Installing the Oracle Database Client Software

This section explains how to run the Setup Wizard to perform most database client installations.

Note:

For this Oracle Database Client 26ai release, only the Instant Client installation is available, and the full client installation is not yet available.

The Oracle Database Client software is also available as an image file for download and installation. Oracle Database client installation binaries continue to be available in the traditional format as non-image zip files.

Starting with Oracle Database Client 26ai, the Setup Wizard no longer provides the option to install Oracle Instant Client.

You can download Oracle AI Database software from the Oracle website or the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud portal. In most cases, you use the graphical user interface (GUI) provided by the installer to install the software. However, you can also run silent mode installations without using the GUI.

Note:

You cannot use the installer from an earlier Oracle release to install components from this release.

Running Setup Wizard to Install Oracle Database Client

Use the runInstaller command to start the Oracle Database Client installation.

Have all the information you need to provide regarding users, groups, and storage paths before you start the installation.

During installation, you are asked to run configuration scripts as the root user. You can either run these scripts manually as root when prompted, or you can provide configuration information and passwords using a root privilege delegation option such as sudo.

Log in as the Oracle installation owner user account (oracle).
From the directory where you downloaded the installation binaries, run the runInstaller command to start the Oracle Setup Wizard.

For example:
```
$ cd /home/oracle_sw/
$ ./runInstaller
```
Note:
- Run the runInstaller command from the Oracle home directory only. Do not use the runInstaller command that resides at $ORACLE_HOME/oui/bin/, or any other location, to install Oracle AI Database, Oracle Database Client, or Oracle Grid Infrastructure.
- The Oracle home or Oracle base cannot be symlinks, nor can any of their parent directories, all the way up to the root directory.
Select your installation type.

Installation screens vary depending on the installation option you select. Respond to the configuration prompts as needed.

Note:
At any time during installation, if you have a question about what you are being asked to do, click Help.

Installing Oracle Database Client Using an Image File

Extract the Oracle Database Client image files and use the runInstaller command to start the Oracle Database Client installation.

Starting with 19c, the Oracle Database Client software is also available as an image file for download and installation.

Have all the information you need to provide regarding storage paths before you start the installation. Oracle recommends that you have your My Oracle Support credentials available during installation. During installation, you are asked to run configuration scripts as the root user. You must run these scripts manually as root when prompted.

Log in as the Oracle installation owner user account (oracle).
Download the Oracle Database Client installation image file (client_home.zip) to a directory of your choice. For example, you can download the image file to the /tmp directory.
Create the Oracle home directory and extract the image file that you downloaded into this Oracle home directory. For example:
```
$ mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0/client_1
$ chgrp oinstall /u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0/client_1
$ cd /u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0/client_1
$ unzip -q /tmp/client_home.zip
```
Note:
- Oracle recommends that the Oracle home directory path you create complies with the Oracle Optimal Flexible Architecture recommendations. Also, unzip the installation image file only in the Oracle home directory that you created.
- The Oracle home or Oracle base cannot be symlinks, nor can any of their parent directories, all the way up to the root directory.
From the Oracle home directory, run the runInstaller command to start the Oracle Database Client Setup Wizard.
```
$ cd /u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0/client_1
$ ./runInstaller
```
Note:
Run the runInstaller command from the Oracle home directory only. Do not use the runInstaller command that resides at $ORACLE_HOME/oui/bin/, or any other location, to install Oracle AI Database, Oracle Database Client, or Oracle Grid Infrastructure.
The Setup Wizard starts an Administrator-type installation of Oracle Database Client.

Installation screens vary depending on the installation option you select. Respond to the configuration prompts as needed.

Note:
At any time during installation, if you have a question about what you are being asked to do, click Help.