Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) Installation on Enterprise Linux 4.5 and 5.0

Introduction

This article provides a complete, step-by-step guide for installing Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) on Enterprise Linux 4.5 and 5.0. The instructions also work for the original Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5 distributions, as well as any clones such as CentOS 4 and 5.

The guide is based on a server installation with:

A minimum of 2 GB swap space
Secure Linux (SELinux) disabled
Oracle's recommended default server installation

Note: Oracle recommends a default server installation, but for these installations, the following package groups must be installed.

Required Package Groups

Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.5

X Window System
GNOME Desktop Environment
Editors
Graphical Internet
Server Configuration Tools
Development Tools
Administration Tools
System Tools

Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.0

GNOME Desktop Environment
Editors
Graphical Internet
Text-based Internet
Development Libraries
Development Tools
Server Configuration Tools
Administration Tools
Base
System Tools
X Window System

Note: Alternative installations may require more packages to be loaded, in addition to the ones listed below.

Overview of the Installation Process

#	Phase	Description
1	Download Software	Obtain the Oracle 11g installation media
2	Unpack Files	Extract the installation files
3	Hosts File	Configure the server's hostname
4	Set Kernel Parameters	Configure kernel and user limits
5	Setup	Install packages, create groups/users, set environment
6	Installation	Run the Oracle Universal Installer (OUI)
7	Post Installation	Configure automatic startup

Phase 1: Download Software

Download the following software:

Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) Software

Phase 2: Unpack Files

Unzip the downloaded files:

unzip linux_11gR1_database.zip

Result: You should now have a single directory called database containing the installation files.

Phase 3: Configure the Hosts File

The /etc/hosts file must contain a fully qualified name for the server.

Format:

<IP-address>  <fully-qualified-machine-name>  <machine-name>

Example:

127.0.0.1       localhost localhost.localdomain
192.168.0.215   oel45.localdomain  oel45

Important: The hostname must be resolvable both forward and backward. Verify with hostname and ping oel45.localdomain.

Phase 4: Set Kernel Parameters

Oracle recommends the following minimum parameter settings:

kernel.shmall = 2097152
kernel.shmmax = 2147483648   # Smallest of -> (Half the size of physical memory) or (4GB - 1 byte)
kernel.shmmni = 4096
# semaphores: semmsl, semmns, semopm, semmni
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
fs.file-max = 65536          # 512 * PROCESSES
net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000
net.core.rmem_default = 4194304
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_max = 262144

Verify Current Values

/sbin/sysctl -a | grep <param-name>

Apply Kernel Parameters

For Enterprise Linux 4.5, append the following to /etc/sysctl.conf:

kernel.shmall = 2097152
kernel.shmmax = 2147483648
kernel.shmmni = 4096
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000
net.core.rmem_default = 4194304
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_max = 262144

For Enterprise Linux 5.0, append the following to /etc/sysctl.conf:

kernel.shmmni = 4096
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000
net.core.rmem_default = 4194304
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_max = 262144

Apply the changes:

/sbin/sysctl -p

Configure User Limits

Add the following lines to /etc/security/limits.conf:

oracle              soft    nproc   2047
oracle              hard    nproc   16384
oracle              soft    nofile  1024
oracle              hard    nofile  65536

Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/login (if it does not already exist):

session    required     pam_limits.so

Disable SELinux

Edit /etc/selinux/config and set:

SELINUX=disabled

Alternatively, use the GUI tool: Applications → System Settings → Security Level → SELinux tab → Disable.

Note: If SELinux is disabled after installation, the server will need a reboot for the change to take effect.

Phase 5: Setup

Step 1: Install Required Packages

For Enterprise Linux 4.5:

# From Enterprise Linux 4 Disk 1
cd /media/cdrom/Enterprise/RPMS
rpm -Uvh binutils-2.*
rpm -Uvh elfutils-libelf-0.*
rpm -Uvh glibc-2.*
rpm -Uvh glibc-common-2.*
rpm -Uvh libgcc-3.*
rpm -Uvh libstdc++-3.*
rpm -Uvh compat-libstdc++-33*
rpm -Uvh make-3.*
rpm -Uvh unixODBC-2.*
cd /
eject

# From Enterprise Linux 4 Disk 2
cd /media/cdrom/Enterprise/RPMS
rpm -Uvh glibc-devel-2.*
rpm -Uvh gcc-3.*
rpm -Uvh gcc-c++-3.*
rpm -Uvh libstdc++-devel-3.*
cd /
eject

# From Enterprise Linux 4 Disk 3
cd /media/cdrom/Enterprise/RPMS
rpm -Uvh libaio-0.*
rpm -Uvh libaio-devel-0.*
rpm -Uvh sysstat-5.*
cd /
eject

# From Enterprise Linux 4 Disk 4
cd /media/cdrom/Enterprise/RPMS
rpm -Uvh elfutils-libelf-devel-0.*
rpm -Uvh unixODBC-devel-2.*
cd /
eject

