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How I Simplified Oracle Database 11g Installation on Oracle Linux 6

by Ginny Henningsen; updated by Michele Casey

How to simplify the installation of Oracle Database 11g on Oracle Linux 6 by installing the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM package.
Published September 2012

Note: This article applies to Oracle Linux 6. A previous article, "How I Simplified Oracle Database Installation on Oracle Linux," describes how to perform a similar task on Oracle Linux 5. Introducing the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM for Oracle Linux

Before installing Oracle Database 11g on a system, you need to preconfigure the operating environment since the database requires certain software packages, package versions, and tweaks to kernel parameters. (Be sure to review the appropriate Oracle Database installation guide to familiarize yourself with hardware, software, and operating system requirements.)

On Oracle Linux, I discovered that there is a remarkably easy way to address these installation prerequisites: First install an RPM package called oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall. This RPM performs a number of preconfiguration steps, including the following:

• Automatically downloading and installing any additional software packages and specific package versions needed for installing Oracle Grid Infrastructure and Oracle Database 11gRelease 2 (11.2.0.3), with package dependencies resolved via yum or up2date capabilities.

• Creating the user oracle and the groups oinstall (for OraInventory) and dba (for OSDBA), which are used during database installation. (For security purposes, this user has no password by default and cannot log in remotely. To enable remote login, please set a password using the passwd tool.)

• Modifying kernel parameters in /etc/sysctl.conf to change settings for shared memory, semaphores, the maximum number of file descriptors, and so on.

• Setting hard and soft shell resource limits in /etc/security/limits.conf, such as the locked-in memory address space, the number of open files, the number of processes, and core file size.

• Setting numa=off in the kernel for x86_64 machines.

Note that oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall parses the existing /etc/sysctl.conf and /etc/security/limits.conffiles and updates values only as needed for database installation. Any precustomized settings not related to database installation are left as is.

The oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM package is accessible through the Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN, which requires a support contract), from the Oracle Linux distribution media, or from the Oracle public yum repository. Thus, whether or not your system is registered with ULN to access Oracle patches and support, you can use oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall to simplify database installation on Oracle Linux. In addition, the Oracle public yum repository now includes all security and bug errata, ensuring systems are secured and stable with the latest security updates and bug fixes.

Installing the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM

The remainder of this article steps through the procedure that I used for installing oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall on Oracle Linux via the Oracle public yum repository. I started with a system running Oracle Linux Release 6 Update 3 for x86_64, a 64-bit version of Oracle Linux that I downloaded from the Oracle software delivery cloud (requires registration or login). First, I set up a yumconfiguration file that pointed to the correct repository, and then I installed the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM from that repository.

Here are the steps for preconfiguring a system for Oracle Database installation using oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall:
1. As an authorized user (for example, root), retrieve the file that configures repository locations:
2.
3. # cd /etc/yum.repos.d
4.
5. # wget http://public-yum.oracle.com/public-yum-ol6.repo
6.
7. Using a text editor, modify the file, changing the field enabled=0 to enabled=1 to reflect repositories that correspond to the machine's operating system release.
Here is an excerpt of public-yum-old6.repo with the changed lines in boldface.

[ol6_latest]

name=Oracle Linux $releasever Latest ($basearch)

baseurl=http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/latest/$basearch/

gpgkey=http://public-yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol6

gpgcheck=1

enabled=1



[ol6_UEK_latest]

name=Latest Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel for Oracle Linux $releasever ($basearch)

baseurl=http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/UEK/latest/$basearch/

gpgkey=http://public-yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol6

gpgcheck=1

enabled=1


Because the target system is running Oracle Linux Release 6 Update 3 for x86_64, which installs the Oracle Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel by default, there are two repositories to enable, [ol6_latest] and [ol6_UEK_latest].
8. Next, install the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM using the yum install command.
The output in Listing 1 shows how the installation checks dependencies and then downloads and installs the required packages.

