Contents

Title and Copyright Information

Preface

• Audience
• Documentation Accessibility
• Command Syntax
• Accessing Documentation
• Related Documentation
• Typographic Conventions

1 Overview of Oracle Database Client Installation

• 1.1 Planning Your Installation
• 1.2 Installation Considerations
  • 1.2.1 Hardware and Software Certification
  • 1.2.2 Multiple Oracle Homes Support
    • 1.2.2.1 Installing the Software on a System with an Existing Oracle Installation
    • 1.2.2.2 Updating the Existing Software with the Current Version
  • 1.2.3 Separate 32-Bit Client Software for 64-Bit Ports
• 1.3 Oracle Database Client Installation Methods
  • 1.3.1 Interactive Installation Methods
  • 1.3.2 Automated Installation Methods Using Response Files
• 1.4 Oracle Database Client Installation Types
• 1.5 Oracle Database Client and Oracle Database Interoperability
• 1.6 Simplified Patching of Timestamp with Time Zone Data Type
• 1.7 Software Updates Option

2 Preinstallation Tasks

• 2.1 Logging In to the System as root
• 2.2 Checking the Hardware Requirements
  • 2.2.1 Memory Requirements
  • 2.2.2 System Architecture
  • 2.2.3 Disk Space Requirements
  • 2.2.4 Display Requirements
• 2.3 Checking the Software Requirements
  • 2.3.1 Operating System Requirements
  • 2.3.2 Package Requirements
  • 2.3.3 Compiler Requirements
  • 2.3.4 Additional Software Requirements
    • 2.3.4.1 Oracle JDBC/OCI Drivers
    • 2.3.4.2 Separate 32-Bit Client Software for 64-Bit Ports
    • 2.3.4.3 Browser Requirements
  • 2.3.5 Patch Requirements
  • 2.3.6 Instant Client Light Requirements
• 2.4 Creating Required Operating System Group and User
  • 2.4.1 Creating the Oracle Inventory Group
  • 2.4.2 Creating the Oracle Software Owner User
    • 2.4.2.1 Determining Whether an Oracle Software Owner User Exists
    • 2.4.2.2 Creating an Oracle Software Owner User
    • 2.4.2.3 Modifying an Oracle Software Owner User
• 2.5 Identifying Required Software Directories
  • 2.5.1 Oracle Base Directory
  • 2.5.2 Oracle Inventory Directory
  • 2.5.3 Oracle Home Directory
• 2.6 Identifying or Creating an Oracle Base Directory
  • 2.6.1 Identifying an Existing Oracle Base Directory
  • 2.6.2 Creating an Oracle Base Directory
• 2.7 Configuring the oracle User's Environment

3 Installing Oracle Database Client

• 3.1 Reviewing Installation Guidelines
• 3.2 Accessing the Installation Software
  • 3.2.1 Downloading Oracle Software
    • 3.2.1.1 Downloading the Installation Archive Files from OTN
    • 3.2.1.2 Downloading the Software from Oracle E-Delivery
    • 3.2.1.3 Extracting the Installation Files
  • 3.2.2 Copying the Software to the Hard Disk
    • 3.2.2.1 Mounting Disks
    • 3.2.2.2 Copying the Oracle Database Client Software to a Hard Disk
• 3.3 Installing the Oracle Database Client Software
  • 3.3.1 Running Oracle Universal Installer
  • 3.3.2 Performing an In-place Oracle Database Client Upgrade

4 Oracle Database Client Postinstallation Tasks

• 4.1 Required Postinstallation Tasks
  • 4.1.1 Downloading and Installing Patches
  • 4.1.2 Updating Instant Client
  • 4.1.3 Connecting with Instant Client
• 4.2 Recommended Postinstallation Tasks
  • 4.2.1 Configuring Instant Client Light
  • 4.2.2 Creating a Backup of the root.sh Script
  • 4.2.3 Connecting Instant Client or Instant Client Light to an Oracle Database
    • 4.2.3.1 Specifying a Connection by Using the Easy Connect Naming Method
    • 4.2.3.2 Specifying a Connection by Configuring a tnsnames.ora File
    • 4.2.3.3 Specifying a Connection Using an Empty Connect String and TWO_TASK
  • 4.2.4 Setting Up User Accounts
  • 4.2.5 Setting the NLS_LANG Environment Variable
  • 4.2.6 Generating the Client Static Library
• 4.3 Required Product-Specific Postinstallation Tasks
  • 4.3.1 Configuring Oracle Net Services
  • 4.3.2 Configuring Oracle Precompilers
    • 4.3.2.1 Configuring Pro*C/C++
    • 4.3.2.2 Configuring Pro*FORTRAN

5 Removing Oracle Database Client Software

• 5.1 About the Deinstallation Tool
• 5.2 Downloading The Deinstall Tool for Use with Failed Installations
• 5.3 Example of Running the Deinstall Command
• 5.4 Example of a Deinstallation Parameter File

A Configuring Oracle Database Globalization Support

• A.1 Installing and Using Oracle Components in Different Languages
  • A.1.1 Configuring Oracle Components to Run in Different Languages
    • A.1.1.1 Determining the Operating System Locale by Using the LANG Environment Variable
    • A.1.1.2 Configuring Locale and Character Sets Using NLS_LANG
  • A.1.2 Installing Translation Resources
• A.2 Running Oracle Universal Installer in Different Languages

B Installing Oracle Database Client Using Response Files

• B.1 How Response Files Work
  • B.1.1 Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Response File Mode
  • B.1.2 General Procedure for Using Response Files
• B.2 Preparing a Response File
  • B.2.1 Editing a Response File Template
  • B.2.2 Recording a Response File
• B.3 Running Oracle Universal Installer Using a Response File
• B.4 Performing an In-place Oracle Database Client Upgrade Using the Response File

C Troubleshooting

• C.1 Verify Requirements
• C.2 X Window Display Errors
• C.3 What to Do If an Installation Error Occurs?
• C.4 Reviewing the Log of an Installation Session
• C.5 Troubleshooting Configuration Assistants
  • C.5.1 Configuration Assistant Failure
  • C.5.2 Fatal Errors
• C.6 Troubleshooting Inventory Issues
• C.7 Troubleshooting Screen Display Issues
• C.8 Silent-Mode Response File Error Handling
• C.9 Cleaning Up After a Failed Installation

D Frequently Asked Questions About Installation

• D.1 Installing Oracle Database or Oracle Database Client
• D.2 Installing Oracle Database Tools
• D.3 Installing Oracle Database with Oracle Applications
• D.4 Installing Oracle Database Heterogeneous Connectivity Tools (Gateways)

Index