Install Oracle Database 23c on Rocky Linux 9

Alaric Bird

5 months ago

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Learn how to install Oracle Database 23c on Rocky Linux 9 with this comprehensive guide. Set up and configure Oracle Database for your development or production needs. #centlinux #linux #oracle

Introduction

Oracle Database 23c introduces new features and enhancements aimed at delivering powerful performance and scalability for a wide range of applications. For enterprises and developers, running Oracle Database 23c on Rocky Linux 9 provides a robust and open-source operating system with enterprise-level capabilities, making it an ideal environment for Oracle’s latest database offering.

This guide walks through each step needed to install Oracle Database 23c on Rocky Linux 9, covering prerequisites, configurations, and essential setup tasks to ensure a smooth installation.

What’s New in Oracle Database 23c?

Oracle Database 23c (also known as “Oracle 23c Free – Developer Release”) is designed to be the next long-term support release with a focus on developers, cloud-native applications, and operational efficiency. Here’s a list of key features and enhancements introduced in Oracle 23c:

1. Developer-Focused Features

JSON Relational Duality: A groundbreaking feature allowing the same data to be represented and accessed as both relational and JSON formats, enabling flexible application development without data duplication.
GraphQL Integration: Native support for GraphQL queries directly in the database, enabling developers to use GraphQL endpoints to query data efficiently.
SQL Domain Data Types: Introduction of domain-specific data types that simplify data modeling and enforce constraints at a higher level of abstraction.
JavaScript Stored Procedures: Support for writing stored procedures in JavaScript alongside PL/SQL, increasing flexibility for developers.
Property Graph Enhancements: Improved support for property graph queries, including faster performance and enhanced algorithms.
Microservices Support: Features for better integration with microservices architectures, such as streamlined data access APIs.

2. JSON and Document Store Enhancements

JSON Schema Validation: Validation of JSON documents against a defined schema for ensuring data integrity.
Enhanced JSON Data Processing: Improvements in JSON query performance and new SQL operators for JSON manipulation.

3. Database Architecture and Administration

Sharded Database Enhancements: Better management and performance for sharded architectures, including new tools for shard rebalancing and improved fault tolerance.
Autonomous Database Features: Continued innovation for Oracle Autonomous Database, focusing on auto-tuning, self-healing, and optimized storage management.
Data Pump Enhancements: New options for fine-grained control over data export and import processes.
Zero-Downtime Upgrades (ZDLRA): Enhancements in tools and processes for achieving zero-downtime database upgrades.

4. Security Features

Blockchain Tables Enhancements: More robust features for tamper-proof data storage with better performance and management capabilities.
Data Masking and Redaction: Enhanced support for dynamic masking and improved management of sensitive data.
Advanced Auditing Capabilities: More granular and performance-efficient auditing tools.

5. Performance and Storage

In-Memory Enhancements: Improvements in in-memory column store performance, including new compression algorithms and better analytics capabilities.
Persistent Memory (PMEM) Support: Expanded support for persistent memory storage, allowing faster access and reduced latency.
Hybrid Partitioning: Enhanced partitioning capabilities for hybrid data storage architectures, combining the best of block and object storage.

6. Cloud-Native Features

Kubernetes and Docker Support: Tight integration with Kubernetes and Docker for deploying Oracle databases in containerized environments.
Cloud SQL Enhancements: Features that improve SQL performance in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments.

7. AI and Machine Learning

Integrated Machine Learning Models: Enhanced support for training, deploying, and managing machine learning models directly in the database.
Python ML Integration: Better integration with Python libraries and frameworks for data science workflows.

8. Miscellaneous Enhancements

Temporal Validity Enhancements: Improvements to handling temporal data with better range queries and interval management.
Hybrid Columnar Compression (HCC) Enhancements: Improved compression algorithms for better storage efficiency.

Oracle 23c continues to evolve as a powerful platform for modern application development, cloud-native operations, and enterprise data management, solidifying Oracle’s place as a leader in the database market.

Prerequisites for Oracle Database 23c

Before beginning, ensure your Rocky Linux 9 server meets the following requirements:

Minimum Hardware Requirements:
Memory: 8 GB (16 GB recommended)
Disk Space: At least 30 GB for Oracle Database files
Processor: 64-bit compatible CPU
Software Requirements:
- Rocky Linux 9 (64-bit)
- yum package manager
- Essential packages like gcc, glibc, and other development tools
User Permissions:
- Root access for initial setup
- Non-root Oracle user for database management

Step 1: Prepare Rocky Linux 9 System for Oracle Installation

Update System Packages:

sudo yum update -y

Install Required Tools and Dependencies:

sudo yum install -y gcc make binutils glibc glibc-devel ksh libaio libaio-devel libX11 libX11-devel libXi libXtst libXtst-devel

Set a static hostname for your system:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname oracle-server

Step 2: Configure Kernel Parameters and System Limits

Oracle Database requires specific kernel parameters and system limits for optimal performance. Configure these by editing the sysctl.conf file.

