How to Install and Set Up Oracle Database on Linux (Step-by-Step Guide)

Oracle Database is one of the most powerful and widely used relational database management systems (RDBMS) in the world. Whether you're a developer, database administrator, or IT professional, setting up Oracle Database on Linux is a crucial skill. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing and configuring Oracle Database on a Linux system.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

1. Linux Operating System: Oracle supports various Linux distributions like Oracle Linux, Red Hat, CentOS, and Ubuntu.
2. Hardware Requirements:
   • At least 2 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended).
   • 10 GB of free disk space (20 GB or more recommended).
3. Oracle Database Software: Download the Oracle Database installation files from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN).
4. Root or Sudo Access: You need administrative privileges to install and configure the database.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Oracle Database, update your Linux system to ensure all packages are up to date.

sudo yum update -y       # For CentOS/RHEL/Oracle Linux
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y  # For Ubuntu/Debian

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Oracle Database requires specific packages and libraries to function properly. Install them using the following commands:

For CentOS/RHEL/Oracle Linux:

sudo yum install -y binutils compat-libcap1 compat-libstdc++-33 gcc gcc-c++ glibc glibc-develksh libaio libaio-devel libgcc libstdc++ libstdc++-devel libXi libXtst make sysstat unixODBC unixODBC-devel

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install -y build-essential libaio1 libaio-dev unixodbc unixodbc-dev sysstat ksh libstdc++6 libxtst6 libxi6

Step 3: Create Oracle User and Groups

Oracle Database should not be installed as the root user. Create a dedicated user and groups for Oracle.

sudo groupadd oinstall
sudo groupadd dba
sudo useradd -g oinstall -G dba oracle
sudo passwd oracle

Step 4: Configure Kernel Parameters

Oracle Database requires specific kernel parameters to be set. Edit the /etc/sysctl.conf file:

sudo vi /etc/sysctl.conf

Add the following lines:

fs.file-max = 6815744
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
kernel.shmmni = 4096
kernel.shmall = 1073741824
kernel.shmmax = 4398046511104
net.core.rmem_default = 262144
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_max = 1048576
fs.aio-max-nr = 1048576

Apply the changes:

sudo sysctl -p

Step 5: Set User Limits

Edit the /etc/security/limits.conf file to set resource limits for the Oracle user.

sudo vi /etc/security/limits.conf

Add the following lines:

oracle soft nofile 1024
oracle hard nofile 65536
oracle soft nproc 2047
oracle hard nproc 16384
oracle soft stack 10240
oracle hard stack 32768

Step 6: Create Oracle Directories

Create directories for Oracle installation and set the appropriate permissions.

sudo mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle
sudo chown -R oracle:oinstall /u01/app
sudo chmod -R 775 /u01/app

Step 7: Set Environment Variables

Switch to the oracle user and set the environment variables in the .bash_profile file.

su - oracle
vi ~/.bash_profile

Add the following lines:

export ORACLE_BASE=/u01/app/oracle
export ORACLE_HOME=$ORACLE_BASE/product/19.0.0/dbhome_1
export ORACLE_SID=orcl
export PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/bin:$PATH

Reload the profile:

source ~/.bash_profile

Step 8: Install Oracle Database

1. Download Oracle Database: Download the installation files from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN).
2. Unzip the Files:

   unzip LINUX.X64_193000_db_home.zip -d $ORACLE_HOME
   

3. Run the Installer:

   cd $ORACLE_HOME
   ./runInstaller
   

4. Follow the Installation Wizard:
   • Choose "Set Up Software Only" or "Create and Configure a Database."
   • Provide the Oracle Base and Home paths.
   • Complete the installation.

Step 9: Run Configuration Scripts

After installation, run the configuration scripts as the root user.

sudo /u01/app/oraInventory/orainstRoot.sh
sudo /u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_1/root.sh

Step 10: Create a Database

If you chose "Set Up Software Only," you can create a database using the Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA).

dbca

Follow the wizard to create a new database.

Step 11: Start and Stop Oracle Database

• Start the Database:

  sqlplus / as sysdba
  SQL> startup;
  

• Stop the Database:

  sqlplus / as sysdba
  SQL> shutdown immediate;
  

Step 12: Verify the Installation

Verify the installation by connecting to the database:

sqlplus / as sysdba
SQL> SELECT * FROM v$version;

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed and set up Oracle Database on Linux. This setup is ideal for development, testing, or production environments.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or need further clarification. Happy database management!