Notes on Installing Oracle Database

Notes on Installing Oracle Database

The purpose of this post is not to reiterate every step from the documentation.  This is not a run book.  This is a list of the items that have helped me get through the installation and a place where I can keep track of questions and problems.

I had the idea to install the database on my base build and then connect to the database from my vm images however, ultimately I decided to install the database on each image.  My main reason for doing this is that if I end up copying the image off the base and moving it then I will have to play around with the database too much to get it working so even though this will take up extra space, I opted for ease of use over efficiency.

Preparing to Install

1. Download the software
• Finding the software is not so easy.  Since I am using the database for the 11gR2 version of FMW products I was looking for the 11.2.0.2 version.  I know it used to be available but this time I could not find it.  I ended up with 11.2.0.4 which I found on MOS by going to the Patches and Updates section and searching for Oracle Database along with this patch number.  All the way at the bottom is the full installation of Oracle Database 11.2.0.4 so no patching is required.
2. The documentation for the installation is located on the Oracle website.  docs.oracle.com.  I am following the quick installation guide.
3. Prerequisites
• Assuming you are using a Linux OS, you can take care of the package requirements by downloading the preinstall rpm from public yum.  Here is a link to a technet article:
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/articles/servers-storage-admin/ginnydbinstallonlinux-488779.html.    
• Just in case that link disappears: yum install oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall
4. In a

Preparing to Install

1. 
   

Connecting to my Linux lab machine with VNC.

VNC

Machines on the same internal network, same subnet

1. Download and Set up VNC server on the host machine.  The host is the machine you want to connect to.
2. Download VNC viewer on machine you want to connect from.
3. On machine you want to connect from, run VNC viewer.
4. Type in the ip address of the host.
5. ERROR:  No route to host.  This looks like a problem with iptables.  After reading a little, iptables is a firewall installed by default with Linux.  Next I need to read about either disabling iptables or adding my VNC port to this table.  
1. I disabled iptables and this worked.
2. service iptables stop
6. voila!

Things to note:

1. If you are connected to vpn then you should connect on both machines.  If you don't then you will not be able to connect to the guest from the host.