Skip Headers

Oracle® Database Installation Guide
10g Release 1 (10.1.0.2.0) for Windows
Part No. B10130-02
  Go To Table Of Contents
Contents
Go To Index
Index

Previous Next  

2 Oracle Database Preinstallation Requirements

This chapter describes installation requirements for a 32-bit Windows installation of Oracle Database.

This chapter contains these topics:

2.1 Oracle Database Hardware Requirements

This section describes hardware component and hard disk space requirements.

2.1.1 Hardware Component Requirements

The following hardware components are required for Oracle Database:

  • RAM: 256 MB minimum, 512 MB recommended

  • Virtual memory: double the amount of RAM

  • Hard disk space: See Table 2-1

  • Temp disk space: 100 MB

  • Video adapter: 256 color

  • Processor: 200 MHz minimum

2.1.2 Hard Disk Space Requirements

This section lists system requirements for NT File System (NTFS) file systems. Oracle recommends installing Oracle components on NTFS.

The NTFS system requirements listed in this section are more accurate than the hard disk values reported by the Oracle Universal Installer Summary screen. The Summary screen 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 required 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 2-1 lists the space requirements for NTFS. The starter database requires 720 MB of disk space. The figures in this table include the starter database. FAT32 space requirements are slightly larger.

Table 2-1 Hard Disk Space Requirements for NTFS

Installation Type System Drive Oracle Home Drive
Basic Installation 100 MB 1.5 GB
Advanced Installation: Enterprise Edition 100 MB 1.5 GB
Advanced Installation: Standard Edition 100 MB 1.4 GB
Advanced Installation: Personal Edition 100 MB 1.5 GB


See Also:

"NTFS File System and Windows Registry Permissions" in Oracle Database Platform Guide for Windows

2.1.3 Verifying Hardware Requirements

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

  1. Determine the physical RAM size. For a computer using Windows 2000, for example, open System in the control panel and select the General tab. 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 swap space (also known as paging file size). For a computer using Windows 2000, for example, open System in the control panel, select the Advanced tab, and click Performance Options.

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

  3. Determine the amount of free disk space on the system. For a computer using Windows 2000, for example, open My Computer, right-click the drive where the Oracle software is to be installed, and choose Properties.

  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 will be needed for the Oracle software to be installed.

    If there is less than 100 MB of disk space available in the temp directory, then first delete all unnecessary files. If the temp disk space is still less than 100 MB, then set the TEMP or TMP environment variable to point to a different hard drive. For a computer using Windows 2000, for example, open the System control panel, select the Advanced tab, and click Environment Variables.

2.2 Oracle Database Software Requirements

Table 2-2 lists the software requirements for Oracle Database.

Table 2-2 Software Requirements

Requirement Value
System Architecture 32-bit

Note: Oracle provides both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Oracle Database for Windows. Currently, the 32-bit version of the database must run on the 32-bit version of the operating system. The 64-bit version of the database must run on the 64-bit version of the operating system.

Operating System Oracle Database for Windows is supported on the following operating systems:
  • Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition 4.0, and Terminal Server Edition with service pack 6a or higher are supported. Windows NT Workstation is no longer supported.

  • Windows 2000 with service pack 1 or higher. All editions, including Terminal Services and Windows 2000 MultiLanguage Edition (MLE), are supported.

  • Windows Server 2003

  • Windows XP Professional

Windows Multilingual User Interface Pack is supported on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003.

Compiler ACUCOBOL-GT for Pro*COBOL compiler version 6.0.0 is supported.

Pro*COBOL supports the Micro Focus Net Express compiler. Object Oriented COBOL (OOCOBOL) specifications are not supported.

The following components are not supported with the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2002, and Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2003 compilers:

  • Oracle C++ Call Interface

  • Oracle Call Interface

  • External callouts

  • PL/SQL native compilation

  • XDK

Network Protocol The Oracle Net foundation layer uses Oracle protocol support to communicate with the following industry-standard network protocols:
  • TCP/IP

  • TCP/IP with SSL

  • Named Pipes


2.3 Oracle Database Hardware and Software Certification

The platform-specific hardware and software requirements included in this installation guide were current at the time this guide was published. However, because new platforms and operating system software versions might be certified after this guide is published, review the certification matrix on the OracleMetaLink Web site for the most up-to-date list of certified hardware platforms and operating system versions. This Web site also provides compatible client and database versions, patches, and workaround information for bugs. The OracleMetaLink Web site is available at the following URL:

http://metalink.oracle.com/

You must register online before using OracleMetaLink. After logging in, select Certify & Availability from the left-hand column. From the Product Lifecycle page, select the Certifications button. Other Product Lifecycle options include Product Availability, Desupport Notices, and Alerts.

The following sections list the following certification information:

2.3.1 Windows Telnet Services Support

Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 include a Telnet Service that allows remote users to log on to the operating system and run console programs using the command line. Oracle supports database command line utilities such as sqlplus, sqlldr, import, and export using this feature, but does not support the database GUI tools such as Oracle Universal Installer, Database Configuration Assistant, and Oracle Net Configuration Assistant.


Note:

Ensure that the Telnet service is started on the Services control panel.

2.3.2 Windows Terminal Services and Remote Desktop Support

Oracle supports installing, configuring, and running Oracle Database through Terminal Services, on Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Server 2003. If you encounter problems with the installation through Terminal Server, Oracle recommends that you try connecting to the Terminal Services console session of the server (using mstsc/console).

