title: Authenticate with Oracle database using dotnet provider and a certificate
body: <p>I have a requirement to connect with to an Oracle 19c database hosted on premise using .net provider and authenticating using a certificate. As per the documentation, ODP.NET does support SSL authentication for external user. However, I am struggling to find a decent example on how this can be achieved.</p>
  <p>I would like to know the following:</p>
  <ol>
  <li><p>As stated in  oracle documentation can ODP.NET library utilise a certificate to authenticate an external user in Oracle database?</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>If yes, then does the connection string still requires a username and password even when the connection is being authenticated using a certificate?</p>
  </li>
  </ol>
  <p>ODP.NET SSL Configuration - <a href="https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/18/odpnt/featConnecting.html#GUID-3B4B12E5-767F-4956-A3E4-EBD501A5365C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/18/odpnt/featConnecting.html#GUID-3B4B12E5-767F-4956-A3E4-EBD501A5365C</a> – refer Step 5: Set SSL as an Authentication Service on the Client</p>