Every entry in a config file has routing information at its end. This usually consist of the target server name and target Oracle SID. The question arises as to whether it is possible to use the target IP address instead of the target host (server) name. This solution delves on this as well as on the pros and cons of doing so.
General information.
It is possible to use IP Address instead of the target server name in the routing information in the config file. One may simply want to substitute the hostname with the corresponding IP address. The following are the pros and cons of using the IP Address:
Advantages:
The limitations of Shareplex in accepting characters other than alphabets and numbers in hostnames can be avoided by using the IP address instead, when the hostnames contain such characters. Otherwise it is required to create an alias for the hostname in the /etc/hosts file that is free from such characters.
Disadvantages:
It is easier for a person to correctly specify a name instead of a string of numbers. Or put another way, the specification of IP address is more prone to error than hostname. Such errors can result in unwanted queues downstream and consequent cleanup and corrective actions.
The hostname usually remain static though the IP address may change. The IP change may require the config file to be reactivated and is therefore susceptible to more maintenance from Shareplex perspective.