Platform-specific support information is as follows:

  • Windows 2000: Oracle supports installing, configuring, and running Oracle Database from a remote Terminal Services Client.

  • Windows XP: The Remote Desktop is only available in Single User Mode.

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

The following products and features are not supported with Windows Terminal Services:

  • Oracle Connection a Manager

  • Oracle Object Link Manager

  • Oracle Services for Microsoft Transaction Server

  • Server Management (SRVM)


See Also:


2.3.3 Windows Support

The following components are not certified on Windows XP:

  • DCE Adapter Support

  • Entrust PKI Support

  • Generic Connectivity

  • Oracle Enterprise Integration Gateways, which include the following:

    • Procedural Gateway for APPC

    • Transparent Gateway for IBM DRDA

  • Oracle Messaging Gateway

  • Oracle Open System Gateways, which include the following:

    • Transparent Gateway for Sybase

    • Transparent Gateway for Teradata

    • Transparent Gateway for Microsoft SQL Server

  • Oracle Real Application Clusters, including Cluster File System and Server Management

  • nCipher Accelerator Support

2.3.4 Web Browser Support

The following Web browsers are supported for iSQL*Plus and Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control:

  • Netscape Navigator 7.0 and higher

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, 6.0, and higher with service pack 1

  • Mozilla version 1.3.1 and higher

2.4 Oracle Database Network Topics

Typically, the computer on which you want to install Oracle Database is connected to the network, has local storage to contain the Oracle Database installation, has a display monitor, and has a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

This section describes how to install Oracle Database on computers that do not meet the typical scenario. It covers the following cases:

This section covers these topics:

2.4.1 Installing 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 need to install a loopback adapter to assign a local IP address to that computer.

2.4.2 Installing on Multihomed Computers

If you are installing Oracle Database on a computer that has multiple network cards, Oracle Universal Installer uses the first name in the \etc\hosts file. You may need to re-order the lines in this file so the desired hostname appears first. You can change the file back to its original state after installation.

A multihomed computer is associated with multiple IP addresses. This is typically achieved by having multiple network cards on the computer. Each IP address is associated with a hostname; additionally, you can set up aliases for the hostname.

When you install Oracle Database on a multihomed computer, Oracle Universal Installer configures Oracle Database to use the hostname and IP address on the primary network adapter.

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

You can determine the primary hostname and IP address by running the hostname and ipconfig commands. For example:

prompt> hostname
test-pc2

prompt> ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : us.mycompany.com
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 139.185.140.166
    Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 139.185.140.1

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
    Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

If the primary adapter is not the one you want to use for Oracle Database, you need to make the network adapter that you want to use for Oracle Database to be the primary network adapter.


See Also:

"Installing a Loopback Adapter" for how Windows determines the primary adapter

2.4.3 Installing on Computers with Multiple Aliases

A computer with multiple aliases is registered with the naming service under a single IP but with multiple aliases. The naming service resolves any of those aliases to the same computer.

Before installing Oracle Database on such a computer, you must:

  • Install a loopback adapter on the computer.

  • Make sure the loopback adapter is the primary network adapter.

The loopback adapter ensures that when Oracle Database queries for the hostname, it always gets the same name because the queries are run locally. Without the loopback adapter, the queries can return any of the aliases for the computer because the queries get the response from the naming service.


See Also:

"Installing a Loopback Adapter" for how Windows determines the primary adapter and how to install the loopback adapter

2.4.4 Installing on Non-Networked 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 and hostname.

  2. Ping the computer from itself, using only the hostname and using the fully qualified name, which should be in the etc\host file.

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

    prompt> ping mycomputer                Ping itself using just the hostname.
    Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.
    prompt> 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 (the IP of the loopback adapter).

    If ping fails, contact your network administrator.

Connecting the Computer to the Network after Installation

If you connect the computer to a network after installation, your 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 for your computer. After you install a loopback adapter on your computer, you have at least two network adapters on your computer: your own network adapter and the loopback adapter. Oracle Database needs to have Windows using the loopback adapter as the primary adapter.

The primary adapter is determined by the order in which you installed the adapters:

  • On Windows NT, the primary adapter is the first adapter installed. This means that you have to install the loopback adapter, deinstall your network adapter, and reinstall the network adapter.

  • On Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP, the primary adapter is the last adapter installed. If you install additional network adapters after you install the loopback adapter, you need to deinstall the loopback adapter and reinstall it.

A loopback adapter is required if:

The procedure for installing a loopback adapter depends on the version of Windows on which you plan to install Oracle Database:

2.4.5.1 Checking if a Loopback Adapter Is Installed on Your Computer

To check if a loopback adapter is installed on your computer, run the ipconfig /all command:

prompt> ipconfig /all

If there is a loopback adapter installed, you would see a section that lists the values for the loopback adapter. For example:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
  Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
  Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Loopback Adapter
  Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-4C-4F-4F-50
  DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
  Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
  Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.25.129
  Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0

2.4.5.2 Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows NT

Installing a loopback adapter on Windows NT is more complicated than on other Windows platforms because Windows NT reports on the first network adapter installed. Since your DHCP computer already has a network adapter, you need to remove it and reinstall it later so that the loopback adapter becomes the first network adapter installed. This section describes how to do this in these subsections:

High-Level Steps

The high-level steps to install a loopback adapter on Windows NT are:

  1. Collect information for the existing network adapter on your computer.

    You need to perform this step because you must remove the existing network adapter and reinstall it.

