Contents

Title and Copyright Information

Preface

• Audience
• Documentation Accessibility
• Command Syntax
• Accessing Documentation
• Related Documentation
• Conventions

1 Installation Overview

• Overview of Client Installation
• Oracle Client Installation Methods
  • Interactive Installation Methods
  • Automated Installation Methods Using Response Files
• Oracle Client Installation Types
• Installation Considerations
  • Hardware and Software Certification
  • Multiple Oracle Homes
    • Installing the Software on a System with an Existing Oracle Installation

2 Preinstallation Tasks

• Logging In to the System as root
• Checking the Hardware Requirements
• Checking the Software Requirements
  • Instant Client Light Requirements
• Creating Required Operating System Group and User
  • Creating the Oracle Inventory Group
  • Creating the Oracle Software Owner User
    • Determining Whether an Oracle Software Owner User Exists
    • Creating an Oracle Software Owner User
    • Modifying an Oracle Software Owner User
• Identifying Required Software Directories
  • Oracle Base Directory
  • Oracle Inventory Directory
  • Oracle Home Directory
• Identifying or Creating an Oracle Base Directory
  • Identifying an Existing Oracle Base Directory
  • Creating an Oracle Base Directory
• Configuring the oracle User's Environment

3 Installation Tasks

• Accessing the Installation Software
  • Downloading Oracle Software from the OTN Web Site
    • Downloading the Installation Archive Files
    • Extracting the Installation Files
  • Copying the Software to the Hard Disk
    • Copying the Oracle Client Software to a Hard Disk
• Installing the Oracle Client Software
  • Reviewing Installation Guidelines
  • Running Oracle Universal Installer

4 Postinstallation Tasks

• Required Postinstallation Tasks
  • Downloading and Installing Patches
  • Updating Instant Client
  • Connecting with Instant Client
• Recommended Postinstallation Tasks
  • Configuring Instant Client Light
  • Creating a Backup of the root.sh Script
  • Connecting Instant Client or Instant Client Light to an Oracle Database
    • Specifying a Connection by Using the Easy Connect Naming Method
    • Specifying a Connection by Configuring a tnsnames.ora File
    • Specifying a Connection by Using an Empty Connect String and the TWO_TASK Environment Variable
  • Setting Up User Accounts
  • Setting the NLS_LANG Environment Variable
  • Generating the Client Static Library
• Required Product-Specific Postinstallation Tasks
  • Configuring Oracle Net Services
  • Configuring Oracle Precompilers
    • Configuring Pro*C/C++
  • Configuring OCCI

5 Removing Oracle Software

• Removing Oracle Software

A Installing and Configuring Oracle Database Using Response Files

• How Response Files Work
  • Reasons for Using Silent Mode or Noninteractive Mode
  • General Procedure for Using Response Files
• Creating the oraInst.loc File
• Preparing a Response File
  • Editing a Response File Template
  • Recording a Response File
• Running Oracle Universal Installer Using a Response File

B Configuring Oracle Database Globalization Support

• About NLS_LANG Environment Variable
• Running Oracle Universal Installer in Different Languages

C Troubleshooting

• Verify Requirements
• What to Do If an Installation Error Occurs?
• Reviewing the Log of an Installation Session
• Troubleshooting Configuration Assistants
  • Configuration Assistant Failure
  • Fatal Errors
• Silent-Mode Response File Error Handling
• Cleaning Up After a Failed Installation

D Frequently Asked Questions About Installation

• Installing Oracle Database or Oracle Database Client
• Installing Oracle Database Tools
• Installing Oracle Database with Oracle Applications

Index