title: ORA-12638: Credential retrieval failed
body: <p>I have a legacy VB6 application which I've inherited. The issue I'm facing is that I'm getting the infamous</p>
  
  <pre><code>ORA-12638: Credential retrieval failed
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>error message whenever it tries to connect to one of our Oracle databases. I can connect fine from SQLPlus and Toad, however. I've Googled around and everyone seems to say that modifying their sqlnet.ora file to</p>
  
  <pre><code>SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES=(NONE)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>did the trick. I have yet to find anyone with an alternative fix. Here is what my connection string looks like:</p>
  
  <pre><code>"PROVIDER=OraOLEDB.Oracle;DATA SOURCE=(DESCRIPTION = " &amp; _
  "(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = server1)
  (PORT = 1521))" &amp; _
  "(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = server2)
  (PORT = 1521))" &amp; _
  "(LOAD_BALANCE = yes) " &amp; _
  "(CONNECT_DATA = " &amp; _
  "(SERVER = DEDICATED) " &amp; _
  "(SERVICE_NAME = database_name_here) " &amp; _
  ") " &amp; _
  "); " &amp; _
  "User Id=username_here;Password=password_here;"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>As for my VB code, it's quite simple.</p>
  
  <pre><code>Private oracleDatabaseConnection As ADODB.Connection
  
  Set oracleDatabaseConnection = New ADODB.Connection
  oracleDatabaseConnection.Open oracleConnectionString
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Anyone have any ideas?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you. :)</p>