# yum install oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall

Loaded plugins: refresh-packagekit, rhnplugin, security

Setting up Install Process

Resolving Dependencies

--> Running transaction check

---> Package oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall.x86_64 0:1.0-6.el6 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: gcc-c++ for package: oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: gcc for package: oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: libaio-devel for package:
oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: libstdc++-devel for package:
oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: glibc-devel for package:
oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: compat-libstdc++-33 for package:
oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: ksh for package: oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: compat-libcap1 for package:
oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64

--> Running transaction check

---> Package compat-libcap1.x86_64 0:1.10-1 will be installed

---> Package compat-libstdc++-33.x86_64 0:3.2.3-69.el6 will be installed

---> Package gcc.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: cpp = 4.4.6-4.el6 for package: gcc-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: cloog-ppl >= 0.15 for package: gcc-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64

---> Package gcc-c++.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: libmpfr.so.1()(64bit) for package: gcc-c++-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64

---> Package glibc-devel.x86_64 0:2.12-1.80.el6_3.4 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: glibc-headers = 2.12-1.80.el6_3.4 for package:
glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: glibc-headers for package: glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64

---> Package ksh.x86_64 0:20100621-16.el6 will be installed

---> Package libaio-devel.x86_64 0:0.3.107-10.el6 will be installed

---> Package libstdc++-devel.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6 will be installed

--> Running transaction check

---> Package cloog-ppl.x86_64 0:0.15.7-1.2.el6 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: libppl_c.so.2()(64bit) for package: cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: libppl.so.7()(64bit) for package: cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64

---> Package cpp.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6 will be installed

---> Package glibc-headers.x86_64 0:2.12-1.80.el6_3.4 will be installed

--> Processing Dependency: kernel-headers >= 2.2.1 for package:
glibc-headers-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64

--> Processing Dependency: kernel-headers for package: glibc-headers-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64

---> Package mpfr.x86_64 0:2.4.1-6.el6 will be installed

--> Running transaction check

---> Package kernel-uek-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.32-300.32.1.el6uek will be installed

---> Package ppl.x86_64 0:0.10.2-11.el6 will be installed

--> Finished Dependency Resolution



Dependencies Resolved



================================================================================

Package Arch Version Repository Size

================================================================================

Installing:

oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall

x86_64 1.0-6.el6 ol6_latest 15 k

Installing for dependencies:

cloog-ppl x86_64 0.15.7-1.2.el6 ol6_latest 93 k

compat-libcap1 x86_64 1.10-1 ol6_latest 17 k

compat-libstdc++-33 x86_64 3.2.3-69.el6 ol6_latest 183 k

cpp x86_64 4.4.6-4.el6 ol6_latest 3.7 M

gcc x86_64 4.4.6-4.el6 ol6_latest 10 M

gcc-c++ x86_64 4.4.6-4.el6 ol6_latest 4.7 M

glibc-devel x86_64 2.12-1.80.el6_3.4 ol6_latest 970 k

glibc-headers x86_64 2.12-1.80.el6_3.4 ol6_latest 600 k

kernel-uek-headers x86_64 2.6.32-300.32.1.el6uek ol6_latest 713 k

ksh x86_64 20100621-16.el6 ol6_latest 684 k

libaio-devel x86_64 0.3.107-10.el6 ol6_latest 13 k

libstdc++-devel x86_64 4.4.6-4.el6 ol6_latest 1.5 M

mpfr x86_64 2.4.1-6.el6 ol6_latest 156 k

ppl x86_64 0.10.2-11.el6 ol6_latest 1.3 M



Transaction Summary

================================================================================

Install 15 Package(s)



Total download size: 25 M

Installed size: 61 M

Is this ok [y/N]: Downloading Packages:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total 710 kB/s | 25 MB 00:35

Running rpm_check_debug

Running Transaction Test

Transaction Test Succeeded

Running Transaction



Installing : mpfr-2.4.1-6.el6.x86_64 1/15

Installing : libstdc++-devel-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 2/15

