Running Database Configuration Assistant Using Response Files

You can run Oracle Database Configuration Assistant (Oracle DBCA) in response file mode to configure and start an Oracle database on the system.

To run Database Configuration Assistant in response file mode, you must copy and edit a response file template. Oracle provides a response file template named dbca.rsp in the ORACLE_HOME/assistants/dbca directory and also in the /response directory on the installation media. To run Oracle DBCA in response file mode, you must use the -responseFile flag in combination with the -silent flag. You must also use a graphical display and set the DISPLAY environment variable.

To run Database Configuration Assistant in response file mode:

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

   $ cp /directory_path/response/dbca.rsp local_directory
   

   In this example, directory_path is the path of the database directory on the DVD. If you have copied the software to a hard drive, you can edit the file in the response directory if you prefer.

   As an alternative to editing the response file template, you can also create a database by specifying all required information as command line options when you run Oracle DBCA. For information about the list of options supported, enter the following command:

   $ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca -help

2. Open the response file in a text editor:

   $ vi /local_dir/dbca.rsp
   

3. Follow the instructions in the file to edit the file.

   Note:

   Oracle DBCA fails if you do not correctly configure the response file.

4. Log in as the Oracle software owner user, and set the ORACLE_HOME environment variable to specify the correct Oracle home directory.
5. To run Oracle DBCA in response file mode, set the DISPLAY environment variable.
6. Use the following command syntax to run Oracle DBCA in silent or response file mode using a response file:

   $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca {-silent} -responseFile \
   /local_dir/dbca.rsp 
   

   In this example:

   • -silent option indicates that Oracle DBCA runs in silent mode.

   • local_dir is the full path of the directory where you copied the dbca.rsp response file template.

   During configuration, Oracle DBCA displays a window that contains status messages and a progress bar.