1
Oracle9i Installation Planning

This chapter describes Oracle9i product installations, database configurations, Oracle Configuration Assistants, and other installation concepts.

• Oracle9i Installation Overview

• Oracle9i Products for Installation

• Oracle9i Database Configurations

• Oracle Configuration Assistants

• Installation With Existing Oracle Databases

• Oracle9i Re-installation

• Oracle9i Installation Restrictions

Oracle9i Installation Overview

Installing Oracle9i products consists of four stages:

1. Planning your installation: Use this chapter and the Quick Installation Procedure for your platform to help you to plan and prepare for your installation. This chapter provides information about products, installation types, database configurations, and concepts you should be aware of in planning an installation. The Quick Installation Procedure provides information about the installation process.

2. Completing pre-installation tasks: Refer to the release notes for your platform and to Chapter 2, "Pre-Installation" in this guide to complete pre-installation tasks.

3. Installing software: Refer to Chapter 3, "Installation" in this guide to assist you in using the Oracle Universal Installer to install Oracle9i software. Use the Installation Worksheet to organize information you need during installation. If you plan to install Legato Storage Manager, refer also to Appendix B, "Legato Storage Manager." If you plan to install an Oracle Transparent Gateway, refer also to Appendix C, "Oracle Transparent Gateway."

4. Completing post-installation tasks: Refer to Chapter 4, "Post-Installation" in this guide to assist you in completing post-installation tasks and configuration.

Oracle9i Products for Installation

During installation, you are asked to choose one of three products. These products are:

• Oracle9i Database

• Oracle9i Client

• Oracle9i Management and Integration

Following are descriptions of each of these products.

Oracle9i Database

The Oracle9i Database is an object-oriented relational database management system, which consists of an Oracle database and an Oracle instance. It may be installed in one of three installation types: Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition or Custom installation.

• Enterprise Edition: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs a preconfigured seed database, networking services, licensable Oracle Options, database environment tools, the Oracle Enterprise Manager framework of management tools, including Console, Management Server, and Intelligent Agent, Oracle utilities and online documentation. It also contains those products most commonly used for data warehousing and transaction processing.

• Standard Edition: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs a preconfigured seed database, networking services, Oracle Enterprise Manager Console and Oracle utilities.

• Custom: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition installations.

Oracle9i Client

The Oracle9i Client is a front-end database application that connects to the database through one or more application servers. There are three Client installation types: Administrator, Runtime and Custom.

• Administrator: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs the Oracle Enterprise Manager Console, including enterprise management tools, networking services, utilities, basic client software and online documentation.

• Runtime: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs networking services and support files.

• Custom: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Administrator and Runtime.

Oracle9i Management and Integration

Oracle9i Management Server is a central processing and distribution system for management tasks. It enables distributed control between clients and managed nodes. Oracle9i Integration Server is a suite of software that provides internet and intranet tools to integrate applications within and across organizations.

There are four Management and Integration installation types: Oracle Management Server, Oracle Internet Directory, Oracle Integration Server and Custom.

• Oracle Management Server: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs the Oracle Management Server, which processes all system management tasks and administers the distribution of these tasks to Intelligent Agents on managed nodes across the enterprise. In addition, the installer installs basic client software and online documentation.

• Oracle Internet Directory: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)-enabled Oracle Internet Directory Server, LDAP-enabled client tools and the Oracle Internet Directory database schema.

• Oracle Integration Server: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer installs XML-enabled components that integrate enterprise applications. Components include Oracle9i JVM, a workflow engine and advanced queuing.

• Custom: If you select this type, then the Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Oracle Management Server, Oracle Internet Directory and Oracle Integration Server.

