Listener ORA-00119 ORA-00132

Issues with setting Local Listener ORA-00119 ORA-00132


Today I was caught up in a issue with TNS while trying to setup SOA setup with OEM

Windows64bit machine

Database 11gr2

As per requirement we wanted to run the listener not on default port (1521 ) but some other port. Now as per Documentation if i want my non default port listener to register with pmon i need to set local_listener

“If you want PMON to register with a local listener that does not use TCP/IP, port 1521, then configure the LOCAL_LISTENER parameter in the initialization parameter file to locate the local listener.”

I though it will be a straight forward process just go ahead and run the alter system set local_listener=listener2 scope=both; but to surprise it didnt work as expected it returned an error

ERROR at line 1:
ORA-02097: parameter cannot be modified because specified value is invalid
ORA-00119: invalid specification for system parameter LOCAL_LISTENER
ORA-00132: syntax error or unresolved network name 'LISTENER2' … so a straightforward process didnt work as expected.


alter system set local_listener='(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS_LIST=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=TAQVIA-IN.xx.xxx.com)(PORT=1522))))' sid='orcl64' scope=both





----------------------------------Startup fails with oracle error ORA-00119, ORA-00132-----------------------------------------------
Error Description:
---------------------------
Database Startup fails with oracle error ORA-00119, ORA-00132
SQL> startup mount
ORA-00119: invalid specification for system parameter LOCAL_LISTENER
ORA-00132: syntax error or unresolved network name 'LISTENER_DBASE'


Cause of The problem:
-------------------------
If the tnsnames.ora entry was used for the value of the LOCAL_LISTENER and the LOCAL_LISTENER entry inside tnsnames.ora is changed or tnsnames.ora file is moved and hence the tns alias to which the LOCAL_LISTENER parameter points is no longer valid. So, the entry inside spfile or pfile to be unresolvable, and the database will not start.

PMON must be able to resolve whatever value the LOCAL_LISTENER or REMOTE_LISTENER parameter is set to. Here LISTENER_DBASE is the name of the local listener.

Remember the LISTENER_DBASE is NOT the listener name reflected in the listener.ora file but rather it is an alias stored in the tnsnames.ora file.

Solution of The problem
-----------------------------
A)Correct the tnsnames.ora

i)Determine if the tns alias is good by using tnsping.

SQL> !tnsping LISTENER_DBASE
TNS Ping Utility for Solaris: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 15-MAY-2008 11:57:06
Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Used parameter files:
/oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora
TNS-03505: Failed to resolve name

So it could not find the name inside tnsnames.ora.
ii)
Add the LISTENER_DBASE entry in the tnsnames.ora file.

SQL> !vi /oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora
LISTENER_DBASE=(DESCRIPTION=(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522)) (sid='dbase')

and run tnsping utility,

SQL> !tnsping LISTENER_DBASE
TNS Ping Utility for Solaris: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 15-MAY-2008 12:11:40
Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Used parameter files:
/oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora

Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias
Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION=(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522)) (sid='dbase')
TNS-12533: TNS:illegal ADDRESS parameters

So there is syntax error in the LISTENER_DBASE alias. Correct it as here add parenthesis.

SQL> !vi /oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora
LISTENER_DBASE=(DESCRIPTION=(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522)) (sid='dbase')))

iii)After correction run tnsping and start the database.
SQL> !tnsping LISTENER_DBASE
TNS Ping Utility for Solaris: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 15-MAY-2008 12:14:25
Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Used parameter files:
/oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora
Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias
Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION=(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522)) (sid='dbase'))
OK (0 msec)

SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 167772160 bytes
Fixed Size 2019288 bytes
Variable Size 83886120 bytes
Database Buffers 75497472 bytes
Redo Buffers 6369280 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.


B)An alternative solution is to remove the LOCAL_LISTENER entry from the listener.ora file.
1)Create spfile from pfile if you don't have pfile upadted.
SQL>CREATE PFILE FROM SPFILE;

2)Open the pfile and remove the LOCAL_LISTENER entry.

$vi /oracle/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/dbs/initdbase.ora

3)Create spfile from pfile.
SQL>CREATE PFILE FROM SPFILE;

4)Start the database.

SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 167772160 bytes
Fixed Size 2019288 bytes
Variable Size 83886120 bytes
Database Buffers 75497472 bytes
Redo Buffers 6369280 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.

Recommendation:
------------------
Though you can set the value of LOCAL_LISTENER (or REMOTE_LISTENER parameter if used) as alias in tnsnames.ora like in this example but it is not recommended setting. Instead use a full address descriptor inside pfile or set dynamically inside spfile.

In order to set dynamically inside spfile and in memory log in with dba privileges and issue:

ALTER SYSTEM set LOCAL_LISTENER="(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=yourhost)(port=yourport))" scope=both sid='instancename';

In my system,

SQL> ALTER SYSTEM set LOCAL_LISTENER="(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522))" scope=both sid='dbase';

SQL> show parameter local

NAME TYPE VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
local_listener string (address=(protocol=tcp)(host=neptune)(port=1522))