Edit sysctl.conf:

sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

Add the Following Kernel Parameters:

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

Apply the New Settings:

sudo sysctl -p

Configure User Limits: Edit the limits file to define resource limits for the Oracle user:

sudo nano /etc/security/limits.conf

Add the following lines:

oracle   soft   nproc    2047
oracle   hard   nproc    16384
oracle   soft   nofile   1024
oracle   hard   nofile   65536
oracle   soft   stack    10240
oracle   hard   stack    32768

Step 3: Create Oracle User and Groups

Create Required Groups:

sudo groupadd -g 54321 oinstall
sudo groupadd -g 54322 dba

Create Oracle User and Set Group:

sudo useradd -u 54321 -g oinstall -G dba oracle

Set Password for Oracle User:

sudo passwd oracle

Step 4: Download Oracle Database 23c Software

Download Oracle 23c from Oracle’s Official Website:

Visit Oracle’s Download Center and download the Oracle Database 23c Linux 64-bit installation files.
Transfer these files to your Linux server, if downloaded on a different machine.

Extract the Oracle Installer: Place the installer in a directory like /home/oracle and extract it:

sudo mkdir -p /home/oracle/database
sudo tar -xzvf oracle-database-23c.tar.gz -C /home/oracle/database

Step 5: Install Oracle Preinstallation RPM Package

Oracle provides a preinstallation RPM that configures system settings for Oracle.

sudo yum install -y oracle-database-preinstall-23c

This RPM automates several kernel and user configurations, making the setup smoother.

Step 6: Configure Directory Structure for Oracle Installation

Create Oracle Base and Data Directories:

sudo mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/product/23c/dbhome_1
sudo chown -R oracle:oinstall /u01
sudo chmod -R 775 /u01

Step 7: Run the Oracle Database Installer

Switch to the Oracle User:

su - oracle

Navigate to Installation Directory and Start Installer:

cd /home/oracle/database
./runInstaller

Follow the Installation Wizard:

Choose options as prompted to complete the installation process.
During the installation, configure Oracle Listener and any other required settings.

Step 8: Configure Oracle Listener and Database Services

Once the installation completes, configure Oracle Listener to allow client connections.

Use netca to Configure the Listener:

netca

Start Oracle Services:

lsnrctl start

Step 9: Post-Installation Configuration

Set Environment Variables for Oracle User:

echo "export ORACLE_BASE=/u01/app/oracle" >> ~/.bash_profile
echo "export ORACLE_HOME=\$ORACLE_BASE/product/23c/dbhome_1" >> ~/.bash_profile
echo "export PATH=\$PATH:\$ORACLE_HOME/bin" >> ~/.bash_profile
source ~/.bash_profile

Start SQL*Plus to verify installation:

sqlplus / as sysdba

Check database status.

SELECT STATUS FROM V$INSTANCE;

Recommended Training: Oracle 11gR2 RAC – Quick 2-node RAC Deployment Guide from Arun Kumar.

Step 10: Enable Oracle Services on Boot

To guarantee that the Oracle database is properly configured to automatically start and run seamlessly every time your system is powered on or rebooted, ensuring its availability and readiness for use:

sudo systemctl enable oracle.service

Conclusion

Installing Oracle Database 23c on Rocky Linux 9 involves a comprehensive, step-by-step process that, when followed carefully, results in a stable, efficient, and production-ready database environment. This installation not only lays the foundation for high-performance data management but also ensures compatibility with modern enterprise workloads.

Once the setup is complete, it’s highly recommended to consult Oracle’s official documentation to explore advanced configuration options, performance tuning best practices, and maintenance strategies to fully optimize your database deployment.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can I verify that Oracle 23c is running?
Use ps -ef | grep pmon to check for Oracle background processes.

2. How do I configure Oracle to start automatically on reboot?
Configure the oracle.service file and enable it via systemctl.

3. What should I do if I encounter memory errors during installation?
Check limits.conf and kernel parameters for correct values.

4. Can I use Oracle Database 23c for production on Rocky Linux 9?
Yes, but ensure to follow Oracle’s guidelines for production environments.

5. Is Oracle Database 23c compatible with older versions of Linux?
Compatibility is highest with modern distributions; consult Oracle’s requirements for older systems.

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