Oracle9i Database Configurations

When you select to install the Oracle9i Database product, you are prompted to select a database configuration suited to your needs. Select from one of five Oracle9i database configurations:

1. General Purpose

2. Transaction Processing

3. Data Warehouse

4. Customized

5. Software only

Choices one through three are preconfigured databases that you can use for the Oracle9i Database. Each preconfigured database is designed to provide optimal support for particular database needs. Choices four and five are configurations for special needs. Table 1-1, "Oracle9i Database Configurations" describes these configurations.

Table 1-1 Oracle9i Database Configurations

Environment	Description
General Purpose	Users perform a variety of database tasks, ranging from simple transactions to complex queries. Select this database environment for general purpose usage.
Transaction Processing (OLTP)	Users perform large numbers of concurrent transactions, where each transaction is a relatively simple operation processing a small amount of data. Transactions consist of reading, writing and deleting data in database tables. Billing databases, such as those commonly found on internet commerce sites, are the most common example of this database configuration. These are also known as online transaction processing (OLTP) databases.
Data Warehouse or Decision Support System (DSS)	Users perform very complex queries that access and process large volumes of data. These queries are typically read-only and range from a simple query of a few records to complex queries that sort thousands of records from many different tables. Historical databases are the most common example of this database configuration. Warehousing databases are also known as decision support systems (DSS).
Customized	Allows you to create a customized database configuration or a custom installation of Oracle products that meets specialized requirements. Select this choice only if you are prepared to provide detailed product and database environment choices. Choosing this option requires a longer installation session than choosing a preconfigured database.
Software only	Allows you to install Oracle products without creating a database. Select this choice only if you are prepared to provide extensive database configuration information when you create a database. Oracle Corporation recommends that you install at least one seed database to serve as a template for database configuration.

See Also: For more information on database environment issues, refer to Oracle9i Concepts, Oracle9i Tuning and Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Installation and Configuration. For more information on the process of choosing database configurations, refer to "Oracle Database Configuration Assistant". Many of the Oracle documents included on the Oracle9i Generic Documentation CD-ROM provide information about database environments, the effect database environment settings have on performance, and how your database can be tuned to maximize performance.

Oracle Configuration Assistants

Oracle Configuration assistants are graphical user interface (GUI) tools included with the Oracle9i software to assist you with configuring and fine-tuning your environment and system for optimal performance. Many of them start automatically when installation is completed, depending on the selections you make when you run the installer. You can also manually start the configuration assistants as standalone tools.

• Apache Web Server Configuration Assistant automatically starts when you install Oracle HTTP Server powered by Apache.

• Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically starts when you create an Oracle9i database during installation.

• Oracle Data Migration Assistant automatically starts when you select the Upgrade or Migrate an Existing Database check box. You can also choose not to select the check box and run Oracle Data Migration Assistant independently after completing installation.

• Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant automatically starts when you select the Oracle Management Server type from the Oracle Management and Integration product installation types window, or when you explicitly select the Oracle Management Server type from an Oracle Management and Integration Custom install or a Custom Database install. With any other installation process, the Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant will not automatically launch; you must manually launch it after the installer exits.

• Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant automatically starts when you select Oracle Internet Directory from Oracle Management and Integration product installation types window, or when you explicitly select Oracle Internet Directory during an Oracle Management and Integration Custom installation.

• Oracle Net Configuration Assistant automatically starts for all Database installation types. The Oracle Net Configuration Assistant creates and modifies network files located in the $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin directory. Depending on the installation type selected, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant configures the network for standard database connection methods or a customized network.

• Oracle Workflow Configuration Assistant automatically starts when you select Oracle Integration Server from the Oracle Management and Integration installation type or when you explicitly select Workflow from Oracle Management and Integration custom installation type. It installs and configures the Oracle Workflow Schema in the Oracle9i database.

Apache Web Server Configuration Assistant

The Apache Web Server Configuration Assistant starts the HTTP listener in non-SSL mode (non-Secure Sockets Layer mode) on port 7777.

