Hello,

I have a question with regards to the SQL*NET traffic being blocked by the Windows 2008 firewall. This document shows that disabling the firewall can resolve the problem:

https://support.oracle.com/epmos/faces/DocumentDisplay?_afrLoop=166773506396122&id=1472931.1&displayIndex=13&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=o4dq0hlih_112

Is this really the solution?

From what I understand from other documents is that just enabling port 1521 will not resolve any issues, as SQL*NET can use redirection to other random ports. That is probably the reason why the Oracle installation does not alter any firewall settings.

What other methods do people use to connect a client to a DB server?

This document shows what other methods to use, but who uses them?

https://support.oracle.com/epmos/faces/DocumentDisplay?_afrLoop=166043735580557&id=68652.1&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=o4dq0hlih_78

Does anyone use the Oracle Connection Manager for example?

Thanks

Richard