A Installing Oracle Database Client Using Response Files

Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Noninteractive Mode

Table A-1describes several reasons why you might want to run Oracle Universal Installer in silent mode or noninteractive mode.

General Procedure for Using Response Files

You follow these general steps to install Oracle Database Client using response files:

1. Customize or create a response file for the installation settings that you need.

   You can create the response file by using either of the following methods:

   • Modify one of the sample response files that is provided with the installation.

   • Run Oracle Universal Installer at a command prompt using record mode.

   "Preparing a Response File" explains how to customize or create the response file.

2. Run Oracle Universal Installer from a command prompt, specifying the response file, using either silent or noninteractive mode.

   Note:

   Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 require Administrator privileges at the command prompt.

   "Running Oracle Universal Installer Using the Response File" explains how to run Oracle Universal Installer with a response file.

Editing a Response File Template

Oracle provides response file templates for each product and installation type, and for each configuration tool. These files are located in the client\response directory on the Oracle Database installation media.

Creating a response file using a response file template is most useful for the Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition installation types.

Table A-2 lists the available Oracle Database Client sample response files:

To copy and modify a response file:

1. Copy the appropriate response files from the client\response directory on the Oracle Database media to your hard drive.

2. Modify the response files with a text file editor.

   In addition to editing settings specific to the Oracle Database Client installation, check that the FROM_LOCATION path is correct and points to the products.xml file in the stage directory in the installation media. You may want to set this variable to point to an absolute path, for example:

   FROM_LOCATION="\\myserver\client\stage\products.xml"
   

   Remember that you can specify the response file variables at the command line rather than within the response file. "How Response Files Work" explains this method.

   See Also:

   Oracle Universal Installer and OPatch User's Guide for detailed information on creating response files. In an installed Oracle Database, select Start, then Programs, then Oracle - HOME_NAME, then Oracle Installation Products, then Universal Installer Concepts Guide. It appears in HTML format.

3. Run the response file by following the instructions in the "Running Oracle Universal Installer Using the Response File" section.

Recording a Response File

You can create a response file by running Oracle Universal Installer in interactive mode using record mode. This method is most useful for custom or software-only installations.

Recording the response file generates the response file immediately after you complete the Summary window, so you do not need to install Oracle Database Client to create the response file. After you create the response file in this manner, you can customize it to meet your needs.

If you want to use record mode during a noninteractive mode installation, Oracle Universal Installer records the variable values that were specified in the original source response file into the new response file.

To record a response file:

1. Ensure that the computer on which you are creating the response file has met the requirements described in Chapter 2.

2. At the command prompt, use the cd command to change to the directory that contains the Oracle Universal Installer setup.exe executable.

   Note:

   Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 require Administrator privileges at the command prompt.

   On the Oracle Database installation media, setup.exe is located in the client directory. Alternatively, navigate to the directory where you downloaded or copied the installation files.

3. Enter the following command:

   SYSTEM_DRIVE:\setup.exe_location> setup -record -destinationFile response_file_name
   

   Replace response_file_name with the complete path name for the new response file. For example:

   SYSTEM_DRIVE:\setup.exe_location> setup -record -destinationFile c:\response_files\install_oracle10_2.rsp
   

4. After Oracle Universal Installer starts, enter the installation settings, which will be recorded in the response file.

5. When the Summary window appears, do one of the following:

   • Click Install to create the response file and continue with the installation.

   • Click Cancel if you only want to create the response file but not continue with the installation. The installation will stop, but the settings you have entered will be recorded in the response file.

   Afterwards, Oracle Universal Installer saves your new response file using the path and file name you specified on the command line.

6. Edit the new response file to have any environment-specific changes for the computer on which you will run it.

   In addition to editing settings specific to the Oracle Database Client installation, check that the FROM_LOCATION path is correct and points to the products.xml file in the stage directory in the installation media. You may want to set this variable to point to an absolute path, for example:

   FROM_LOCATION="\\myserver\client\response\stage\products.xml"
   

   Remember that you can specify the response file variables at the command line rather than within the response file. "How Response Files Work" explains this method.

7. Run the response file by following the instructions in the "Running Oracle Universal Installer Using the Response File" section, next.