See Also: For more information about configuring Apache to use the HTTPS (HTTP over SSL) protocol, refer to the Apache documentation at the following location: http://www.apache.org

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant enables you to copy an Oracle9i seed database, or create a fully customized database to match your selected environment and database configuration. Also use Database Configuration Assistant to unlock and reset passwords for Oracle administrative user accounts. It starts automatically after you create an Oracle9i database during Oracle9i installation.

When installing Oracle9i software using any database configuration option other than Custom, the Oracle Universal Installer prompts for a global database name and system identifier. After Oracle9i installation is completed, the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant uses this information to create the database. In addition, the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically configures the static service information for Oracle Net in the listener.ora file.

The following is a list of database configurations with descriptions:

General Purpose configuration: If you select this option with an Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition installation, then the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates a preconfigured, ready-to-use, multipurpose seed database with the following:

• Default initialization parameters

• Automatic installation and configuration of Oracle Options and interMedia

• Advanced replication capabilities

• Database configuration of dedicated server mode

• Archiving mode of NOARCHIVELOG

Transaction Processing option: If you select this option, then the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates a pre-configured, ready-to-use OLTP database.

Data Warehouse option: If you select this option, then the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates a pre-configured, ready-to-use data warehousing or DSS database.

Customized installation option: If you select this option, then the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant guides you in creating a fully customized database. You can choose to configure Options, Oracle Text components and advanced replication either automatically or manually.

Select this option only if you are experienced with advanced database creation procedures. You will need to customize some or all of the following settings or parameters:

• Data, control and redo log file settings

• Tablespace and extent sizes

• Database memory parameters

• Archiving modes, formats and destinations

• Trace file destinations

• Character set values

Software Only option: If you select this option, then the Oracle Universal Installer only installs Oracle9i software. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant does not start up after installation, and no seed database is installed.

See Also: For more information about running Oracle Database Configuration Assistant in standalone mode, refer to "Using Oracle Database Configuration Assistant". For more information on database character sets, refer to Oracle9i Globalization and National Language Guide.

Oracle Data Migration Assistant

Oracle Data Migration Assistant enables you to migrate an existing database to Oracle9i when you have completed an Oracle9i installation. You must complete a number of steps prior to beginning a migration with Oracle Data Migration Assistant. These include performing a full backup of your current production database, and reviewing required planning and backup preparations prior to beginning a migration.

See Also: For more information about migration issues, refer to "Installation With Existing Oracle Databases" . For more information on planning, preparing and completing a database migration with Oracle Data Migration Assistant, refer to Oracle9i Database Migration.

Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant

Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant enables you to configure Oracle Management Server on a local system. It can create, upgrade or delete a repository, and edit existing configurations. A repository is a set of database tables that must be located in any Oracle database accessible to the Oracle Management Server. The Oracle Management Server uses a repository to store all system data, application data, information about the state of managed nodes, and information about any system management packs.

See Also: For more information on using Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant, refer to Oracle9i Enterprise Manager Configuration Guide.

Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant

Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant configures Oracle Internet Directory on a local system. As part of the post-configuration process, the installer launches Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant to create a database instance containing Oracle Internet Directory metadata. The configuration assistant automatically starts Oracle Internet Directory Server. In addition, the assistant loads the default Oracle Schema, which defines the types of objects, called object classes, that can be stored in the directory server. Finally, the assistant loads the default Oracle Context, which is an entry under which a directory stores all information pertaining to Oracle software and from which your system can access and create Oracle Net entries. You can also manually create the Oracle Directory Schema and Context using Oracle Net Configuration Assistant.

You can only access Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant during the installation process. There is no standalone mode for Oracle Internet Directory Configuration Assistant.

See Also: For more information on installing or configuring Oracle Internet Directory, refer to Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide.

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant enables you to configure the Oracle client/server network environment. Review the Oracle Net Configuration Assistant procedure for your product installation choice.

Oracle9i Database Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition Installation

For Enterprise and Standard installations, the Oracle Net Configuration Assistant does the following tasks:

Creates a net service name to use when connecting to a database.

