B Installing and Configuring Oracle Products Using Response Files

Introduction

You can automate the installation and configuration of Oracle software, either fully or partially, by specifying a response file when you start the Oracle Universal Installer. The Installer uses the values contained in the response file to provide answers to some or all of the Installer prompts:

• If you include responses for all of the prompts in the response file and specify the -silent option when starting the Installer, then the Installer runs in silent mode. During a silent-mode installation, the Installer does not display any screens. Instead, it displays progress information in the terminal that you used to start it.

• If you include responses for some or all of the prompts in the response file and omit the -silent option, then the Installer runs in suppressed mode. During a suppressed-mode installation, the Installer displays only the screens for which you did not specify all required information. You can also use variables in the response file or command-line options to suppress other installer screens, such as the Welcome screen or Summary screen, that do not prompt for information.

The following table describes several reasons why you might want to run the Installer in silent mode or suppressed mode:

Create the oraInst.loc File

If you plan to install Oracle products using the Installer in silent or suppressed mode, you must manually create the oraInst.loc file if it does not already exist. This file specifies the location of the Oracle Inventory directory where the Installer creates the inventory of Oracle products installed on the system.

To create the oraInst.loc file, follow these steps:

1. Switch user to root:

   $ su - root
   
   

2. On HP-UX, Solaris, Tru64 UNIX, and zSeries Linux, create the /var/opt/oracle directory if it does not exist:

   # mkdir -p /var/opt/oracle
   
   

3. Change directory as follows, depending on your operating system:

   • AIX, Linux x86, or Linux Itanium:

     # cd /etc
     
     

   • Other operating systems:

     # cd /var/opt/oracle
     
     

4. Use a text editor to create the oraInst.loc file, containing the following lines:

   inventory_loc=ORACLE_BASE/oraInventory
   inst_group=
   
   

   In this example, ORACLE_BASE is the path of the Oracle base directory, for example, /01/app/oracle.

5. Enter the following commands to set the appropriate owner, group, and permissions on the oraInst.loc file:

   # chown oracle:oinstall oraInst.loc
   # chmod 664 oraInst.loc
   

Prepare a Response File

There are two methods that you can use to prepare a response file for use during silent-mode or suppressed-mode installations:

• Edit a response file template

  This method is most useful for the Instant Client, Administrator, or Runtime installation types.

• Record a response file using the Installer

  This method is most useful for Custom installations.

The following subsections describe each method.

Editing a Response File Template

Oracle provides response file templates for each product and installation type, and for each configuration tool. These files are located in the response directory on the CD-ROM or the client/response directory on the DVD-ROM.

Table B-1 lists the response files provided with Oracle Client.

To prepare a response file:

1. Copy the response file from the response file directory to a directory on your system:

   $ cp /directory_path/response/response_file.rsp local_directory
   
   

   In this example, directory_path is the CD-ROM mount point directory or the client directory on the DVD-ROM. If you have copied the software to a hard drive, you can edit the file in the response directory if you prefer.

2. Open the response file in a text editor:

   $ vi /local_dir/response_file.rsp
   
   

3. Edit the file, following the instructions in the file.

   
   

   Note: The Installer or configuration assistant fails if you do not correctly configure the response file. See "Silent-Mode Response File Error Handling" for more information about troubleshooting a failed silent-mode installation.

   
   

Recording a Response File

You can use the Installer in interactive mode to record a response file that you can edit and then use to complete silent-mode or suppressed-mode installations. When you are recording the response file, you can either complete the installation, or you can exit from the Installer on the Summary page, before it starts to copy the software to the system.

To record a new response file:

1. Complete the pre-installation tasks listed in Chapter 2.

   When you run the Installer to record a response file, it checks the system to verify that it meets the requirements to install the software. For this reason, Oracle recommends that you complete all of the required pre-installation tasks and record the response file while completing an installation.

2. If you have not installed Oracle software on this system previously, create the oraInst.loc file, as described in the previous section.

3. Make sure that the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle) has permissions to create or write to the Oracle home path that you will specify when you run the Installer.

4. To record a response file, enter a command similar to the following to start the Installer:

   
   

   Note: Do not specify a relative path to the response file. If you specify a relative path, the Oracle Universal Installer fails.

   
   

   $ /directory_path/runInstaller -record -destinationFile filename
   
   

   In the previous example:

   • directory_path is either the CD-ROM mount point directory, the path of the client directory on the DVD-ROM, or the path of the Disk1 directory on the hard drive

   • The -record parameter specifies that you want to record the responses that you enter in a response file

   • filename is the full path and file name of the response file that you want to record

5. On each Installer screen, specify the required information.

6. When the Installer displays the Summary screen, do one of the following:

   • Click Install to create the response file, then continue with the installation.

   • Click Cancel, then Yes to create the response file but exit from the Installer without installing the software.

   The response file is saved in the location that you specified using the -destinationFile option.

7. If you did not complete the installation, delete the Oracle home directory that the Installer created using the path you specified on the Specify File Locations screen.

8. Before using the recorded response file on another system, use any text editor to edit the file and make any required changes.

   Use the comments in the file as a guide when editing it.

Run the Installer in Silent or Suppressed Mode

To run the Oracle Universal Installer in silent or suppressed mode, follow these steps:

1. Complete the pre-installation tasks listed in Chapter 2.

2. Log in as the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle).

3. If you are completing a suppressed-mode installation, set the DISPLAY environment variable.

   
   

   Note: You do not have to set the DISPLAY environment variable if you are completing a silent-mode installation.

   
   

4. To start the Installer in silent or suppressed mode, enter a command similar to the following:

   
   

   Note: Do not specify a relative path to the response file. If you specify a relative path, the Oracle Universal Installer fails.

   
   

   • Solaris:

     $ /directory_path/runInstaller [-silent] -responseFile filename \
       [-paramFile oraparamsilent.ini]
     
     

   • Other operating systems:

     $ /directory_path/runInstaller [-silent] -responseFile filename
     
     

   In these examples:

   • directory_path is either the CD-ROM mount point directory, the path of the client directory on the DVD-ROM, or the path of the Disk1 directory on the hard drive

   • The -silent option indicates that you want to run the Installer in silent mode

   • filename is the full path and filename of the installation response file that you configured

   • The optional -paramFile option on Solaris specifies an alternative parameter file (oraparamsilent.ini) that you can use when performing silent installations. This alternative parameter file does not include checks for CDE or X Window System software patches for Solaris.

   
   

   Note: For more information about other options for the runInstaller command, enter the following command: $ /directory_path/runInstaller -help

   
   

5. When the installation completes, log in as the root user and run the root.sh script:

   $ su
   # /oracle_home_path/root.sh