8d25c816.png)

$ Error. ORA-12154 — •  
o% =  
C — TNS SQL  
ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified  
Items Checked  
6y TNS\_ADMIN environment variable is not defined  
© ORACLE\_HOME environment variable is defined as "C:\oracle\dbhomeXE"  
C "C:\oracle\dbhomeXE\Network\Admin\tnsnames.ora" was located  
© Found in the tnsnames.ora file:  
PROD =  
(DESCRIPTION =  
(ENABLE = BROKEN)  
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = db.snow.edu)(PORT = 1521))  
(CONNECT\_DATA =  
(SERVICE\_NAME = DBPROD)  
) ) C "C:\oracle\dbhomeXE\Network\Admin\sqlnet.ora" was located © NAMES.DIRECTORY\_PATH specifies TNSNAMES in the sqlnet.ora file  
Steps to Take  
• Try to TNSPing PROD using the TNS Ping button on the toolbar  
Search this message in our knowledge base  
Retry  
Close

What exactly do I need to do to make this work?

My windows 11 failed. I have a fresh install of Windows 11, Toad for Oracle 17, and Oracle 21c local install.

 ![TNSNAMES_ORA](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/3X/b/0/b019f229c238c510a693e4edaef029e3a63a8d0f.png)  
 ![sqlnet_ora](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/3X/8/9/89be29ad456260e8441261feb6c11c2aca296833.png)

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**Author:** ![JohnDorlon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/johndorlon/32/9997_2.png) [@JohnDorlon](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/JohnDorlon)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/ora-12154-tns-could-not-resolve-the-connect-identifier-specified/58560/2 "2023-11-21T13:06:06Z")

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That means Toad found the tnsnames file and the entry for it that you specified, but it just can't connect.

Is the database running? Is the Listener running too?

Can you TNSPing it or connect to it (using the connect string) using SQL\*Plus?

Maybe a VPN needs to be connected?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kelly.forbush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kelly.forbush](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/kelly.forbush)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/ora-12154-tns-could-not-resolve-the-connect-identifier-specified/58560/3 "2023-11-21T21:30:44Z")

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It was my 21c installation. I uninstalled that and downloaded the latest instantclient. Unzipped it into the c:\oracle folder. Made sure that folder was in the PATH and put the TNSNAMES and SQLNET in the Toad directory. It's working now.