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Informix Error -25556: Invalid sqlhosts file format.

Cause and resolution

Invalid sqlhosts file format.

Check that each field in the $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts file is correct and contains supported values or that the sqlhosts information in the Windows registry is correct. If you are using IBM Informix Dynamic Server, IBM Informix Universal Server, or IBM Informix OnLine Dynamic Server, check the DBSERVERNAME, DBSERVERALIASES, and NETTYPE parameters in the $ONCONFIG configuration file or the informixserver entries in the registry. If you are using IBM Informix SE, check the dbservername, nettype, hostname, and servicename fields in the sqlhosts file to make sure that you have entered the correct values. For additional information, refer to your Administrator's Guide.

For ESQL/C: If you receive this message from an ESQL/C application in a Windows environment, check the information in the network parameters that the client computer defines. For information on setting the parameters, refer to the IBM Informix ESQL/C Programmer's Supplement for Microsoft Windows Environments.

For ESQL/COBOL: If you receive this message from an ESQL/COBOL application in a Windows environment, check the information in the network parameters that the client computer defines. For information on setting the parameters, refer to the IBM Informix ESQL/COBOL Programmer's Supplement for Microsoft Windows Environments.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-25556 fires when the sqlhosts file (or Windows registry equivalent) has a malformed or unsupported field value — per the official guidance.

  1. A malformed field in $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts, per the official guidance — check DBSERVERNAME, DBSERVERALIASES, and NETTYPE in ONCONFIG, or the equivalent registry entries on Windows.
  2. A malformed field on IBM Informix SE, per the official guidance — check dbservername, nettype, hostname, and servicename in sqlhosts.
  3. A network-parameter misconfiguration in an ESQL/C or ESQL/COBOL Windows application, per the official guidance — the third named case.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check every field of the relevant sqlhosts entry (or registry entry) against the Administrator's Guide, per the official guidance.
  2. For ESQL/C or ESQL/COBOL on Windows, check the client's network parameters, per the official guidance, referring to the respective Programmer's Supplement.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond a malformed sqlhosts/registry field.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check every sqlhosts field (or registry entry) for correctness, per the platform-specific guidance above.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -25553 — "Sqlhosts file not found or cannot be opened." A related sqlhosts error, on a missing file rather than malformed content.
  • -25555 — "Server server-name is not listed as a dbserver name in sqlhosts." A related sqlhosts error, on a missing entry rather than a malformed one.

The sqlhosts file (or registry equivalent) has a malformed field — check it against the Administrator's Guide for the relevant server type.