1 Oracle Database Client Installation Overview

1.1 Installation Overview

The Oracle Database Client installation process consists of five steps:

1. Read the release notes: Read the Oracle Database Release Notes before you begin the installation. The release notes are available with the platform-specific documentation. The latest version of the release notes is available on Oracle Technology Network at

   http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/indexes/documentation/index.html

2. Plan your installation: This overview chapter describes the installation types that you can use to install Oracle Database Client and issues to consider before you begin.

   You may also want to refer to Appendix A, "Frequently Asked Questions about Installation," in Oracle Database Installation Guide. This appendix advises on the best way to install Oracle products depending on your site's requirements.

3. Complete preinstallation tasks: Chapter 2 describes preinstallation tasks that you must complete before installing Oracle Database Client.

4. Install the software: Use the following sections to install Oracle Database Client:

   • Chapter 3 describes how to use the Oracle Universal Installer (OUI) GUI to install Oracle Database Client.

   • Appendix B describes how to perform a silent or noninteractive installation using response files.

   • "Installing and Using Oracle Components in Different Languages" describes how to install and use Oracle components in different languages.

   • Appendix D provides troubleshooting advice in case you encounter problems with the installation.

   • Chapter 5 describes how to remove Oracle Database Client.

5. Complete postinstallation tasks: Use the following sections to complete the postinstallation tasks:

   • Chapter 4 describes recommended and required postinstallation tasks.

   • Appendix C provides information about globalization support.

1.2 Oracle Database Client and Oracle Database Interoperability

For information about interoperability between different versions of Oracle Database Client and Oracle Database releases, see Note 207303.1 on the My Oracle Support (formerly OracleMetaLink) Web site at

https://support.oracle.com/

1.3 Recommended File System

Oracle strongly recommends that you install the Oracle database home (Oracle database binaries, trace files, and so on) on Oracle ACFS or NTFS; the database files themselves must be placed on Oracle ASM if using Oracle ACFS; otherwise they cannot be placed on NTFS. Usage of Oracle ACFS and Oracle ASM or NTFS instead of FAT32 is recommended to ensure security of these files.

1.4 Managing User Accounts with User Account Control

To ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows 7 provide User Account Control. If you have enabled this security feature, then, depending on how you have configured it, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you for either your consent or your credentials when installing Oracle Database. Provide either the consent or your Windows Administrator credentials as appropriate.

You must have Administrator privileges to run some Oracle tools, such as Database Configuration Assistant, Net Configuration Assistant, and OPatch, or to run any tool or application that writes to any directory within the Oracle home. If User Account Control is enabled, and you are logged in as the local Administrator, then you can successfully run each of these commands in the usual way. However, if you are logged in as "a member of the Administrator group," then you must explicitly invoke these tasks with Windows Administrator privileges. All the Oracle shortcuts that require Administrator privileges will be invoked as "Administrator" automatically when you click the shortcuts. However, if you run the above tools from a Windows command prompt, you must run them from an Administrator command prompt. OPatch does not have a shortcut and has to be run from an Administrator command prompt.

To start a command prompt window with Windows Administrator privileges:

1. On your desktop, create a shortcut for the command prompt window. An icon for that shortcut appears on the desktop.

2. Right click the icon for the newly created shortcut, and specify "Run as administrator."

When you open this window, the title bar reads Administrator: Command Prompt. Commands run from within this window are run with Administrator privileges.

1.5 Oracle Database Client Installation Types

You can choose one of the following installation types when installing Oracle Database Client:

• Instant Client: Installs only the shared libraries required by Oracle Call Interface applications that use the Instant Client feature. This installation type requires much less disk space than the other Oracle Database Client installation types.

  Included in the Instant Client installation is Instant Client Light. You may want to use this version of Instant Client if your applications generate error messages in American English only. The advantage of using Instant Client Light is that it has a much smaller footprint than regular Instant Client. Hence, your applications use less memory.

• Administrator: Enables applications to connect to an Oracle database on the local system or on a remote system. It provides tools that let you administer an Oracle database.

• Runtime: Enables applications to connect to an Oracle database on the local system or on a remote system.

• Custom: Enables you to select individual components from the list of Administrator and Runtime components.

1.6 Simplified Patching of Timestamp with Time Zone Data Type

Starting with Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2), the patching process of TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE data type values is simplified.

1.7 Software Updates Option

Use the Software Updates feature to dynamically download and apply the latest updates released by Oracle; such as, interim patch updates, critical patch updates, Oracle Universal Installer updates, and the latest patch set updates. This functionality is available starting with Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.2).

You can choose to download the latest updates by providing My Oracle Support credentials or you can apply previously downloaded updates. You can also download the updates separately using the -downloadUpdates option and later apply them during the installation by providing the location where the updates are present.