Article from MS - talks about SQL2005 but SQL 2008 would be the same http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280106 Another one describing 64 bit client http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1433/how-to-setup-linked-servers-for-sql-server-and-oracle-64-bit-client/ Chuck Pedretti | Magenic North Region | magenic.com

I want to create a linked server in SSMS to connect Oracle 11g(one of our service provider holds our data on oracle server and they are providing ODBC connection to that server) I have SQL 2008R2 and I installed OraOLEDB.Oracle to create a linked server. I have tried to create linked server but it is giving me connection error. They provided me following TNSNAMES and connection string to be configured and user name and password. i really appreciate if some body can provide me step by step process to configure this connection correctly. Thanks in advance for your support. abc8RG45 = (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST=206.xx.xx.xxx)(PORT=1630)) (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST=172.xx.xxx.xxx)(PORT=1524))) (SOURCE_ROUTE=YES) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER=DEDICATED) (SERVICE_NAME = GBA8PI33) ) )HAYAT