Configures the Oracle Net server environment by configuring the following files:

• The listener.ora file configures a listener named listener. The listener is configured with protocol addresses for both the Oracle9i database using the operating system's preferred protocol (typically TCP/IP on port 1521), and the external procedures using the IPC protocol. It also configures services information for external procedures.

• The sqlnet.ora file stores the network domain. The domain is usually set to be the same as the network domain of your system and is automatically appended to any unqualified net service name given in the connect string.

• The tnsnames.ora file defines a net service name parameter for connections to external procedures named EXTPROC_CONNECTION_DATA.

Oracle9i Database Custom Installation

For Custom Database installation, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant prompts you for the following information:

Complete directory server usage configuration. This requires that you enter a directory server type and location. Also specify the directory location that contains the Oracle Context. You are prompted for this information if you have never configured the Oracle home directory for directory service access.

Create listeners to use for database connections.

Select the naming method to use when connecting to the local database. By default, the local naming method is selected. In most circumstances, Oracle Corporation recommends that you use this default. You also have the option to use one of the following naming methods: local naming, directory naming, Oracle Names, host naming and external naming.

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant then automatically creates your Oracle Net server environment. This affects the following files:

• listener.ora file: Oracle Net Services configures a listener with the name and protocol address you select. Oracle Net Services also configures a protocol address and static service information for external procedures.

• sqlnet.ora file: Oracle Net Services configures the server's network domain as the default domain, which is the same domain as your computer's domain. This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified name. The sqlnet.ora file also configures the naming methods the server uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor.

• tnsnames.ora file: Oracle Net Services creates a net service name entry to use for external procedure connections.

  See Also: For more information on installation, naming methods, service name configuration and client configuration, refer to Oracle9i Net Services Administrator's Reference.

Client Installation

For Oracle9i Administrator and Runtime Client installation, the local or directory naming method is selected for you based on your existing directory usage configuration. For Oracle9i Custom Client installation, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant prompts you to:

Select a naming method to use for accessing the database.

• Local naming specifies a net service name to resolve network addresses. This name is configured and stored in configuration files on each individual client.

• Directory naming specifies a directory server to resolve service names and network addresses. Clients then use the information registered with the directory service to connect to Oracle9i databases. Directory usage is also configured.

Depending on the naming method you select, you are prompted to provide additional information.

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant then automatically creates your Oracle Net client environment by configuring the following files:

• The sqlnet.ora file configures the naming methods a client uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor. The Assistant configures the client's domain as the default domain which is the same as the client's domain. This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified net service name given in the connect string.

• The tnsnames.ora file configures a net service name if using local naming.

  See Also: For more information about running Oracle Net Configuration Assistant in standalone mode, refer to Oracle9i Net Services Administrator's Reference or "Using Oracle Net Configuration Assistant". For more information on naming methods, configuring service names and client configurations, refer to Oracle9i Net Services Administrator's Reference.

Oracle Workflow Configuration Assistant

The Oracle Workflow Configuration Assistant automatically creates an Oracle Workflow database account to which the Oracle Workflow database objects are installed. Oracle Workflow is only installed automatically if you install it at the same time as you create your database. If you run the Oracle Universal Installer to install Oracle Workflow on an existing database, then the Oracle Universal Installer only copies the Oracle Workflow files to your file system; it does not automatically run those files to perform the installation. You must manually run an installation/upgrade script to complete the installation. This precaution helps ensure that any previous installation of Oracle Workflow in an existing database is upgraded correctly.

See Also: For more information on Oracle Workflow Configuration Assistant, manual installation and post-installation procedures, refer to Oracle Workflow Server Installation Notes.

Installation With Existing Oracle Databases

You can access different versions of Oracle on the same computer system at the same time using SQL*Net, Net8 or Oracle Net Services, depending on which version of Oracle you need to access. However, you can only access Oracle8i and Oracle9i databases separately; you cannot submit a single query to access both databases. To make data in existing Oracle databases fully accessible for OLAP or other analytical queries, you must migrate or upgrade existing databases to Oracle9i.