  2. Install the loopback adapter.

  3. Remove the existing network adapter.

  4. Finish configuring the loopback adapter.

  5. Restart the computer.

  6. Reinstall the network adapter.

  7. Restart the computer.

Requirements

To install a loopback adapter on Windows NT, you need the following items:

  • Windows NT Installation CD-ROM, so you can install the loopback adapter.

  • Drivers for your network adapters when you reinstall the network adapters.

Detailed Steps

  1. Collect information for your existing network adapter so that you can reinstall it. Typically you need the following pieces of information:

    Table 2-3 Information for Your Existing Network Adapter

    Item Where to Get Its Value
    IP address Network control panel, Adapter tab. Select the network adapter, then click Properties.
    Subnet mask Network control panel, Protocols tab. Select TCP/IP, then click Properties. In the Properties dialog, select the IP Address tab and click Advanced.
    WINS Server address Network control panel, Protocols tab. Select TCP/IP, then click Properties. In the Properties dialog, select the WINS Address tab.
    DNS Server address Network control panel, Protocols tab. Select TCP/IP, then click Properties. In the Properties dialog, select the DNS tab.

  2. Insert the Windows NT Installation CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.

  3. Right-click Network Neighborhood on the desktop, and choose Properties. This displays the Network control panel.

  4. Select the Adapters tab.

  5. Click Add.

  6. Select MS Loopback Adapter and click OK.

  7. In the MS Loopback Adapter Card Setup dialog, click OK to accept the default frame type (the default value is 802.3).

  8. Enter the location of your Windows NT CD-ROM (for example, E:\i386) and click Continue.

    When the loopback adapter is installed, Windows NT displays the Network control panel showing all the network adapters (Figure 2-1).

    Figure 2-1 Network Control Panel Showing the Loopback Adapter

    Description of network_nt.gif follows
    Description of the illustration network_nt.gif

  9. In the Network control panel, delete the network adapters that were installed before the loopback adapter. Select the network adapter and click Remove.

    You must do this because you need the loopback adapter to be the first network adapter. In the example, you would delete the Intel network adapter. You will reinstall it later.

  10. Click Close in the Network control panel. This displays the Microsoft TCP/IP Properties dialog (Figure 2-2).

  11. In the Microsoft TCP/IP Properties dialog, select MS Loopback Adapter, and do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

      • 192.168.x.x (x is any value between 1 and 255)

      • 10.10.10.10

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Leave all other fields empty.

    4. Click OK.

    Figure 2-2 TCP/IP Properties Dialog Showing Values for the Loopback Adapter

    Description of tcpip_nt.gif follows
    Description of the illustration tcpip_nt.gif

  12. Restart your computer.

  13. When the computer comes back up, reinstall your real network adapter.

  14. Restart the computer again.

2.4.5.3 Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows 2000

Windows 2000 reports on the last network adapter installed. This means that if you install additional network adapters after you install the loopback adapter, you need to remove and reinstall the loopback adapter. The loopback adapter must be the last network adapter installed on the computer.

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 2000:

  1. From the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Add/Remove Hardware. This starts up the Add/Remove Hardware wizard.

  3. In the Welcome page, click Next.

  4. In the Choose a Hardware Task page, select Add/Troubleshoot a device, and click Next.

  5. In the Choose a Hardware Device page, select Add a new device, and click Next.

  6. In the Find New Hardware page, select No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and click Next.

  7. In the Hardware Type page, select Network adapters, and click Next.

  8. In the Select Network Adapter page, do the following:

    1. Manufacturers: Select Microsoft.

    2. Network Adapter: Select Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

    3. Click Next.

  9. In the Start Hardware Installation page, click Next.

  10. In the Completing the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard page, click Finish.

  11. Right-click My Network Places on the desktop and choose Properties. This displays the Network and Dial-up Connections control panel.

  12. Right-click the connection that was just created. This is usually "Local Area Connection 2". Choose Properties.

  13. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click Properties.

  14. In the Properties dialog (Figure 2-3), do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

      • 192.168.x.x (x is any value between 1 and 255)

      • 10.10.10.10

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Leave all other fields empty.

    4. Click OK.

    Figure 2-3 Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties Dialog Showing Values for the Loopback Adapter

    Description of tcpip_2000.gif follows
    Description of the illustration tcpip_2000.gif

  15. Click OK in the Local Area Connection 2 Properties dialog.

  16. Restart the computer.

  17. Add a line to the C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with the following format, right after the localhost line:

    IP_address   hostname.domainname   hostname
    
    

    where:

    • IP_address is the non-routable IP address you entered in step 14.

    • hostname is the name of the computer.

    • domainname is the name of the domain.

    For example:

    10.10.10.10   mycomputer.mydomain.com   mycomputer
    
    
  18. Check the network configuration:

    1. Open the System control panel, and select the Network Identification tab.

      In Full computer name, make sure you see the hostname and the domain name (Figure 2-4).

      Figure 2-4 System Control Panel, Network Identification Tab

      Description of checknetwork_computername1.gif follows
      Description of the illustration checknetwork_computername1.gif

    2. Click Properties.

      In Computer name, you should see the hostname, and in Full computer name, you should see the hostname and domain name (Figure 2-5).

