Configuring Operating Systems for Oracle Database Client on Linux

Guidelines for Linux Operating System Installation

Before installing Oracle software on Linux, complete the operating system configuration, minimum hardware, and platform-specific prerequisite checks. Ensure the deployment follows security practices recommended in the Linux distribution vendor’s security documentation.

About Oracle Linux with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

Oracle Linux includes the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel by default, providing a stable, optimized kernel with enhancements for Oracle workloads and hardware. Oracle recommends it for enterprise applications, although a RHEL-compatible kernel is available when strict compatibility is required. The Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel is the standard kernel used for Oracle product development, testing, Exadata, Exalogic, benchmarks, and the Oracle Database Preinstallation RPM; Oracle Linux also provides Ksplice for applying kernel updates without rebooting or interrupting services.

Additional Drivers and Software Packages for Linux

Optional Linux components may be required for specific Oracle features: install the latest Linux-PAM library for external scheduler authentication, compatible OCFS2 kernel and tools modules for Oracle Grid Infrastructure shared storage, and any required IBM WebSphere MQ fixes for Messaging Gateway. Oracle ODBC installations require unixODBC 2.3.4 or later, while LDAP packages are needed for LDAP-dependent scripts when not included in the default installation. Programming environments require supported JDK, compiler, Python, COBOL, and architecture-specific packages, with 32-bit libraries added for 32-bit clients; browser support is needed only for Enterprise Manager interfaces and must include JavaScript, HTML 4.0, and CSS 1.0 support. OCFS2, Messaging Gateway, and some features have platform restrictions, including no support on Linux for Arm where specified.

Checking Kernel and Package Requirements for Linux

Verify the installed Linux distribution with release-identification commands, check the running kernel using uname -r, and compare its errata level with the minimum required version for the distribution. Query prerequisite RPMs with rpm -q or architecture-aware RPM queries, including packages such as binutils, compilers, glibc, libaio, libraries, make, sysstat, and unixODBC. Install any missing or outdated packages and kernel updates from the Linux distribution media or vendor repositories.
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