See Also: For more information about compatibility and interoperability issues, and for information about connecting different client versions to the database, refer to Oracle9i Database Migration and Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide.

Migration and Upgrading Existing Oracle Databases

Migration is the process of installing a new database version (such as Oracle9i) and using the Import utility or Oracle Data Migration Assistant to convert an existing database version to the new version. Migrate if you want to test a new installation with a copy of your old database prior to bringing it online in a production environment, or if your existing database version is too old to upgrade.

Oracle7 release 7.3.4 or later databases, Oracle8 release 8.0.6 or later databases and Oracle8i release 8.1.5 or later databases can be migrated to Oracle9i. Oracle7 databases earlier than release 7.3.4 must be upgraded to Oracle7 release 7.3.4 and then migrated to Oracle9i. Oracle8 databases earlier than 8.0.6 must be upgraded to Oracle8 release 8.0.6 and then migrated to Oracle9i. Use the Oracle Data Migration Assistant when migrating your data.

Upgrading is the process of overwriting existing database software with a newer version of Oracle software. Upgrade if testing a new installation is not an issue and migrating the database is not required.

All Oracle8i versions are supported for upgrading to Oracle9i release 1 (9.0.1).

Migration Issues

If you have an existing Oracle installation, then Oracle Corporation recommends that you install Oracle9i release 1 (9.0.1) products into a new Oracle home directory.

It is not possible to have more than one Oracle release in the same Oracle home. If you must install Oracle9i into an Oracle home directory that contains previously installed Oracle8i products, then use the Oracle Universal Installer to remove the previously installed products before beginning the new installation.

See Also: Before deciding to migrate or upgrade an existing database, refer to Oracle9i Database Migration to determine which is the correct choice for your needs.

Oracle9i Re-installation

If you re-install Oracle9i Database into an Oracle home directory where Oracle9i Database is already installed, you must also re-install any component selections, such as Oracle Partitioning, that were enabled before you began the re-installation.

Oracle9i Installation Restrictions

There are restrictions that can affect the installation or use of Oracle9i software on UNIX platforms. For the latest information on these restrictions, refer to the release notes and the README files that accompany this release. Release notes are located in the $ORACLE_HOME/relnotes directory. README files are uncompressed and located in the doc or admin/doc directories.

Release notes are updated regularly online and are available with the rest of Oracle documentation at the following location:

http://docs.oracle.com

In addition, if you have hardware or operating system software versions that are released after this installation guide and you are an Oracle Support customer, then review the certification matrix on MetaLink to determine if Oracle9i release release 1 (9.0.1) is certified for these products or versions. The technical libraries link on MetaLink also provides alerts, technical notes and additional information that you may find helpful in planning to install Oracle9i. Register at the following site for access to MetaLink:

http://metalink.oracle.com

See Also: For more information on Oracle MetaLink, see "Oracle MetaLink".

Installing in Character Mode

You cannot perform an Oracle9i installation using character mode. However, you can configure the Oracle Universal Installer to perform a non-interactive installation. Non-interactive mode can be run directly from an X Window System console or through an X-terminal or PC X-terminal on a remote system.

See Also: For more information about the non-interactive installation of Oracle products, refer to "Non-Interactive Installation and Configuration".