Installing : cpp-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 3/15

Installing : ppl-0.10.2-11.el6.x86_64 4/15

Installing : cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 5/15

Installing : kernel-uek-headers-2.6.32-300.32.1.el6uek.x86_64 6/15

Installing : glibc-headers-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64 7/15

Installing : glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64 8/15

Installing : gcc-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 9/15

Installing : gcc-c++-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 10/15

Installing : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.x86_64 11/15

Installing : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.x86_64 12/15

Installing : ksh-20100621-16.el6.x86_64 13/15

Installing : compat-libcap1-1.10-1.x86_64 14/15



Installing : oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64 15/15

Verifying : gcc-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 1/15

Verifying : compat-libcap1-1.10-1.x86_64 2/15

Verifying : ksh-20100621-16.el6.x86_64 3/15

Verifying : glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64 4/15

Verifying : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.x86_64 5/15

Verifying : oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall-1.0-6.el6.x86_64 6/15

Verifying : gcc-c++-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 7/15

Verifying : glibc-headers-2.12-1.80.el6_3.4.x86_64 8/15

Verifying : libstdc++-devel-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 9/15

Verifying : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.x86_64 10/15

Verifying : mpfr-2.4.1-6.el6.x86_64 11/15

Verifying : kernel-uek-headers-2.6.32-300.32.1.el6uek.x86_64 12/15

Verifying : cpp-4.4.6-4.el6.x86_64 13/15

Verifying : ppl-0.10.2-11.el6.x86_64 14/15

Verifying : cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 15/15



Installed:

oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall.x86_64 0:1.0-6.el6



Dependency Installed:

cloog-ppl.x86_64 0:0.15.7-1.2.el6

compat-libcap1.x86_64 0:1.10-1

compat-libstdc++-33.x86_64 0:3.2.3-69.el6

cpp.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6

gcc.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6

gcc-c++.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6

glibc-devel.x86_64 0:2.12-1.80.el6_3.4

glibc-headers.x86_64 0:2.12-1.80.el6_3.4

kernel-uek-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.32-300.32.1.el6uek

ksh.x86_64 0:20100621-16.el6

libaio-devel.x86_64 0:0.3.107-10.el6

libstdc++-devel.x86_64 0:4.4.6-4.el6

mpfr.x86_64 0:2.4.1-6.el6

ppl.x86_64 0:0.10.2-11.el6



Complete!

Listing 1: Installing the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM
The yum installation logs messages about kernel changes in the file /var/log/oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall/results/orakernel.log, and it makes backups of current system settings in the directory /var/log/oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall/backup.
9. At this point, the system is ready for the installation of Oracle Database. For example, to install Oracle Database 11g Release 2, follow the directions in Chapter 4, "Installing Oracle Database," of the Database Installation Guide for Linux."
Here are the steps I followed while installing Oracle Database 11g Release 2 in my test environment. Make sure you review all documentation and follow recommended best practices before installing into your production environment.
Note: Please note that the installer in earlier releases of 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.1 and 11.2.0.2) will show "missing package" failures; e.g. for the pdksh package. These can safely be ignored, the ksh package (which is the successor of pdksh) has already been installed by the preinstall RPM. This bug was fixed in version 11.2.0.3 of the installer.
The Oracle Universal Installer performs a number of checks, verifying that the necessary OS packages and versions are installed. In addition, it checks kernel parameters set by the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall installation. During the kernel settings check, the installer might flag a few settings as "failed," and you should investigate these failures. In some cases, you still might be able to continue with the database installation. If you check kernel settings in /etc/sysctl.conf, you'll see that oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall has modified and added the necessary settings to ensure the minimum requirements are met, as defined in section 2.10.1, "Displaying and Changing Kernel Parameter Values," in Chapter 2, "Oracle Database Preinstallation Requirements," of the Oracle Database Installation Guide 11g Release2 (11.2) for Linux. Below is the list of requirements:

fs.aio-max-nr = 1048576

fs.file-max = 6815744

kernel.shmall = 2097152

kernel.shmmax = 4294967295

kernel.shmmni = 4096

kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128

net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 9000 65500

net.core.rmem_default = 262144

net.core.rmem_max = 4194304

net.core.wmem_default = 262144

net.core.wmem_max = 1048576


If necessary, you can (as root) edit the file /etc/sysctl.conf to specify a setting manually, for example:

# vi /etc/sysctl.conf

# /sbin/sysctl -p


The Oracle Universal Installer performs additional checks, such as verifying the glibc version, sufficient disk space, environmental variable and path settings, and sufficient physical memory and swap space. Generally, installing oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall takes care of the prerequisites so that you can proceed directly with installing the database.
a. As root, create a parent directory in a file system that has sufficient space to be the target location for the downloaded files:
b.
c. # mkdir /home/OraDB11g
d.
e. # cd /home/OraDB11g
f.

The amount of disk space needed in the file system varies according to the specific installation type, but roughly twice the size of the zip archives, or 5 GB, is enough to house the software and data files.
g. Into this target directory, download the installation media files from the Oracle Database Software Downloads page on Oracle Technology Network.
h. Extract the files:
i.
j. # unzip linux.x64_11gR2_database_1of2.zip
k.
l. # unzip linux.x64_11gR2_database_2of2.zip
m.
n. Log in as the user oracle. Change directory to the database directory and enter the following command to run the Oracle Universal Installer:
o.
p. $ cd /home/OraDB11g/database
q.
r. $ ./runInstaller
s.
Final Thoughts
Installing the oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM can save time when installing Oracle Database 11g on Oracle Linux. The RPM addresses most Oracle Database installation prerequisites and greatly simplifies the installation process.
See Also
Here are the resources referenced earlier in this document:
• Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network: https://linux.oracle.com
• Oracle public yum repository: http://public-yum.oracle.com/
• Oracle software delivery cloud (requires registration or login): https://edelivery.oracle.com/linux
• Chapter 4, "Installing Oracle Database," of the Database Installation Guide for Linux:http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e24321/inst_task.htm#BABBBHJH
• Oracle Database Software Downloads page on Oracle Technology Network:http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/index.html
And here are some additional resources from the Oracle Database Documentation Library (http://www.oracle.com/pls/db112/homepage). Relevant subsections from the Oracle Database Installation Guide 11g Release 2 (11.2) for Linux (http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E118 ... 63/toc.htm) with currently valid URLs are as follows:
• "About the Oracle RDBMS Pre-Install and Oracle Validated RPMs" from Chapter 1, "Overview of Oracle Database Installation":http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e16763/install_overview.htm#BABDBHCJ
• Chapter 2, "Oracle Database Preinstallation Requirements":http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e16763/pre_install.htm#BABFDGHJ
• "Downloading Oracle Software" from Chapter 4, "Installing Oracle Database," which describes how to download installation files from the Oracle Technology Network Website: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/ins ... tm#autoId6
Also see the blog entry "Oracle RDBMS Server 11gR2 Pre-Install RPM for Oracle Linux 6 has been released":https://blogs.oracle.com/linux/entry/oracle_rdbms_server_11gr2_pre
About the Authors
Ginny Henningsen has worked for the last 15 years as a freelance writer developing technical collateral and documentation for high-tech companies. Prior to that, Ginny worked for Sun Microsystems, Inc. as a Systems Engineer in King of Prussia, PA and Milwaukee, WI. Ginny has a BA from Carnegie-Mellon University and a MSCS from Villanova University.
Michele Casey is the Director of Product Management for Oracle Linux. She has worked with commercial Linux distributions and open source projects as a product manager since 2006. She has also held positions as a system administrator, project manager, and technical support engineer.