1. Database Client Installation Guide
  2. Oracle Database Client Preinstallation Tasks
  3. Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Describes how to install Oracle Database Client on computers that do not meet the typical scenario.

Typically, the computer on which you want to install Oracle Database Client is connected to the network, has local storage to contain the Oracle Database Client installation, has a display monitor, and has a media drive.

Parent topic: Oracle Database Client Preinstallation Tasks

Installing Oracle Database Client on Computers with Multiple IP Addresses

Clients must be able to access the computer using its host name, or using aliases for its host name.

To check access, ping the host name from the client computers using the short name (host name only) and the fully qualified domain name (FQDN, host name and domain name). Both must work.

Use the following procedure to set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable:

  1. Open System in the Windows Control Panel.
  2. In the System Properties dialog box, click Advanced.
  3. In the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables.
  4. In the Environment Variables dialog box, under System Variables, click New.
  5. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter the following information:

    • Variable name: ORACLE_HOSTNAME

    • Variable value: The host name of the computer to use.

  6. Click OK, then in the Environment Variables dialog box, click OK.
  7. Click OK in the Environment Variables dialog box, then in the System Properties dialog box, click OK.

Parent topic: Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Installing Oracle Database Client on Computers with Multiple Aliases

A computer with multiple aliases is registered with the naming service under a single IP address but with multiple aliases.

The naming service resolves any of those aliases to the same computer. Before installing Oracle Database Client on such a computer, set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable to the computer whose host name you want to use.

Parent topic: Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Installing Oracle Database on Nonnetworked Computers

Use this procedure to install Oracle Database on a non-networked computer such as a laptop.

You can install Oracle Database on a non-networked computer. If the computer, such as a laptop, is configured for DHCP and you plan to connect the computer to the network after the Oracle Database installation, perform these steps before you install Oracle Database on the non-networked computer.

  1. Install a loopback adapter on the computer.

    The loopback adapter and local IP address simulate a networked computer. If you connect the computer to the network, Oracle Database still uses the local IP address and host name.

  2. Ping the computer from itself, using only the host name and using the fully qualified name, which is located in the DRIVE_LETTER:\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file.

    For example, if you installed a loopback adapter on a computer called mycomputer on the us.example.com domain, check the following: 

    DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer                Ping itself using just the hostname.

Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.
DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer.us.example.com   Ping using a fully qualified name.
Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.

    Note:

    When you ping a computer from itself, the ping command must return the local IP address (the IP address of the loopback adapter).

    If the ping command fails, contact your network administrator.

If you connect the computer to a network after installation, then the Oracle Database instance on your computer can work with other instances on the network. Remember that you must have installed a loopback adapter on your computer. Your computer can use a static IP or DHCP, depending on the network to which you are connected.

Related Topics

Parent topic: Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Installing a Loopback Adapter

A loopback adapter is required if you are installing on a non-networked computer to connect the computer to a network after the installation.

When you install a loopback adapter, the loopback adapter assigns a local IP address for your computer. After the loopback adapter is installed, there are at least two network adapters on your computer: your own network adapter and the loopback adapter. To run Oracle Database on Windows, set the loopback adapter as the primary adapter.

You can change the bind order for the adapters without reinstalling the loopback adapter. The bind order of the adapters to the protocol indicates the order in which the adapters are used. When the loopback adapter is used first for the TCP/IP protocol, all programs that access TCP/IP first probe the loopback adapter. The local address is used for tools, such as Oracle Enterprise Manager. Applications that use a different Ethernet segment are routed to the network card.

Related Topics

Parent topic: Oracle Database Client Network Topics

Checking if a Loopback Adapter is Installed on Your Computer

Review this section to verify if a loopback adapter is installed on your computer by running the ipconfig /all command.

To check if a loopback adapter is installed on your computer, run the ipconfig /all command: 

DRIVE_LETTER:\>ipconfig /all

Note:

Loopback Adapter installed on the computer must be the Primary Network Adapter.

If there is a loopback adapter installed, you see a section that lists the values for the loopback adapter. For example:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Loopback Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-4C-4F-4F-50
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0

Parent topic: Installing a Loopback Adapter

Installing Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2

Use this procedure to install Micrsoft KM-TEST loopback adapter on different Windows versions.

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add Hardware to start the Add Hardware wizard.
  3. In the Welcome window, click Next.
  4. In the The wizard can help you install other hardware window, select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and click Next.
  5. From the list of hardware types, select the type of hardware you are installing, select Network adapters, and click Next.
  6. In the Select Network Adapter window, make the following selections:

    • Manufacturer: Select Microsoft.

    • Network Adapter: Select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter.

    Then continue with the same steps as given for Windows Server 2008.

Parent topic: Installing a Loopback Adapter

Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows 7

Learn how to install a loopback adapter on Windows 7.

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 7:

  1. Click Start and enter hdwwiz in the Search box.

  2. Click hdwwiz to start the Add Hardware wizard.

  3. In the Welcome window, click Next.

  4. In the The wizard can help you install other hardware window, select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and click Next.

  5. From the list of hardware types, select the type of hardware you are installing, select Network adapters, and click Next.

  6. In the Select Network Adapter window, make the following selections:

    • Manufacturer: Select Microsoft.

    • Network Adapter: Select Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

  7. Click Next.

  8. In the The wizard is ready to install your hardware window, click Next.

  9. In the Completing the Add Hardware Wizard window, click Finish.

  10. Click Manage Network Connections. This displays the Network Connections Control Panel item.

  11. Right-click the connection that was just created. This is usually named "Local Area Connection 2". Choose Properties.

  12. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click Properties.

  13. In the Properties dialog box, click Use the following IP address and do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

      • 192.168.x.x (x is any value between 0 and 255)

      • 10.10.10.10

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Record the values you entered, which you need later in this procedure.

    4. Leave all other fields empty.

    5. Click OK.

  14. Click Close.

  15. Close Network Connections.

  16. Restart the computer.

  17. Add a line to the DRIVE_LETTER: \WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with the following format, after the localhost line: 

    IP_address   hostname.domainname   hostname

    where:

    • IP_address is the non-routable IP address.

    • hostname is the name of the computer.

    • domainname is the name of the domain.

    For example:

    10.10.10.10   mycomputer.us.example.com   mycomputer

  18. Check the network configuration:

    1. Open System in the Control Panel, and verify that Full computer name displays the host name and the domain name, for example, sales.us.example.com.

    2. Click Change. In Computer name, you must see the host name, and in Full computer name, you must see the host name and domain name. Using the previous example, the host name must be sales and the domain must be us.example.com.

    3. Click More. In Primary DNS suffix of this computer, you must see the domain name, for example, us.example.com.

Parent topic: Installing a Loopback Adapter

Removing a Loopback Adapter

Use the following procedure to remove a loopback adapter.

To remove a loopback adapter:

  1. Display System in the Windows Control Panel.
  2. In the Hardware tab, click Device Manager. This tab is not available with Windows Server 2008. Click Device Manager instead.
  3. In the Device Manager window, expand Network adapters. You must see Microsoft Loopback Adapter.
  4. Right-click Microsoft Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

    In Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2, right-click Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

  5. Click OK.
  6. Restart the computer.
  7. Remove the line from the DRIVE_LETTER:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file, added after the localhost line while installing the loopback adapter on other Windows operating systems.

Parent topic: Installing a Loopback Adapter