2 Oracle Database Preinstallation Requirements

2.1.1 Hardware Component Requirements for Windows 32-Bit

The following table lists the hardware components that are required for Oracle Database on Windows 32-bit.

2.1.2 Hardware Component Requirements for Windows x64

The following table lists the hardware components that are required for Oracle Database on Windows x64.

2.1.3 Hard Disk Space Requirements

This section lists system requirements for Windows platforms that use the NT File System (NTFS). 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 can be placed on NTFS. Usage of Oracle ACFS and Oracle ASM or NTFS instead of FAT32 is recommended to ensure security of these files.

The NTFS system requirements listed in this section are more accurate than the hard disk values reported by the Oracle Universal Installer Summary window. The Summary window does not include accurate values for disk space, the space required to create a database, or the size of compressed files that are expanded on the hard drive.

The hard disk requirements for Oracle Database components include 32 MB to install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and Oracle Universal Installer on the partition where the operating system is installed. If sufficient space is not detected, installation fails and an error message appears.

Table 2-3 lists the disk space requirements on NTFS for Windows 32-bit.

Table 2-4 lists the disk space requirements on NTFS for Windows x64. The starter database requires 720 MB of disk space.

The figures in these tables include the starter database. FAT32 space requirements are slightly higher.

* Refers to the contents of the admin, cfgtoollogs, flash_recovery_area, and oradata directories in the ORACLE_BASE directory.

** This size can be higher depending on the installation options selected, such as languages or additional components. If you choose to install Oracle Database with automated backups enabled, include at least 2 GB extra for data file disk space.

2.1.4 Verifying Hardware Requirements

To ensure that the system meets these requirements, follow these steps:

1. Determine the physical RAM size. For example, on a Windows Server 2003 computer, double-click System in the Windows Control Panel and click the General tab.

   On a Windows Server 2008 R2 computer, click System and Security in the Windows Control Panel, then click System.

   If the size of the physical RAM installed in the system is less than the required size, then you must install more memory before continuing.

2. Determine the size of the configured virtual memory (also known as paging file size). For example, on a Windows 2003 computer, double-click System, click the Advanced tab, and click Settings in the Performance section. Then click the Advanced tab.

   On a Windows Server 2008 R2 computer, click System and Security, then click System, click Advanced System Settings, click the Advanced tab on System Properties page, and then click Settings in the Performance section. Then select the Advanced tab on Performance Options page.

   The virtual memory is listed in the Virtual Memory section.

   If necessary, see your operating system documentation for information about how to configure additional virtual memory.

3. Determine the amount of free disk space on the system. For example, on a Windows 2003 computer, double-click My Computer, right-click the drive where the Oracle software is to be installed, and select Properties.

   On a Windows Server 2008 R2 computer, right-click My Computer and click Open.

4. Determine the amount of disk space available in the temp directory. This is equivalent to the total amount of free disk space, minus what is required for the Oracle software to be installed.

   On Windows 32-bit, if there is less than 500 MB of disk space available in the temp directory, then delete all unnecessary files. If the temp disk space is still less than 500 MB, then set the TEMP or TMP environment variable to point to a different hard drive location.

   On Windows x64, if there is less than 125 MB of disk space available in the temp directory, then delete all unnecessary files. If the temp disk space is still less than 125 MB, then set the TEMP or TMP environment variable to point to a different hard drive location.

   For example, to change the environment variables on a Windows Server 2003 computer, double-click System, click the Advanced tab, and click Environment Variables.

   On a Windows Server 2008 R2 computer, click System and Security, then click System, click Advanced System Settings, click the Advanced tab on System Properties page, and then click Environment Variables.

2.3.1 Remote Desktop Services

Oracle supports installing, configuring, and running Oracle Database through Remote Desktop Services, formerly known as Terminal Services, on Windows. To install Oracle Database, Oracle recommends that you start all configuration tools from the Terminal Server console session of the server (using mstsc/console).

Platform-specific support information is as follows:

• Windows 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2: You can configure Windows 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 to use Terminal Services in Remote Desktop for Administration Mode or Terminal Server Mode.

• Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7: The Remote Desktop is only available in Single User Mode.

• Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2: You can have multiple Remote Desktop sessions.

2.3.2 Oracle Services for Microsoft Transaction Server

Oracle Services for Microsoft Transaction Server running on Windows Vista requires a minimum of Service Pack 1 or higher.

2.3.3 Web Browser Support

The following Web browsers are supported for Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control:

• Netscape Navigator 8.1

• Netscape Navigator 9.0

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP2

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 SP1

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0

• Firefox 2.0

• Firefox 3.0.7

• Firefox 3.5

• Firefox 3.6

• Safari 3.1

• Safari 3.2

• Safari 4.0.x

• Google Chrome 3.0

• Google Chrome 4.0

2.3.4 Default Share Configuration Requirement

The prerequisite checks during Oracle Database installation require that the system drive on your computer has default share configured on it. Use the net use command to verify, for example:

C:\> net use \\hostname\c$
The command completed successfully

Ensure that the current user, the user in the Administrator group, has all the privileges on the default share.

2.4.1 Installing Oracle Database on DHCP Computers

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns dynamic IP addresses on a network. Dynamic addressing allows a computer to have a different IP address each time it connects to the network. In some cases, the IP address can change while the computer is still connected. You can have a mixture of static and dynamic IP addressing in a DHCP system.

In a DHCP setup, the software tracks IP addresses, which simplifies network administration. This lets you add a new computer to the network without having to manually assign that computer a unique IP address. However, before installing Oracle Database onto a computer that uses the DHCP protocol, you must install a loopback adapter to assign a static, non-routable IP address to that computer.

2.4.2 Installing Oracle Database on Computers with Multiple IP Addresses

You can install Oracle Database on a computer that has multiple IP addresses, also known as a multihomed computer. Typically, a multihomed computer has multiple network cards. Each IP address is associated with a host name; additionally, you can set up aliases for the host name. By default, Oracle Universal Installer uses the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable setting to find the host name.

Clients must be able to access the computer using this host name, or using aliases for this host name. To check, ping the host name from the client computers using the short name (host name only) and the full name (host name and domain name). Both must work.

Setting the ORACLE_HOSTNAME Environment Variable

To set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable:

1. Display System in the Windows Control Panel.

2. In the System Properties dialog box, click Advanced.

3. In the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables.

4. In the Environment Variables dialog box, under System Variables, click New.

5. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter the following information:

   • Variable name: ORACLE_HOSTNAME

   • Variable value: The host name of the computer to use.

6. Click OK, then in the Environment Variables dialog box, click OK.

7. Click OK in the Environment Variables dialog box, then in the System Properties dialog box, click OK.

2.4.3 Installing Oracle Database on Computers with Multiple Aliases

A computer with multiple aliases is registered with the naming service under a single IP address but with multiple aliases. The naming service resolves any of those aliases to the same computer. Before installing Oracle Database on such a computer, set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable to the computer whose host name you want to use.

2.4.4 Installing Oracle Database on Nonnetworked Computers

You can install Oracle Database on a non-networked computer. If the computer, such as a laptop, is configured for DHCP and you plan to connect the computer to the network after the Oracle Database installation, perform these steps before you install Oracle Database on the non-networked computer.

1. Install a loopback adapter on the computer.

   The loopback adapter and local IP address simulate a networked computer. If you connect the computer to the network, Oracle Database still uses the local IP address and host name.

   See Also:

   "Installing a Loopback Adapter"

2. Ping the computer from itself, using only the host name and using the fully qualified name, which should be in the DRIVE_LETTER:\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file.

   For example, if you installed a loopback adapter on a computer called mycomputer on the mydomain.com domain, check the following:

   DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer                Ping itself using just the hostname.
   Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.
   DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer.mydomain.com   Ping using a fully qualified name.
   Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.
   

   Note:

   When you ping a computer from itself, the ping command should return the local IP address (the IP address of the loopback adapter).

   If the ping command fails, contact your network administrator.

Connecting the Computer to the Network after Installation

If you connect the computer to a network after installation, the Oracle Database instance on your computer can work with other instances on the network. Remember that you must have installed a loopback adapter on your computer. Your computer can use a static IP or DHCP, depending on the network to which you are connected.

