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Informix Error -25507: You specified an unknown service name or protocol.

Cause and resolution

You specified an unknown service name or protocol.

Determine which of the following conditions produced this error and take the appropriate corrective actions:

The value of the NETTYPE configuration parameter in the ONCONFIG file is not the same as the NETTYPE setting in the sqlhosts file. If the NETTYPE values are different, correct the incorrect value. If you update the ONCONFIG file, you must restart the database server.

The correct service name is not in the /etc/services file. If you are using the TCP/IP protocol, check the /etc/services file. If you are using NFS, use the ypmake utility to check the /etc/services file. Sometimes the daemon does not recognize service names that are added after a default start-up. Add the correct service name if it is not present or restart your computer.

The protocol entry in the ONCONFIG file or sqlhosts file is not supported by the operating system on your computer. For information about supported protocols, see the connectivity information section in the Administrator's Guide or the Client SDK release notes in the INFORMIXDIR/release directory. Correct the protocol entry in the ONCONFIG file or the sqlhosts file. If you update the ONCONFIG file, you must restart the database server.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-25507 fires when the client or server can't resolve the service name or protocol needed for a connection — per the official guidance.

  1. The NETTYPE configuration parameter in ONCONFIG doesn't match the NETTYPE setting in sqlhosts, per the official guidance — the first named case.
  2. The correct service name isn't in /etc/services, per the official guidance — the second named case; on NFS, ypmake may need to run to refresh it.
  3. The protocol entry in ONCONFIG/sqlhosts isn't supported by the operating system, per the official guidance — the third named case.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Correct any mismatched NETTYPE value, per the official guidance, restarting the database server if ONCONFIG was changed.
  2. Add the missing service name to /etc/services, per the official guidance, or restart the computer if the daemon hasn't picked up a recently-added entry.
  3. Correct the unsupported protocol entry, per the official guidance, consulting the Administrator's Guide or Client SDK release notes for supported protocols.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond a service-name/protocol resolution failure.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Compare NETTYPE between ONCONFIG and sqlhosts, check /etc/services for the service name, and confirm the protocol is OS-supported.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -25553 — "Sqlhosts file not found or cannot be opened." A related connectivity configuration error, on the file's existence rather than its content.
  • -25556 — "Invalid sqlhosts file format." A related connectivity configuration error, on malformed field values within the file.

An unknown service name or protocol was specified — check NETTYPE consistency, /etc/services, and OS protocol support.