Connecting to an Oracle database is probably more complicated than it could or should be.

Oracle Account

First of all, create an Oracle Account on www.oracle.com. This is required to download the software.

Download Software

Download the following packages (use the most recent version you can find - it will connect to older database versions):

Unpack

Unpack all of the files to one directory. 

It will look something like this:

Set Path and Environment Variable

Set ORACLE_HOME to the directory in which the client resides:

Set the path to also include this directory:

Install ODBC Driver

Install the ODBC driver, using the following command:

Install Oracle ODBC Driver
c:\Oracle\instantclient_12_2\odbc_install.exe

Create tnsnames.ora

Oracle requires a tnsnames.ora file, in the directory ORACLE_HOME\network\admin

An example tnsnames.ora file, which can connect to two services (two databases) is shown below:

tnsnames.ora
test_database =
   (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = my-oracle-db)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SID = test_database)
    )
)
prod_database =
   (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = my-oracle-db)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SID = prod_database)
    )
)

Test Connectivity

With a cmd, run the following command:

Test Connectivity
c:\Oracle\instantclient_12_2\sqlplus.exe username@test_database

You will get asked for a password, and should be able to connect to the database. From there, you will be able to run some selects, stored procedures to verify connectivity. If you have more than one service (database) configured, test each of them.

ODBC Connection

Now create the ODBC connections.

The following dialog shows the settings for the test_database entry above. Note: setting the ODBC connection to Read-Only is recommended, if the jtel system will only read from the database.

ODBC Connections - jtel TEL Server

Now create the ODBC connections in the jtel Telephony Server as usual, if you require these to be opened by the server when it starts. Otherwise, you can connect to the data source later using the Open DSN function within the call flow.

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