How Response Files Work

Response files can assist you with installing an Oracle product multiple times on multiple computers.

When you start Oracle Universal Installer (OUI), you can use a response file to automate the installation and configuration of Oracle software, either fully or partially. OUI uses the values contained in the response file to provide answers to some or all installation prompts.

Typically, the installer runs in an interactive mode, which means that it prompts you to provide information on the graphical user interface (GUI). When you use response files to provide this information, you run Oracle Universal Installer at a command prompt using either of the following modes:

Silent mode: If you include responses for all of the prompts in the response file and specify the -silent option when starting the installer, then it runs in the 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.
Response file mode: 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 the response file mode. During a response file mode installation, the installer displays all the screens. The screens for which you specify information in the response file, and for those which you did not specify the required information in the response file. To use the response file mode, run setup.exe without the -silent parameter, but include the response file or any other parameters that apply.

You define the settings for a silent or a response file installation by entering values for the variables listed in the response file. For instance, to specify the Oracle home, provide the appropriate value for the ORACLE_HOME variable, as in the following example:

ORACLE_HOME="C:\app\product"

Another way of specifying the response file variable settings is to pass them as command-line arguments when you run Oracle Universal Installer. For example:

DRIVE_LETTER:\setup.exe_location> setup -silent "ORACLE_HOME=C:\app\product" ...

This method supports only the Oracle Home User passwords.

Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Response File Mode
Review this section for use cases for running the installer in silent mode or response file mode.
Using Response Files
Review this information to use response files.

Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Response File Mode

Review this section for use cases for running the installer in silent mode or response file mode.

Table C-2 Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Response File Mode

Mode	Uses
Silent	Use silent mode to: Complete an unattended installation, which you schedule using operating system utilities such as at. Complete several similar installations on multiple systems without user interaction. Install the software on a system that does not have X Window System software installed on it. The installer displays progress information on the terminal that you used to start it, but it does not display any of the installer screens.
Response file	Use response file mode to complete similar Oracle software installations on more than one system, providing default answers to some, but not all of the installer prompts. If you do not specify information required for a particular installer screen in the response file, then the installer displays that screen. It suppresses screens for which you have provided all of the required information.

Mode

Uses

Silent

Use silent mode to:

Complete an unattended installation, which you schedule using operating system utilities such as at.
Complete several similar installations on multiple systems without user interaction.
Install the software on a system that does not have X Window System software installed on it.

The installer displays progress information on the terminal that you used to start it, but it does not display any of the installer screens.

Response file

Use response file mode to complete similar Oracle software installations on more than one system, providing default answers to some, but not all of the installer prompts.

If you do not specify information required for a particular installer screen in the response file, then the installer displays that screen. It suppresses screens for which you have provided all of the required information.

Using Response Files

Review this information to use response files.

Use the following general steps to install and configure Oracle products using the installer in silent or response file mode:

If you plan to use Oracle Automatic Storage Management and configure new disks, then you must perform the following steps:
1. Create partitions for DAS or SAN disks.
2. Manually configure the disks using the asmtoolg or asmtool utility.
Customize or create a response file for the installation settings that you need.

You can create the response file by using one of the following methods:
- Modify one of the sample response files that is provided with the installation.
- Run Oracle Universal Installer at a command prompt and save the inputs by selecting the Save Response File option.
Run Oracle Universal Installer from a command prompt, specifying the response file, using either silent or response file mode.

Note:

Windows requires Administrator privileges at the command prompt.

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