      Figure 2-5 Identification Changes Dialog

      Description of checknetwork_computername2.gif follows
      Description of the illustration checknetwork_computername2.gif

    3. Click More. In Primary DNS suffix of this computer, the domain name should appear (Figure 2-6).

      Figure 2-6 DNS Suffix and NetBIOS Computer Name Dialog

      Description of checknetwork_dns_suffix.gif follows
      Description of the illustration checknetwork_dns_suffix.gif

2.4.5.4 Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows 2003 or Windows XP

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 2003 or Windows XP:

  1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Add Hardware to start the Add Hardware wizard.

  3. On the Welcome screen, click Next.

  4. On the Is the hardware connected? screen, select Yes, I have already connected the hardware, and click Next.

  5. On the The following hardware is already installed on your computer screen, select Add a new hardware device, and click Next.

  6. On the The wizard can help you install other hardware screen, select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and click Next.

  7. From the list, select the type of hardware you are installing screen, select Network adapters, and click Next.

  8. On the Select Network Adapter screen, make the following selections:

    • Manufacturer: select Microsoft.

    • Network Adapter: select Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

  9. Click Next.

  10. On the The wizard is ready to install your hardware screen, click Next.

  11. On the Completing the Add Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish.

  12. If you are using Windows 2003, restart your computer.

  13. Right-click My Network Places on the desktop and choose Properties. This displays the Network Connections control panel.

  14. Right-click the connection that was just created. This is usually named "Local Area Connection 2". Choose Properties.

  15. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click Properties.

  16. In the Properties dialog, do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

      • 192.168.x.x (x is any value between 1 and 255)

      • 10.10.10.10

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Leave all other fields empty.

    4. Click OK.

  17. Click OK.

  18. Click OK in the Local Area Connection 2 Properties dialog.

  19. Restart the computer.

  20. Add a line to the C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with the following format, after the localhost line:

    IP_address   hostname.domainname   hostname
    
    

    where:

    • IP_address is the non-routable IP address you entered in step 16.

    • hostname is the name of the computer.

    • domainname is the name of the domain.

    For example:

    10.10.10.10   mycomputer.mydomain.com   mycomputer
    
    
  21. Check the network configuration:

    1. Open System Properties, and select the Computer Name tab. In Full computer name, make sure you see the hostname and the domain name.

    2. Click Change. In Computer name, you should see the hostname, and in Full computer name, you should see the hostname and domain name.

    3. Click More. In Primary DNS suffix of this computer, you should see the domain name.

2.4.5.5 Removing a Loopback Adapter from Windows NT

To remove the loopback adapter from Windows NT:

  1. From the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Network.

  3. Select the Adapters tab.

  4. Select MS Loopback Adapter and click Remove.

  5. Restart your computer.

2.4.5.6 Removing a Loopback Adapter from Windows 2000, 2003, or XP

To remove the loopback adapter from Windows 2000, Windows 2003, or Windows XP:

  1. Display the System control panel.

    • Windows 2000: From the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel, and then double-click System.

    • Windows 2003: From the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel, then System.

    • Windows XP: From the Start menu, select Control Panel, then double-click System.

  2. In the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.

  3. In the Device Manager window, expand Network adapters. You should see Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

  4. Right-click Microsoft Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

2.5 Individual Component Requirements

This section contains these topics:

2.5.1 Configuring Disk Storage for Oracle Datafiles and Recovery Files

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


Note:

You do not have to use the same storage option for each type of file.

Choosing a Storage Option for Oracle Datafiles

If you want to create a database during the installation, you must choose one of the following storage options for the datafiles:

  • File system

  • Automatic Storage Management

  • Raw Devices

Choosing a Storage Option for Oracle Database Recovery Files

If you want to enable automated backups during the installation, you must choose one of the following storage options for recovery files (the flash recovery area):

  • File system

  • Automatic Storage Management

The storage option that you choose for recovery files can be the same as or different to the option you choose for the datafiles.

Configuring Disk Storage

For more information about these options, see the "Database Storage Options" section. For information about how to configure disk storage before you start the installation, see one of the following sections depending on your choice:

2.5.2 Creating Directories for Oracle Datafiles 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 Datafiles on a File System

  • You can choose either a single file system or more than one file system to store the datafiles:

    • If you want to use a single file system, choose a file system on a physical device that is dedicated to the database.

      For best performance and reliability, choose a RAID device or a logical volume on more than one physical device and implement the stripe-and-mirror-everything (SAME) methodology.

    • If you want to use more than one file system, choose file systems on separate physical devices that are dedicated to the database.

      Select this method to enable distribute physical I/O and create separate control files on different devices for increased reliability. It also enables full implement the Optimal Flexible Architecture guidelines described in Appendix B, "Optimal Flexible Architecture". You must choose either the Advanced database creation option or the Custom installation type during the installation to implement this method.

  • If you intend to create a preconfigured database during the installation, the file system (or file systems) that you choose must have at least 1.2 GB of free disk space.

    For production databases, you must estimate the disk space requirement depending on the use you want to make of the database.

  • For optimum performance, the file systems that you choose should be on physical devices that are used only by the database.

  • The default location suggested by Oracle Universal Installer for the database file directory is a subdirectory of the Oracle base directory. However, this default location is not recommended for production databases.

Guidelines for Placing Oracle Recovery Files on a File System


Note:

You must choose a location for recovery files only if you intend to enable automated backups during the installation.

