How to connect to Oracle using Service Name instead of SID
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/java.111/b31224/urls.htm#BEIDHCBA Thin-style Service Name Syntax Thin-style service names are supported only by the JDBC Thin driver. The syntax is: @//host_name:port_number/service_name For example: jdbc:oracle:thin:scott/tiger@//myhost:1521/myservicename So I would try: jdbc:oracle:thin:@//oracle.hostserver2.mydomain.ca:1522/ABCD Also, per Robert Greathouse’s answer, you can also specify the TNS name in the JDBC URL as below: jdbc:oracle:thin:@(DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST =(ADDRESS =(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=blah.example.com)(PORT=1521)))(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=BLAHSID)(GLOBAL_NAME=BLAHSID.WORLD)(SERVER=DEDICATED)))