B Installing and Configuring Oracle Products Using Response Files

Introduction

You can automate the installation and configuration of Oracle software, either fully or partially, by specifying a response file when you start the Oracle Universal Installer. The Installer uses the values contained in the response file to provide answers to some or all of the Installer prompts:

• If you include responses for all of the prompts in the response file and specify the -silent option when starting the Installer, then the Installer runs in silent mode. During a silent-mode installation, the Installer does not display any screens. Instead, it displays progress information in the terminal that you used to start it.

• If you include responses for some or all of the prompts in the response file and omit the -silent option, then the Installer runs in suppressed mode. During a suppressed-mode installation, the Installer displays only the screens for which you did not specify all required information. You can also use variables in the response file or command-line options to suppress other installer screens, such as the Welcome screen or Summary screen, that do not prompt for information.

The following table describes several reasons why you might want to run the Installer in silent mode or suppressed mode:

Create the oraInst.loc File

If you plan to install Oracle products using the Installer in silent or suppressed mode, you must manually create the oraInst.loc file if it does not already exist. This file specifies the location of the Oracle Inventory directory where the Installer creates the inventory of Oracle products installed on the system.

To create the oraInst.loc file, follow these steps:

1. Switch user to root:

   $ su - root
   
   

2. Change directory as follows:

   • # cd /etc
     

3. Use a text editor to create the oraInst.loc file, containing the following lines:

   inventory_loc=ORACLE_BASE/oraInventory
   inst_group=
   
   

   In this example, ORACLE_BASE is the path of the Oracle base directory, for example, /01/app/oracle.

4. Enter the following commands to set the appropriate owner, group, and permissions on the oraInst.loc file:

   # chown oracle:oinstall oraInst.loc
   # chmod 664 oraInst.loc
   

Prepare a Response File

There are two methods that you can use to prepare a response file for use during silent-mode or suppressed-mode installations:

• Edit a response file template

  This method is most useful for the Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition installation types.

• Record a response file using the Installer

  This method is most useful for Custom or software-only installations.

The following subsections describe each method.

Editing a Response File Template

Oracle provides response file templates for each product and installation type, and for each configuration tool. These files are located in the response directory on the CD-ROM or the db/response directory on the DVD-ROM.

Table B-1 lists the response files provided with Oracle Database.

To prepare a response file:

1. Copy the response file from the response file directory to a directory on your system:

   $ cp /directory_path/response/response_file.rsp local_directory
   
   

   In this example, directory_path is the CD-ROM mount point directory or the dbdirectory on the DVD-ROM. If you have copied the software to a hard drive, you can edit the file in the response directory if you prefer.

2. Open the response file in a text editor:

   $ vi /local_dir/response_file.rsp
   
   

3. Edit the file, following the instructions in the file.

   
   

   Note: The Installer or configuration assistant fails if you do not correctly configure the response file. See "Silent-Mode Response File Error Handling" for more information about troubleshooting a failed silent-mode installation.

   
   

4. Change the permissions on the file to 700:

   $ chmod 700 /local_dir/response_file.rsp
   
   

   
   

   Caution: A fully specified response file for an Oracle Database installation contains the passwords for database administrative accounts and for a user that is a member of the OSDBA group (required for automated backups). Make sure that only the Oracle software owner user can view or modify response files or consider deleting them after the installation succeeds.

   
   

Recording a Response File

You can use the Installer in interactive mode to record a response file that you can edit and then use to complete silent-mode or suppressed-mode installations. When you are recording the response file, you can either complete the installation, or you can exit from the Installer on the Summary page, before it starts to copy the software to the system.

To record a new response file:

1. Complete the pre-installation tasks listed in Chapter 2.

   When you run the Installer to record a response file, it checks the system to verify that it meets the requirements to install the software. For this reason, Oracle recommends that you complete all of the required pre-installation tasks and record the response file while completing an installation.

2. If you have not installed Oracle software on this system previously, create the oraInst.loc file, as described in the previous section.

3. Make sure that the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle) has permissions to create or write to the Oracle home path that you will specify when you run the Installer.

4. To record a response file, enter a command similar to the following to start the Installer:

   
   

   Note: Do not specify a relative path to the response file. If you specify a relative path, the Oracle Universal Installer fails.

   
   

   $ /directory_path/runInstaller -record -destinationFile filename
   
   

   In the previous example:

   • directory_path is either the CD-ROM mount point directory, the path of the dbdirectory on the DVD-ROM, or the path of the Disk1 directory on the hard drive

   • The -record parameter specifies that you want to record the responses that you enter in a response file

   • filename is the full path and file name of the response file that you want to record

5. On each Installer screen, specify the required information.

6. When the Installer displays the Summary screen, do one of the following:

   • Click Install to create the response file, then continue with the installation.

   • Click Cancel, then Yes to create the response file but exit from the Installer without installing the software.

   The response file is saved in the location that you specified using the -destinationFile option.

7. If you did not complete the installation, delete the Oracle home directory that the Installer created using the path you specified on the Specify File Locations screen.

8. Before using the recorded response file on another system, use any text editor to edit the file and make any required changes.

   Use the comments in the file as a guide when editing it.

