# Naming Methods Configuration

Clients use a simple name, called a connect identifier, in their connect strings. A connect identifier can be the net service name or the actual name of the service. For example, `sales` is the connect identifier in the following connect string:

`CONNECT scott/tiger@sales`

During a connection request, the client contacts a naming method to resolve `sales` to a connect descriptor, which the contains destination service information and the path, or network route, across the network to get to that service. The destination service is indicated by using its service name for Oracle8i databases or its Oracle System Identifier (SID) for Oracle8 or Oracle7 databases. The network route provides, at a minimum, the location of the listener through use of a network address.

The client must be configured with the naming methods to use in order to look up connect identifiers. The preferred order of naming methods to use are stored in the sqlnet.ora file.

No, I do not want to change the naming methods configured

Select this option if you do not want to configure other naming methods. This is typically the choice if this computer is a server and you do not want it to access other servers.

Yes, I do want to change the naming methods configured

Select this option if you want to configure naming methods.