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

  • To prevent disk failure from making both the datafiles and the recovery files unavailable, place the recovery files in a file system on a different physical disk from the datafiles.


    Note:

    Alternatively use an Automatic Storage Management disk group with a normal or high redundancy level for either or both file types.

  • The file system that you choose should have at least 2 GB of free disk space.

    The disk space requirement is the default disk quota configured for the flash recovery area (specified by the DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE initialization parameter).

    If you choose the Custom installation type or the Advanced database configuration option, you can specify a different disk quota value. After you create the database, you can also use Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control or Database Control to specify a different value.


    See Also:

    Oracle Backup and Recovery Basics for more information about the flash recovery area

    For more information about sizing the flash recovery area, see Oracle Backup and Recovery Basics.

  • The default location suggested by Oracle Universal Installer for the database file directory is a subdirectory of the Oracle base directory. However, this default location is not recommended for production databases.

Creating Required Directories


Note:

You must complete this procedure only if you want to place the Oracle database or recovery files on a separate file system to the Oracle base directory.

To create directories for the Oracle database or recovery files on separate file systems to the Oracle base directory, follow these steps:

  1. Use Windows Explorer to determine the free disk space on the file system.

  2. From the display, identify the file systems that you want to use:

    File Type File System Requirements
    Datafiles Choose either:
    • A single file system with at least 1.2 GB of free disk space.

    • Two or more file systems with at least 1.2 GB of free disk space in total.

    Recovery files Choose a file system with at least 2 GB of free disk space.

    If you are using the same file system for more than one type of file, add the disk space requirements for each type to determine the total disk space requirement.

  3. Note the names of the directories for the file systems that you identified.

  4. If you also want to use Automatic Storage Management or raw devices for storage, see one of the following sections:

    Otherwise see the "Stopping Existing Oracle Services" section.

2.5.3 Configuring Disks for Automatic Storage Management

This section describes how to configure disks for use with Automatic Storage Management. Before you configure the disks, you must determine the number of disks and the amount of free disk space that you require.

The following sections describe how to identify the requirements and configure the disks:

2.5.3.1 Identifying Storage Requirements for Automatic Storage Management

To identify the storage requirements for using Automatic Storage Management, you must determine how many devices and the amount of free disk space that you require. To complete this task, follow these steps:

  1. Determine whether you want to use Automatic Storage Management for Oracle datafiles, recovery files, or both.


    Note:

    You do not have to use the same storage mechanism for datafiles and recovery files. One can use the file system, while the other uses Automatic Storage Management.

    If you enable automated backups during the installation, you can choose Automatic Storage Management as the storage mechanism for recovery files by specifying an Automatic Storage Management disk group for the flash recovery area. Depending how you choose to create a database during the installation, you have the following options:

    • If you select an installation method that runs Database Configuration Assistant in interactive mode, by choosing the Advanced database configuration option for example, you can decide whether you want to use the same Automatic Storage Management disk group for datafiles and recovery files, or you can choose to use different disk groups for each file type.

      The same choice is available to you if you use Database Configuration Assistant after the installation to create a database.

    • If you select an installation type that runs Database Configuration Assistant in non-interactive mode, you must use the same Automatic Storage Management disk group for datafiles and recovery files.

  2. Choose the Automatic Storage Management redundancy level that you want to use for the Automatic Storage Management disk group.

    The redundancy level that you choose for the Automatic Storage Management disk group determines how Automatic Storage Management mirrors files in the disk group and determines the number of disks and amount of disk space that you require, as follows:

    • External redundancy

      An external redundancy disk group requires a minimum of one disk device. The effective disk space in an external redundancy disk group is the sum of the disk space in all of its devices.

      Because Automatic Storage Management does not mirror data in an external redundancy disk group, Oracle recommends that you use only RAID or similar devices that provide their own data protection mechanisms as disk devices in this type of disk group.

    • Normal redundancy

      In a normal redundancy disk group, Automatic Storage Management uses two-way mirroring by default, to increase performance and reliability. A normal redundancy disk group requires a minimum of two disk devices (or two failure groups). The effective disk space in a normal redundancy disk group is half the sum of the disk space in all of its devices.

      For most installations, Oracle recommends that you use normal redundancy disk groups.

    • High redundancy

      In a high redundancy disk group, Automatic Storage Management uses three-way mirroring to increase performance and provide the highest level of reliability. A high redundancy disk group requires a minimum of three disk devices (or three failure groups). The effective disk space in a high redundancy disk group is one-third the sum of the disk space in all of its devices.

      While high redundancy disk groups do provide a high level of data protection, you must consider the higher cost of additional storage devices before deciding to use this redundancy level.

  3. Determine the total amount of disk space that you require for the datafiles and recovery files.

    Use the following table to determine the minimum number of disks and the minimum disk space requirements for the installation:

    Redundancy Level Minimum Number of Disks Datafiles Recovery FIles Both File Types
    External 1 1.15 GB 2.3 GB 3.45 GB
    Normal 2 2.3 GB 4.6 GB 6.9 GB
    High 3 3.45 GB 6.9 GB 10.35 GB

    If an existing Automatic Storage Management instance exists on the system, you can use an existing disk group to meet these storage requirements. If necessary, you can add disks to an existing disk group during the installation.

    The following section describes how to identify existing disk groups and determine the free disk space that they contain.

