Purpose: Easy steps for Installing Oracle Linux to prepare server for Oracle Products.
Video Demo:
Downloads:
Oracle Linux 6 Update 3 – Oracle Linux 6 is free to download. If you have an Oracle single sign on account you will simply login to dowload. If you do not you will need to register and accept a license agreement with Oracle to download software.
Prelude:
To perform this install I tested on oracle virtual box, running on top of a windows 7 machine. The same steps apply and have been tested directly on hardware. I used the dvd iso from the oracle download, but the same steps can be performed using the cd and a network image.
The Oracle Linux OS is an ease to install even if this is your first time installing Linux software. Users with Red Hat Linux experience will have an even easier time since this Linux has very few differences.
Steps:
1. Download DVD from Oracle.
2. Mount iso image and start machine.
3. Media Check Screen
>> Choose to test the media if you have not already or skip.
![media_check media_check](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wq35ESifon0/T8BA_NPik-I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/k9_bREfouXI/media_check_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
4. Logo screen will appear
![logo logo](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QMqy60orcr4/T8BA_jikfNI/AAAAAAAAAHg/AxP6P7ljLnY/logo_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
5. Language Screen
![language language](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s5rkYiUDlok/T8BBAg2XPMI/AAAAAAAAAHw/Geb7aecG8xs/language_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
6. Choose Keyboard Language
![keyboard keyboard](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R-35ZCUSdH4/T8BBBV72dAI/AAAAAAAAAIA/HdZCh_OiYNM/keyboard_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
7. Select Storage Type
![storage_type storage_type](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6U44KZToo7I/T8BBCKy5l0I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/HWJpgEVnov4/storage_type_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
8. Remove Data Warning Screen
![remove_data remove_data](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uBBflQrA8Gk/T8BBC672bnI/AAAAAAAAAIg/82ywLq4GP7I/remove_data_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
9. Choose Server Name Screen
![server_name server_name](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sz6gnciGgYE/T8BBDmDWPiI/AAAAAAAAAIw/4nRi2f1GYzw/server_name_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
10. Choose Time Zone
![time_zone time_zone](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xHqsuYkYBvU/T8BBEY9VduI/AAAAAAAAAJA/NFNlFube7ps/time_zone_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
11. Root Password Screen
An additional screen may come up here if you use a weak password. For a test box the strength of your password may not be important but remember good practices for passwords. Password practices article.
12. Space Partition Screen
13. Partition Layout Screen
14. Format Warning Screen
15. Write Partition Information to Disk Notice
16. Boot Options
17. Boot Password
I highly recommend using a boot password if this is not a test system, if this is a test system you can skip this step.
![boot_password boot_password](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OxBpq7PWtvE/T8BBJgBP2WI/AAAAAAAAAKw/wbcmUINNrsc/boot_password_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
18. Server Type
Choose a Minimal install and only install products needed to reduce security risks. It will be easy to add additional components in the next screen and even once the system has completed install.
Choose Customize Now to add the additional software packages need for an easy Oracle Install.
![server_type server_type](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-csx3dh4EC0o/T8BBKNH1kaI/AAAAAAAAALA/bnTyUGVB-ws/server_type_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
19. Base System Packages
Base, Client Management Tools, Compatibility libraries,Hardware Monitoring utilities, Large System Performance, Network File System client, Performance Tools, Perl Support
![base_system_options base_system_options](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wSfrcbde-QI/T8BBLJ6tBXI/AAAAAAAAALQ/MOi7kkY7NvQ/base_system_options_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
20. Server Packages
Server Platform, System Administration Tools
![server_options server_options](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oaXytnDeVCo/T8BBL433GFI/AAAAAAAAALg/cg3Hb4BPkS8/server_options_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
21. Desktop Packages
Desktop, Desktop Platform, General Purpose Desktop, Graphical Administration Tools, X Windows System
![desktop_options desktop_options](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fG4ARrqCxJ8/T8BBMhdP98I/AAAAAAAAALw/iW5eoq50w_M/desktop_options_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
22. Application Packages
Internet Browser
![application_options application_options](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qFXjObdviYo/T8BBNkAW5QI/AAAAAAAAAMA/gi3oeU8tkJc/application_options_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
23. Development Packages
Additional Development, Development Tools
![development_options development_options](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w3SJMjZSLsI/T8BBOlnoBuI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/MtdPsZH1xoY/development_options_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
24. Install Screen
Be prepared to wait 5-60 minutes depending on the speed of your hard drive.
![install_screen install_screen](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ng1_YKtFNOs/T8BBPUsR3yI/AAAAAAAAAMg/_gnBrBMajLU/install_screen_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
25. Reboot Screen
Dvd should auto eject and then you can manually reboot.
![reboot reboot](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cHDjWMhIrR4/T8BBQDGAA9I/AAAAAAAAAMw/MDtQjUxm7rc/reboot_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
26. Welcome Screen
![welcome welcome](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S403oVPw8qM/T8BBQyKJ65I/AAAAAAAAANA/q2w_fsWwXow/welcome_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
27. License Agreement
![license license](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K1QU9DB7DN8/T8BBRo_cRfI/AAAAAAAAANQ/nkGXTjuoXr4/license_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
28. Software Updates
You can configure this later, or just use the oracle yum repo for testing.
This screen may warn that you should not continue without a license but you can simply skip this warning.
Currently Oracle offers many levels of licenses for support. The Oracle Linux Product itself is free only if you wish for Oracle support do you need to buy licenses. Other benefits from licenses are patch sets, but the latest updates are available form the Oracle Yum Repository.
Current prices as of time off writing
$119 ULN – Patches only
$399 Oracle basic limited 2 cpus, 24x7 support
$1399 Oracle premier limited 2 cpus 24x7 support and additional features such as ksplice. Higher level of support is included.
![software_updates software_updates](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5LxE9oWEi8E/T8BBSa7s8sI/AAAAAAAAANg/R9QmmlrAphg/software_updates_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
29. Create User
![create_user create_user](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kLPJTRYIvTk/T8BBTI10L0I/AAAAAAAAANw/aT1Bej243CA/create_user_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
30. No User Warning.
I script this step after install so I will skip this, but it is wise to have separate accounts rather then using the root administration account.
![no_user no_user](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wlXDJ_sG2zs/T8BBTyGacDI/AAAAAAAAAOA/vSC-sf3Mvuc/no_user_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
31. Date and time Screen
![date_time date_time](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xp98xl4erEw/T8BBVG5fQzI/AAAAAAAAAOY/NKDUv5sel58/date_time_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
32 Kdump Screen
Kdump is a good feature to have, but not necessary for a test system. This reserves a small area of memory to be able to hold data if you have a system crash so that you are able to research this issue later.
![kdump kdump](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BGTgHMg777Q/T8BBV-87hMI/AAAAAAAAAOo/a8Oa3zjsino/kdump_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
33. Kdump reboot required notice screen
![kdump_reboot kdump_reboot](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XrKBYc21gVU/T8BBWiBMmRI/AAAAAAAAAO4/AfurLXgPuMM/kdump_reboot_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
33. Reboot screen
This is the final screen in the process.
![final_reboot final_reboot](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w61zug_tc2U/T8BBXmN0evI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/RTjEdnvzVfo/final_reboot_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)