Writing To File Systems

Oracle9i Server must be able to verify that writes to a disk were completed successfully. NFS file systems may not be able to guarantee writes to a disk were completed successfully, which could lead to possible datafile corruption. Oracle Corporation recommends that you do not have datafiles located on NFS mount points unless your storage vendor and storage device are listed in the Oracle Storage Compatibility Program Member list. This list can be accessed from the following URL:

http://www.oracle.com/ip/deploy/database/storage/

Restrictions for Installing Oracle Real Application Clusters

The word size for Oracle Real Application Clusters databases must match the bit mode of the Cluster Group Services. All Oracle instances on a cluster started with the Oracle Applications Clusters option must match the bit mode of the Cluster Group Services executable. 32-bit instances cannot share the same 9.0.1 database with 64-bit instances. Depending on the platform, for example, 32-bit and 64-bit Oracle9i Real Application Clusters executables cannot be used at the same time within the same cluster domain. This is because some cluster manager implementations may not be able to concurrently handle 32-bit and 64-bit clients. If a database is not set up with the Oracle Real Application Clusters option, then this restriction does not apply to the Oracle executables.

Installing with Server Manager Line Mode

The Server Manager line mode utility is not supported in Oracle9i. Oracle Corporation recommends that you use SQL*Plus.

Using Hummingbird Exceed X Window Emulator

An X Window emulator is a software package that emulates the X Window System, which is a network-based graphics window system that is the industry standard windowing system for UNIX systems. If you intend to install Oracle9i on a server from a client terminal whose operating system is a non-UNIX system, such as Microsoft Windows, then you must obtain an X Window emulator.

If you use the Hummingbird Exceed X Window emulator while installing and using Oracle9i, set the window manager to run in Native mode so that Microsoft Windows functions as the window manager. See your Exceed documentation for instructions on configuring the window manager.

The following are common problems with the Hummingbird Exceed X Window emulator:

• Exceed does not handle screen coordinates correctly. The installer window and related installer dialogs and configuration assistants can encounter display problems when run through the emulator. If Exceed causes display problems, then exit the entire X Window session and start a new session.

• Display problems exist in the AQ Database Information dialog window of the Oracle Applications InterConnect installation. The last text field in this dialog window prompts for Consumer Name which appears truncated when viewed through Exceed. The dialog window displays correctly when viewed through a native X Window on a UNIX system.

  Perform the following steps to correct any problems with hidden dialog fields:

  1. Select the xconfig application under the Exceed Program Group from the Windows Start Menu.

  2. Select the Fonts applet.

  3. Select the Font Database button in the Font Settings dialog.

  4. Deselect the Automatic Font Substitution option in the Font Database dialog.

  5. Select the Add... button.

     The Add Font Directory dialog is displayed.

  6. Select the Server radio button in the Add Font Directory dialog.

  7. Enter the host name for your machine in the Host Name field in the Add Font Server dialog.

  8. Leave all other entries at their default settings.

  9. Select OK.

  10. Select Close on all dialogs to save the settings.

Checking Soft and Hard Limits For a Shell

Oracle9i software includes native support for files greater than 2 GB but some systems shells impose a lower limit. Currently used values are referred to as soft limits. Maximum values are referred to as hard limits. The soft limits can be temporarily raised to the hard limits. The file size shell limits for all users connected to an Oracle9i database must be higher than the size of the largest datafile. Oracle Corporation recommends that the file size shell limit be set to unlimited, which means that the shell will not impose a files size limit. You can check your shell to determine whether it will impose limits using the following commands:

1. To check currently used (soft) shell limits, enter:

   $ ulimit -Sa
   

2. To check current maximum (hard) limits, enter:

   $ ulimit -Ha
   

3. Multiply the file (blocks) value by 512 to obtain the maximum file size imposed by the shell. A value of unlimited is the operating system default and is the maximum value of 1 TB.

Table 1-2 lists the Oracle file size limits. Block size is defined in the db_block_size parameter of the $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/initsid.ora file.

Table 1-2 Oracle File Size Limits

File Type	Maximum Size in Bytes
data file with block size 2048	8,589,932,544
data file with block size 4096	17,179,865,088
data file with block size 8196	34,359,730,176
data file with block size 16,384	68,719,460,352
data file with block size 32,768	137,438,920,704
Import/Export file	2,147,483,647
SQL*Loader file	2,147,483,647