title: Database Link error ORA-12545: Connect failed because target host or object does not exist
body: <p>I am currently accessing/connecting to a remote database through VPN and I have no issues querying on the remote database. I want to create a db-link to connect my local db to the remote database in order to join certain tables. Sadly, I am getting error ORA-12545.</p>
  
  <p>This is my db-link code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>CREATE DATABASE LINK DB_LINK
  CONNECT TO REMOTE_USER_NAME
  IDENTIFIED BY PASSWORD
  USING '(DESCRIPTION=(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=test_SID))(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=HOST_NAME.com)(PORT=1521)))' 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I don't have an Oracle client installed on my machine so I am using the full description. There are no issue accessing both our db and the remote db without an Oracle client installed so I assume this is not the problem.</p>
  
  <p>My ping to the remote address returned <code>TTL expired in transit</code> even though the VPN is connected. This seems a bit weird but I am not entirely sure if this is the problem.</p>
  
  <p>I must be missing a crucial step. Any advice is appreciated.</p>