Error: No valid Oracle clients found. You need at least one 64-bit client properly configured.

Error: No valid Oracle clients found. You need at least one 64-bit client properly configured.

Description:

This error occurs when we try to connect an Oracle database, through a Client like Toad for Oracle etc.. The error clearly says an 64-bit Oracle client need to be installed properly inorder to access the database.

Solution: Download and install Client from given link.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/features/instant-client/index-097480.html

The required software link is “Instant Client for Microsoft Windows (x64)”.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winx64soft-089540.html

The latest version is Version 11.2.0.3.0, select the Instant Client Package – Basic Lite: Smaller version of the Basic, with only English error messages and Unicode, ASCII, and Western European character set support (10.2 only).

Unzip the files to your Oracle installation folder. e.g: C:/oracle or C:/oraclehome. So the client installation is completed.

Now the important part comes. We need to configure the client.

For that first set up the TNS_ADMIN environment variable and later confure the tnsnames.ora.

1. How to setup up the environment variables
Open the Control Panel –> click, System (Classic View) –> select, Advanced tab –>click, Environment Variables –> click, New (User variables) –> enter Variable Name as “TNS_ADMIN” and Variable Value as the location path of file “tnsnames.ora”, which comes in C:/oracle….Networ/Admin, now click, New (System variables) –> enter Variable Name as “Path” and Variable Value as the Oracle client folder path. If Variable Value already exists then append a semi-colon ; to the list and update the new path, then  Click OK.

2. Now open the “tnsnames.ora” and enter database configuration information.

OracleDatabaseName_Custom =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = hostname or ipaddress)(PORT = portnum))
) (CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = XE) (SERVER = DEDICATED)
)
)

That’s it. Now open your client and access the database.