ODBC (PP) Data Sources: Data Direct driver for Oracle: Connection Timeout

We suffer from 'Connection Timeout' error to a given database. Network is not the problem.
The problem was fixed by adding 'ConnectionRetryCount=5;' to the connectionstring.
Is that a good approach or what should be done else? 
Is this a problem of the driver or a problem with the database?

The error is:
[08S01] [Accelrys][ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver][Oracle]Connection Dead., [HYT00] [Accelrys][ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver]Timeout expired., [HY000] [Accelrys][ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver][Oracle]Network Operation Timed Out.

best regards,
Paul Nelis
Atos
Contractor of Janssen Research & Development,
A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
p/a Turnhoutseweg 30
2340 Beerse
Belgium