  4. Optionally identify failure groups for the Automatic Storage Management disk group devices.


    Note:

    You need to complete this step only if you intend to use an installation method that runs Database Configuration Assistant in interactive mode, for example, if you intend to choose the Custom installation type or the Advanced database configuration option. Other installation types do not enable you to specify failure groups.

    If you intend to use a normal or high redundancy disk group, you can further protect your database against hardware failure by associating a set of disk devices in a custom failure group. By default, each device comprises its own failure group. However, if two disk devices in a normal redundancy disk group are attached to the same SCSI controller, the disk group becomes unavailable if the controller fails. The controller in this example is a single point of failure.

    To avoid failures of this type, you could use two SCSI controllers, each with two disks, and define a failure group for the disks attached to each controller. This configuration would enable the disk group to tolerate the failure of one SCSI controller.


    Note:

    If you define custom failure groups, you must specify a minimum of two failure groups for normal redundancy disk groups and three failure groups for high redundancy disk groups.

  5. If you are sure that a suitable disk group does not exist on the system, install or identify appropriate disk devices to add to a new disk group. Use the following guidelines when identifying appropriate disk devices:

    • All of the devices in an Automatic Storage Management disk group should be the same size and have the same performance characteristics.

    • Do not specify more than one partition on a single physical disk as a disk group device. Automatic Storage Management expects each disk group device to be on a separate physical disk.

    • Although you can specify a logical volume as a device in an Automatic Storage Management disk group, Oracle does not recommend their use. Logical volume managers can hide the physical disk architecture, preventing Automatic Storage Management from optimizing I/O across the physical devices.


    See Also:

    "Configuring Disks for Automatic Storage Management" for information about completing this task

2.5.3.2 Using an Existing Automatic Storage Management Disk Group

If you want to use Automatic Storage Management as the storage option for either database or recovery files, and an existing Automatic Storage Management disk group exists, you have the following choices, depending on the installation method that you select:

  • If you select an installation method that runs Database Configuration Assistant in interactive mode, by choosing the Advanced database configuration option for example, you can decide whether you want to create a new disk group or use an existing one.

    The same choice is available to you if you use Database Configuration Assistant after the installation to create a database.

  • If you select an installation type that runs Database Configuration Assistant in non-interactive mode, you must choose an existing disk group for the new database; you cannot create a new disk group. However, you can add disk devices to an existing disk group if it has insufficient free space for your requirements.


Note:

The Automatic Storage Management instance that manages the existing disk group can be running in a different Oracle home directory.

To determine whether an existing Automatic Storage Management disk group exists, or to determine whether there is sufficient disk space in a disk group, you can use Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Grid Control or Database Control. Alternatively, you can use the following procedure:

  1. Check the Services Control Panel for the OracleASMService+ASM service.

  2. Temporarily set the ORACLE_SID and ORACLE_HOME environment variables to specify the appropriate values for the Automatic Storage Management instance that you want to use.

  3. Connect to the Automatic Storage Management instance as the SYS user with AS SYSDBA privilege and start the instance if necessary:

    ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\bin\sqlplus "SYS/SYS_password as SYSDBA"
    SQL> STARTUP
    
    
  4. Enter the following command to view the existing disk groups, their redundancy level, and the amount of free disk space in each one:

    SQL> SELECT NAME,TYPE,TOTAL_MB,FREE_MB FROM V$ASM_DISKGROUP;
    
    
  5. From the output, identify a disk group with the appropriate redundancy level and note the free space that it contains.

  6. If necessary, install, or identify the additional disk devices required to meet the storage requirements listed in the previous section.


    Note:

    If you are adding devices to an existing disk group, Oracle recommends that you use devices that have the same size and performance characteristics as the existing devices in that disk group.

2.5.3.3 Configuring Disks for Automatic Storage Management

To use Automatic Storage Management with direct attached storage (DAS) or storage area network (SAN) storage, the disks must be stamped with a header by asmtool or asmtoolg (GUI version).

In order to use a DAS or SAN disk in Automatic Storage Management, the disk must have a partition table. Oracle recommends creating exactly one partition for each disk containing the entire disk. Use Microsoft Computer Management or the command line tool diskpart to create the partition. Once the partitions have been created, run asmtoolg or asmtool. These tools associate meaningful, persistent names with disks to facilitate using those disks with Automatic Storage Management. Automatic Storage Management uses disk strings to more easily operate on groups of disks at once, so the names created by asmtool make this easier than using Windows drive letters.

All disk names created by asmtool begin with the prefix ORCLDISK for identification purposes. They can be used as raw devices in the Automatic Storage Management instance by specifying a name \\.\ORCLDISKn.


See Also:

"Assigning Logical Names or Drive Letters, or Mounting Directories" for more information about using diskpart to create a partition

Using asmtoolg (Graphical User Interface)

asmtoolg is a graphical interface for creating device names. Use asmtoolg to add, change, delete, and examine the devices available for use in Automatic Storage Management.

To add or change disk stamps:

  1. In the installation CD labeled Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) Disk 1 of 1, navigate to \ASM Tool and double-click asmtoolg.

    If Oracle Database is already installed, go to ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\bin and double-click asmtoolg.

