tnsnames stupid question

I am trying to set up tnsnames.ora to connect to a remote database.

I have tried tnsping <host> and if the host is in the /etc/hosts file- it comes back saying that TNS-12541 -No listener.

It does not appear to use the tnsnames.ora file. Is there some parameter i have failed to set up- to specify this?

Please help- i am a bit stumped and the oracle documentation is of no use to man or beast.

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