Run the Installer in Silent or Suppressed Mode

To run the Oracle Universal Installer in silent or suppressed mode, follow these steps:

1. Complete the pre-installation tasks listed in Chapter 2.

2. Log in as the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle).

3. If you are completing a suppressed-mode installation, set the DISPLAY environment variable.

   
   

   Note: You do not have to set the DISPLAY environment variable if you are completing a silent-mode installation.

   
   

4. To start the Installer in silent or suppressed mode, enter a command similar to the following:

   
   

   Note: Do not specify a relative path to the response file. If you specify a relative path, the Oracle Universal Installer fails.

   
   

   • $ /directory_path/runInstaller [-silent] -responseFile filename
     
     

   In the these examples:

   • directory_path is either the CD-ROM mount point directory, the path of the dbdirectory on the DVD-ROM, or the path of the Disk1 directory on the hard drive

   • The -silent option indicates that you want to run the Installer in silent mode

   • filename is the full path and filename of the installation response file that you configured

   
   

   Note: For more information about other options for the runInstaller command, enter the following command: $ /directory_path/runInstaller -help

   
   

5. When the installation completes, log in as the root user and run the root.sh script:

   $ su
   # /oracle_home_path/root.sh
   
   

Run NetCA in Silent Mode

You can run NetCA in silent mode to configure and start an Oracle Net listener on your system, configure naming methods, and configure Oracle Net service names. To run NetCA in silent mode, you must copy and edit a response file template. Oracle provides a response file template named netca.resp in the response directory on the CD-ROM or in the db/response directory on the DVD-ROM.

To run NetCA in silent mode, follow these steps:

1. Copy the netca.rsp response file template from the response file directory to a directory on your system:

   $ cp /directory_path/response/netca.rsp local_directory
   
   

   In this example, directory_path is the CD-ROM mount point directory or the db directory on the DVD-ROM. If you have copied the software to a hard drive, you can edit the file in the response directory if you prefer.

2. Open the response file in a text editor:

   $ vi /local_dir/netca.rsp
   
   

3. Edit the file, following the instructions in the file.

   
   

   Note: NetCA fails if you do not correctly configure the response file.

   
   

4. Log in as the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle) and set the ORACLE_HOME environment variable to specify the correct Oracle home directory.

5. Enter a command similar to the following to run NetCA in silent mode:

   $ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/netca /silent /responsefile=/local_dir/netca.rsp
   
   

   In this example:

   • The /silent option indicates that you want to run NetCA in silent mode

   • local_dir is the full path of the directory where you copied the netca.rsp response file template

Run DBCA in Non-interactive or Silent Mode

You can run DBCA in non-interactive or silent mode to configure and start an Oracle Database on your system. To run DBCA in non-interactive or silent mode, you must copy and edit a response file template. Oracle provides a response file template named dbca.resp in the response directory on the CD-ROM or in the db/response directory on the DVD-ROM.

Using DBCA in Non-interactive Mode

In non-interactive mode, DBCA uses values that you specify, in the response file or as command line options, to create a database. As it configures and starts the database, it displays a window that contains status messages and a progress bar. The window that it displays is the same window that is displayed when you choose to create a preconfigured database during an Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition installation.

To run DBCA in non-interactive mode, you must use a graphical display and set the DISPLAY environment variable.

Using DBCA in Silent Mode

In silent mode, DBCA uses values that you specify, in the response file or as command line options, to create a database. DBCA does not display any screens or information while it creates the database.

Running DBCA in Non-interactive or Silent Mode

To run DBCA in non-interactive or silent mode, follow these steps:

$ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca -help

1. Copy the dbca.rsp response file template from the response file directory to a directory on your system:

   $ cp /directory_path/response/dbca.rsp local_directory
   
   

   In this example, directory_path is the CD-ROM mount point directory or the db directory on the DVD-ROM. If you have copied the software to a hard drive, you can edit the file in the response directory if you prefer.

2. Open the response file in a text editor:

   $ vi /local_dir/dbca.rsp
   
   

3. Edit the file, following the instructions in the file.

   
   

   Note: DBCA fails if you do not correctly configure the response file.

   
   

4. Log in as the Oracle software owner user (typically oracle) and set the ORACLE_HOME environment variable to specify the correct Oracle home directory.

5. If you intend running DBCA in non-interactive mode, set the DISPLAY environment variable.

6. Enter a command similar to the following to run DBCA in non-interactive or silent mode with a response file:

   $ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca {-progressOnly | -silent} [-cloneTemplate] \
    [-datafileDestination /datafilepath] -responseFile /local_dir/dbca.rsp
   
   

   In this example:

   • The -silent option indicates that you want to run DBCA in silent mode

   • The -progressOnly option indicates that you want to run DBCA in non-interactive mode

   • The -cloneTemplate option is required if you want to create one of the following preconfigured databases:

     • General Purpose

     • Transaction Processing

     • Data Warehouse

   • -datafileDestination specifies the parent directory where you want to create the database files. If you do not specify this option, the parent directory for database files is the $ORACLE_BASE/oradata directory if the ORACLE_BASE environment variable is set, or the $ORACLE_HOME/oradata directory if ORACLE_BASE is not set.

   • local_dir is the full path of the directory where you copied the dbca.rsp response file template