  2. Select the Add or change label option, then click Next.

    asmtoolg will show the devices available on the system. Unrecognized disks are labeled as "Candidate device", raw device files as "Oracle raw device file", stamped Automatic Storage Management disks as "Stamped ASM disk", and unstamped Automatic Storage Management disks as "Unstamped ASM disks." The tool also shows disks that are recognized by Windows as a file system (such as NTFS). These are not available for use as disks and cannot be selected. In addition Microsoft Dynamic disks are not available for use as Automatic Storage Management disks.

  3. On the Stamp Disks screen, select the disks to stamp.

    For ease of use, Automatic Storage Management can generate unique stamps for all of the devices selected for a given prefix. The stamps are generated by concatenating a number with the prefix specified. For example, if the prefix is DATA, then the first Automatic Storage Management link name is ORCLDISKDATA0.

    You can also specify the stamps of individual devices.

  4. Optionally, select a disk to edit the individual stamp (Automatic Storage Management link name).

  5. Click Next.

  6. Click Finish.

To delete disk stamps:

  1. Select the Delete labels option, then click Next.

    The delete option is only available if disks exist with stamps. The delete screen shows all stamped Automatic Storage Management disks.

  2. On the Delete Stamps screen, select the disks to unstamp.

  3. Click Next.

  4. Click Finish.

Using asmtool (Command Line)

asmtool is a command-line interface for stamping disks. It has the following options:

Option Description Example
-add Adds or changes stamps. You must specify the hard disk, partition, and new stamp name. If the disk is a raw device or has an existing Automatic Storage Management stamp, then you must specify the -force option.
asmtool -add [-force] \Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 ORCLDISKASM0\Device\Harddisk2\Partition1 ORCLDISKASM2...
-addprefix Adds or changes stamps using a common prefix to generate stamps automatically. The stamps are generated by concatenating a number with the prefix specified. If the disk is a raw device or has an existing Automatic Storage Management stamp, then you must specify the -force option.
asmtool -addprefix ORCLDISKASM [-force] \Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 \Device\Harddisk2\Partition1...
-list List available disks. The stamp, windows device name, and disk size in megabytes are shown. Some disks may be file systems, and cannot be stamped. If the disk is a raw device or has an existing ASM stamp, then you must specify the -force option.
asmtool -list [-force]
-delete Removes existing stamps from disks.
asmtool -delete ORCLDISKASM0 ORCLDISKASM1...
-create Creates an empty file.
asmtool -create path_to_file size_in_megabytes


Note:

For -add, -addprefix, and -delete, asmtool will notify any Automatic Storage Management instances on the local machine and other nodes in the cluster if available, to rescan the available disks.

2.5.4 Configuring Raw Logical Volumes or Raw Partitions

This section contains these topics:

Creating Partitions, Logical Drives, or Volumes

To create and configure raw volumes or partitions, use the disk administration tools provided by the operating system or third party vendors. The following administration tools are provided by the operating system:

  • Windows NT provides Disk Administrator

    To access this tool, type windisk.exe at the command prompt. Alternatively, from the Start menu, select Programs, then Administrative Tools, then Disk Administrator.

  • Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 provide Disk Management snap-in

    To access this tool, type diskmgmt.msc at the command prompt. Alternatively, from the Start menu, select Programs, then Administrative Tools, then Computer Management. Then select the Disk Management node in the Storage tree.

  • Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 provide a command line tool to manage disks.

    To access this tool, type diskpart.exe at the command prompt.


Note:

If you need to download this tool, consult Microsoft documentation on the Microsoft Web site
http://www.microsoft.com/


See Also:

The online help or documentation for the administration tool you are using

Assigning Logical Names or Drive Letters, or Mounting Directories

After creating volumes, assign logical names or drive letters, or mount them on directories for use by Oracle. Use the Windows graphical interface or the command line to create a mounted drive or assign a drive letter to the partition, logical drive or volume. Names can be assigned to partitions using setlinks or Oracle Object Link Manager.

The following example, uses the diskpart tool to create a 32 MB partition on disk 100, and assigns the drive letter B to the partition. In this example, diskpart.exe is the command line tool for managing disks.

c:\> diskpart.exe
diskpart> select disk 100
diskpart> create partition primary size=32
diskpart> assign letter=B

Optionally, mount the partition on an NTFS folder instead of assigning a drive letter:

diskpart> assign mount=C:\mnt\raw_1

Creating Raw Logical Volumes in a New Disk Group

To create the required raw logical volumes in a new disk group, follow these steps:

  1. Choose a name for the database that you want to create.

  2. Create the logical volumes listed in the following table. You must create these volumes in order to install an Oracle database.

    Number Partition Size (MB) Purpose and Sample Logical Volume Name
    1 500 SYSTEM tablespace: dbname_system_raw_500m
    1 500 SYSAUX tablespace: dbname_sysaux_raw_500m
    1 500 UNDOTBS1 tablespace: dbname_undotbs1_raw_500m
    1 160 EXAMPLE tablespace: dbname_example_raw_160m
    1 120 USERS tablespace: dbname_users_raw_120m
    2 120 Two online redo log files (where m is the log number, 1 or 2): dbname_redo1_m_raw_120m
    2 110 First and second control files:

    dbname_control[1|2]_raw_110m

    1 250 TEMP tablespace: dbname_temp_raw_250m
    1 5 Server parameter file (SPFILE): dbname_spfile_raw_5m
    1 5 Password file: dbname_pwdfile_raw_5m

  3. To create the other required logical volumes, using the command-line interface, enter a command similar to the following:

    c:\> diskpart.exe
    DISKPART> select disk diskn
    DISKPART> create partition primary size=sizen
    DISKPART> assign mount=folder
    
    

    In this example:

    • diskpart.exe is the command line tool for managing disks

    • diskn is the disk number where the partitions are created

    • sizen is the size of the partition, for example 500 represents 500 Megabytes

    • folder is the absolute path to the NTFS where the partitions is mounted.

