$ head -4 $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/tnsnames.ora oradb_btest = ( DESCRIPTION = ( ADDRESS_LIST = ( ADDRESS = ( HOST = oradb )( PORT = 1521 )( PROTOCOL = TCP ))) ( CONNECT_DATA = ( SERVICE_NAME = basetest )) ) $ tnsping oradb_btest TNS Ping Utility for HPUX: Version 10.2.0.4.0 - Production on 13-MAY-2013 18:24:26 Copyright (c) 1997, 2007, Oracle. All rights reserved. Used parameter files: /prod/oracle/v102/network/admin/sqlnet.ora Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias Attempting to contact ( DESCRIPTION = ( ADDRESS_LIST = ( ADDRESS = ( PROTOCOL = TCP)( PORT = 1521) ( HOST = oradb))) ( CONNECT_DATA = ( SERVICE_NAME = basetest))) OK (90 msec) $