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Informix Error -925

-925 The protocol type should be tcp.

The protocol type that is shown in the $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts file (or in \INFORMIX\etc\sqlhosts on IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare) should be tcp.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-925 fires when the protocol type in $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts (or the equivalent path on IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare) isn't tcp — per the official guidance, this is a configuration-file content requirement.

  1. A sqlhosts entry with an incorrect or unsupported protocol type for the connection being attempted, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
  2. A sqlhosts entry copy-pasted or generated with the wrong protocol column value.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check the protocol type shown in $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts, per the official guidance, for the relevant server entry:
    cat "$INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts"
  2. Correct the protocol column to tcp for the entry being used.
Examples
Checking sqlhosts
$ cat "$INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts"
dbserver1  onsoctcp   hostname1   1526

Confirm the protocol field (here onsoctcp, an example of a valid TCP-based protocol name) is appropriate for the connection type — the official guidance specifically flags this error when the protocol type isn't TCP-based as required.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Review the sqlhosts entry for the specific server being connected to, checking its protocol column.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -761 — "INFORMIXSERVER does not match either DBSERVERNAME or DBSERVERALIASES." A related connection-configuration error, about the server name itself rather than the sqlhosts protocol type.

Check the sqlhosts file's protocol column for the relevant server entry and correct it to a TCP-based protocol.