1 Overview of Oracle Instant Client Installation

This chapter describes the different installation types of Oracle Instant Client and issues to consider before you install Oracle Instant Client.

Installation Considerations

The platform-specific hardware and software requirements included in this guide were current when this guide was published. However, because new platforms and operating system software versions might be certified after this guide is published, review the certification matrix on the My Oracle Support website for the most up-to-date list of certified hardware platforms and operating system versions. The My Oracle Support website is available at

https://support.oracle.com/

You must register online before using My Oracle Support. After logging in, from the menu options, select the Certifications tab. On the Certifications page, use the Certification Search options to search by Product, Release, and Platform. You can also search using the Certification Quick Links options such as Product Delivery and Lifetime Support.

About Oracle Instant Client

Learn how Oracle Instant Client enables applications to connect to a local or remote Oracle AI Database for development and production deployment.

The Oracle Instant Client libraries provide the necessary network connectivity, as well as Oracle AI Database client-side files to create and run Oracle Call Interface (OCI), Oracle C++ Call Interface (OCCI), ODBC, and JDBC OCI applications to make full use of Oracle AI Database.

Oracle Instant Client is commonly used by the Oracle APIs of popular languages and environments including Python, Node.js, Go, Ruby, and PHP. Tools included in Oracle Instant Client, such as SQL*Plus, SQL*Loader, and Oracle Data Pump provide quick and convenient data access. Oracle Instant Client simplifies the deployment of applications by eliminating the need for an Oracle home on the client machines.

Oracle's standard client-server network interoperability allows connections between different versions of Oracle Instant Client and Oracle AI Database. For certified configurations, refer to My Oracle Support note 207303.1. Tools such as Data Pump may have other restrictions.

Benefits of Oracle Instant Client

  • Easy installation using DMG files.
  • Easy for independent software vendors to package applications.

Oracle Instant Client Packages

Various Oracle Instant Client packages are available that help you run applications.

Table 1-1 Oracle Instant Client Packages

Package Name Description

Basic

All files required to run Oracle Call Interface (OCI), OCCI, and JDBC-OCI applications for Oracle AI Database

Basic Light

Smaller version of the Basic package, with only English error messages and Unicode, ASCII, and Western European character set support.

SDK

Additional header files and an example makefile for developing OCI and OCCI applications.

SQL*Plus

Additional package providing the SQL*Plus command-line tool for executing SQL and PL/SQL statements and scripts.

Tools

Additional tools including Data Pump, SQL*Loader and Workload Replay Client.

ODBC

Additional libraries providing ODBC.

Precompilers

Additional tools and libraries providing the Pro*C precompiler.

JDBC-OCI Supplement

Additional libraries to support Internationalization.

Oracle Instant Client Utilities

Oracle Instant Client Basic and Oracle Instant Client Basic Light contain the following utilities:

  • genezi: You can retrieve information about your Oracle Instant Client installation using the genezi utility. This utility displays information such as the time zone files that are part of the Oracle Instant Client data shared library. The timezone information shows either the embedded timezone files, or those specified by the ORA_TZFILE environment variable, if it is set.

    Run the genezi -v command to determine the client library information.

  • adrci: Automatic Diagnostic Repository Command Interpreter (adrci) is a command-line tool that you can use to manage Oracle AI Database diagnostic data. adrci enables you to investigate problems, view health check reports, and package first-failure diagnostic data, all within a command-line environment.

  • uidrvci: Do not use the uidrvci file as it is used to access diagnostic data.

Oracle Instant Client and Oracle AI Database Interoperability

For information about interoperability between Oracle Instant Client and Oracle AI Database releases, see Note 207303.1 on the My Oracle Support website at

https://support.oracle.com/CSP/main/article?cmd=show&type=NOT&id=207303.1

Unsupported Features and Components

The following features or components are not supported on Apple macOS (ARM64):

  • Pro*FORTRAN

  • Pro*COBOL

  • Oracle AI Database 26ai Vector Operations