How do I specify connection strings in Instant Client mode?
All Oracle net naming methods that do not require use of ORACLE_HOME or TNS_ADMIN (to locate configuration files such as tnsnames.ora or sqlnet.ora) work in the Instant Client mode. In particular, the connect string can be specified in the following formats: A SQL Connect URL string of the form: //host:[port][/service name] such as: //dbase-server-5:4321/ORDERS As an Oracle Net keyword-value pair. For example: “(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp) (HOST=dlsun242) (PORT=5521)) (CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=bjava21)))” Naming methods that require TNS_ADMIN to locate configuration files continue to work if the TNS_ADMIN environment variable is set. If the TNS_ADMIN environment variable is not set, and TNSNAMES entries such as inst1, and so on, are used, then the ORACLE_HOME variable must be set, and the configuration files are expected to be in the $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin directory. Please note that the ORACLE_HOME variable in this case is only used for locating Oracle Net configuration