The following example shows a sample command to create 500 MB partition on disk 5 for the SYSAUX tablespace of a database named test:

c:\> diskpart.exe
DISKPART> select disk 5
DISKPART> create partition primary size=500
DISKPART> assign mount=D:\oracle\product\10.1.0\oradata\test\test_sysaux_500m 

2.5.5 Stopping Existing Oracle Services


Attention:

If you are installing additional Oracle Database components in an existing Oracle home, stop all processes running in the Oracle home. You must complete this task to enable Oracle Universal Installer to relink certain executables and libraries.

If you choose to create a database during the installation, 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 can only configure the new listener; it cannot start it. To ensure that the new listener process starts during the installation, you must shut down any existing listeners before starting Oracle Universal Installer.

2.5.6 Oracle Advanced Security Requirements

Satisfy hardware and software requirements to use authentication support with Oracle components. Some Oracle Advanced Security components can use a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory such as Oracle Internet Directory.


See Also:

Oracle Advanced Security Administrator's Guide

2.5.7 Oracle Enterprise Manager Requirements

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


Note:

All Oracle Enterprise Manager products, except Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control and the Enterprise Manager Java Console, are released on the Enterprise Manager Grid Control installation media. Enterprise Manager Database Control is available on the Oracle Database installation media and Enterprise Manager Java Console is available on the Oracle Client installation media.


See Also:

Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Installation and Basic Configuration available on the Enterprise Manager Grid Control installation media

2.5.8 Oracle Managed Files Requirements

If you choose the Custom installation type or the Advanced database creation option, you can also choose to 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 in order to enable Oracle Managed Files.


See Also:

"Using Oracle-Managed Files" in Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

2.5.9 Oracle Real Application Clusters

To install Oracle Real Application Clusters, you must first install Oracle Cluster Ready Services (CRS).


See Also:

Oracle Real Application Clusters Installation and Configuration Guide

2.5.10 Oracle Snap-Ins to the Microsoft Management Console Requirements

Oracle Database ships several Snap-Ins for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). These Snap-ins require MMC version 1.2 or higher.

Install Internet Explorer version 5.0 (IE 5.0) or later before installing Oracle Snap-ins. If you install any Oracle Snap-ins before installing IE 5.0, then reinstall the Oracle Snap-ins.

The following components depend on Oracle Snap-in components:

  • Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows

  • Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor


Note:

Installing Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows automatically installs each Oracle Snap-in component.

Download the MMC add-on from the following Web site

http://www.microsoft.com/

2.5.11 Oracle Transparent Gateway Requirements

This section contains these topics:

Oracle Transparent Gateway Supported Configurations

Table 2-4 provides gateway configurations tested by Oracle at the time of this document release. Oracle continually updates supported gateway configurations. For the latest supported configuration information, visit the following Web site

http://metalink.oracle.com/

After you log in, select Certify & Availability from the left-hand column. From the Product Lifecycle page, select the Certifications button.

Table 2-4 Supported Software for Oracle Transparent Gateway Components

Oracle Transparent Gateway Requirement
Oracle Transparent Gateway for Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft SQL Server Version 7.0 or SQL Server 2000

Microsoft SQL Server ODBC Drivers

Oracle Transparent Gateway for Sybase Sybase Server, version 12.0, or 12.5 is required. If Sybase Server is not on the same computer as the gateway, then the version of Sybase Open client library certified for your Sybase Server is required.
Oracle Transparent Gateway for Teradata Teradata V2R.03.00.02 or V2R.04.00.0115

NCR Teradata ODBC Driver version 02.08.00.00

Oracle Transparent Gateway for IBM DRDA See Oracle Transparent Gateway for DRDA Installation and User's Guide for details.
Oracle Procedural Gateway for APPC See Oracle Procedural Gateway for APPC Installation and Configuration Guide for details.

Oracle Transparent Gateway System Requirements

Table 2-5 lists the system requirements for Oracle Transparent Gateways for Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, and Teradata. Each Oracle Transparent Gateway has the same memory, networking, and disk space requirements.


See Also:

Oracle Transparent Gateway for DRDA Installation and User's Guide and Oracle Procedural Gateway for APPC Installation and Configuration Guide for system requirements for the IBM DRDA and APPC gateways

These guides are available on the Oracle Database installation media.


Table 2-5 System Requirements for Oracle Transparent Gateways

Requirement Value
Disk Space 200 MB of additional disk space.
Memory 26 MB of real memory is recommended to support the gateway. The total real memory requirement for the concurrent use of the gateway also depends on these factors:
  • The SQL statement issued by the user

  • The number of cursors currently opened against Microsoft SQL, Sybase, or Teradata server

  • The number of columns in the table being accessed

Oracle Networking Oracle Net Services and Oracle Protocol Support for Named Pipes or TCP/IP must be installed on the Oracle database computer and the gateway computer. The Oracle Net Services components are included on the Oracle Database installation media.