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Informix Error -905

-905 Cannot locate sqlexec service /tcp service in /etc/services.

The Informix STAR or IBM Informix NET software has not been properly installed on this system. In particular, entries in the system-configuration file /etc/services (UNIX) or \etc\services (DOS) have not been made. Contact the person who installs your IBM Informix software.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-905 fires when the sqlexec service entry is missing from /etc/services (or \etc\services on DOS) — per the official guidance, this indicates Informix STAR or IBM Informix NET wasn't properly installed, specifically missing this system-configuration step.

  1. The sqlexec entry missing from /etc/services, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause; this file registers the TCP port the networking software uses.
  2. An installation that skipped or failed the /etc/services configuration step.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Contact the person who installs your IBM Informix software, per the official guidance — this is the documented resolution path, since fixing /etc/services is an installation/administration task.
  2. Check /etc/services for a sqlexec entry, as a first diagnostic step:
    grep sqlexec /etc/services
Examples
Checking /etc/services
$ grep sqlexec /etc/services

An empty result confirms the missing entry described by this error.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check /etc/services (or \etc\services on DOS) for a sqlexec entry.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -903 — "Licensed Informix SQL server not accessible." A related networking-software error, about sqlexecd not running rather than a missing service-registry entry.
  • -904 — "Authorization file not on licensed Informix SQL server." A related networking- software installation error, about a missing authorization file.

A missing sqlexec entry in /etc/services — this is an installation step; escalate to whoever installs the Informix software.