2.4.5 Installing a Loopback Adapter

When you install a loopback adapter, the loopback adapter assigns a local IP address for your computer. After the loopback adapter is installed, there are at least two network adapters on your computer: your own network adapter and the loopback adapter. To run Oracle Database on Windows, set the loopback adapter as the primary adapter.

You can change the bind order for the adapters without reinstalling the loopback adapter. The bind order of the adapters to the protocol indicates the order in which the adapters are used. When the loopback adapter is used first for the TCP/IP protocol, all programs that access TCP/IP first probe the loopback adapter. The local address is used for tools, such as Oracle Enterprise Manager. Any other applications that use a different Ethernet segment are routed to the network card.

A loopback adapter is required if:

• You are installing on a DHCP computer, or

  See Also:

  "Installing Oracle Database on DHCP Computers"

• You are installing on a non-networked computer and plan to connect the computer to a network after installation.

  See Also:

  "Installing Oracle Database on Nonnetworked Computers"

This section covers the following topics:

• Checking if a Loopback Adapter Is Installed on Your Computer

• Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Windows XP

• Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

• Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

• Removing a Loopback Adapter

DRIVE_LETTER:\>ipconfig /all

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Loopback Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-4C-4F-4F-50
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0

2.5.1 Configuring Disk Storage for Oracle Data Files and Recovery Files

This section describes the storage options for storing Oracle data files and, optionally, Oracle database recovery files. After you choose the storage method to use for each file type, use the following sections to configure the required storage:

• Choosing a Storage Option for Oracle Data Files

• Choosing a Storage Option for Oracle Database Recovery Files

• Configuring Disk Storage

2.5.2 Creating Directories for Oracle Data Files or Recovery Files

If you decide to place the Oracle database or recovery files on a file system, use the following guidelines when deciding where to place them:

• Guidelines for Placing Oracle Data Files on a File System

• Guidelines for Placing Oracle Recovery Files on a File System

• Creating Required Directories

2.5.3 Stopping Existing Oracle Services

Consider the following before you install Oracle Grid Infrastructure or Oracle Database:

• If you plan to use Oracle Restart, you must install the Oracle Grid Infrastructure before you install and create the database. When you perform a database installation, the database must use the same listener created during the Oracle Grid Infrastructure installation, thereafter you do not have to perform the steps listed in this section.

  The default listener and any additional listeners must run from the Oracle Grid Infrastructure home.

• If you have an existing Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) running on Oracle Automatic Storage Management, then stop any existing Oracle ASM instance. After you finish installing the Oracle Grid Infrastructure software, start the Oracle ASM instance again.

If you choose to create a database during the installation, then most installation types configure and start a default Oracle Net listener using TCP/IP port 1521 and the IPC key value EXTPROC. However, if an existing Oracle Net listener process is using the same port or key value, Oracle Universal Installer looks for the next available free port (for example, 1522) and configures and starts the new listener on this available free port.

2.5.4 Oracle Advanced Security Requirements

Ensure that you meet the hardware and software requirements so that you can use authentication support with Oracle components.

2.5.5 Oracle Enterprise Manager Requirements

All Oracle Enterprise Manager products must belong to the same release. Older versions of Enterprise Manager are not supported with the new release.

2.5.6 Oracle-Managed Files Requirements

If you choose the Advanced database creation option, you can use the Oracle-managed files feature with the new database. If you use this feature, you need only specify the database object name instead of file names when creating or deleting database files. Configuration procedures are required to enable Oracle Managed Files.

2.5.7 Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC)

If you plan to install Oracle RAC, you must first install Oracle Clusterware.

2.5.8 Oracle Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Writer

Oracle Volume Shadow Copy Service Writer is supported on Windows Server operating systems. On Windows Server 2003 without Service Pack 1, you can have only one database on the system. With Service Pack 1 or higher, you can have multiple Oracle databases on the system.

2.5.9 Preinstallation Requirement for Oracle Database Vault

If you want to install Oracle Database Vault, then set the DB_BLOCK_SIZE initialization parameter to 4096 or larger. If the value is less than 4096, then you cannot change it. The only way to change the DB_BLOCK_SIZE value is by re-creating the database.