For Enterprise Linux 5.0:

# From Enterprise Linux 5 Disk 1
cd /media/cdrom/Server
rpm -Uvh binutils-2.*
rpm -Uvh elfutils-libelf-0.*
rpm -Uvh glibc-2.*
rpm -Uvh glibc-common-2.*
rpm -Uvh libaio-0.*
rpm -Uvh libgcc-4.*
rpm -Uvh libstdc++-4.*
rpm -Uvh make-3.*
cd /
eject

# From Enterprise Linux 5 Disk 2
cd /media/cdrom/Server
rpm -Uvh compat-libstdc++-33*
rpm -Uvh elfutils-libelf-devel-0.*
rpm -Uvh glibc-devel-2.*
rpm -Uvh gcc-4.*
rpm -Uvh gcc-c++-4.*
rpm -Uvh libaio-devel-0.*
rpm -Uvh libstdc++-devel-4.*
rpm -Uvh unixODBC-2.*
rpm -Uvh unixODBC-devel-2.*
cd /
eject

# From Enterprise Linux 5 Disk 3
cd /media/cdrom/Server
rpm -Uvh sysstat-7.*
cd /
eject

Step 2: Create Groups and Users

groupadd oinstall
groupadd dba
groupadd oper
groupadd asmadmin

useradd -g oinstall -G dba,oper,asmadmin oracle
passwd oracle

Note: The asmadmin group is not used in this installation since ASM is not being configured.

Step 3: Create Oracle Directories

mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1
chown -R oracle:oinstall /u01
chmod -R 775 /u01

Step 4: Configure X11 Access

xhost +<machine-name>

Step 5: Configure the Oracle Environment

# Oracle Settings
TMP=/tmp; export TMP
TMPDIR=$TMP; export TMPDIR

ORACLE_HOSTNAME=oel45.localdomain; export ORACLE_HOSTNAME
ORACLE_BASE=/u01/app/oracle; export ORACLE_BASE
ORACLE_HOME=$ORACLE_BASE/product/11.1.0/db_1; export ORACLE_HOME
ORACLE_SID=DB11G; export ORACLE_SID
ORACLE_TERM=xterm; export ORACLE_TERM
PATH=/usr/sbin:$PATH; export PATH
PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/bin:$PATH; export PATH

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/lib:/lib:/usr/lib; export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
CLASSPATH=$ORACLE_HOME/JRE:$ORACLE_HOME/jlib:$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/jlib; export CLASSPATH

if [ $USER = "oracle" ]; then
  if [ $SHELL = "/bin/ksh" ]; then
    ulimit -p 16384
    ulimit -n 65536
  else
    ulimit -u 16384 -n 65536
  fi
fi

Phase 6: Installation

Step 1: Log In as Oracle User

su - oracle

If using X emulation, set the DISPLAY variable:

DISPLAY=<machine-name>:0.0; export DISPLAY

Step 2: Start the Oracle Universal Installer

cd database
./runInstaller

Step 3: Follow the Installation Screens

During the installation, enter the appropriate ORACLE_HOME and name, then continue. The installation progresses through the following screens:

#	Screen	Purpose
1	Select Installation Method	Choose between Basic and Advanced installation
2	Specify Inventory Directory and Credentials	Set the oraInventory location and group
3	Select Installation Type	Choose Enterprise, Standard, or Personal Edition
4	Install Location	Specify the ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_BASE
5	Product-Specific Prerequisite Checks	Verify all prerequisites are met
6	Select Configuration Option	Choose to create a database or install software only
7	Select Database Configuration	Choose the database template
8	Specify Database Configuration Options	Set the global database name and SID
9	Specify Database Configuration Details	Configure memory, character set, and security
10	Select Database Management Option	Choose between Grid Control and Database Control
11	Specify Database Storage Option	Choose between File System and ASM
12	Specify Backup and Recovery Options	Enable or disable automatic backups
13	Specify Database Schema Passwords	Set passwords for SYS, SYSTEM, etc.
14	Oracle Configuration Manager Registration	Optionally register with My Oracle Support
15	Summary	Review all installation settings
16	Install	Begin the installation
17	Configuration Assistants	Run post-installation configuration
18	Database Configuration Assistant	Create and configure the database
19	Database Configuration Assistant Summary	Review the database configuration
20	Execute Configuration Scripts	Run the required root scripts
21	End of Installation	Installation complete
22	OEM Database Control Login	Log in to Enterprise Manager
23	OEM Database Control	Manage the database via Enterprise Manager

Phase 7: Post Installation

Edit the /etc/oratab file and set the restart flag for each instance to Y:

DB11G:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1:Y

Purpose: The Y flag enables automatic startup of the database when the server boots, using the dbstart utility.

The Complete Installation Flow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE                                           │
│     Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) Software               │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  2. UNPACK FILES                                                │
│     unzip linux_11gR1_database.zip                              │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  3. HOSTS FILE                                                  │
│     Configure /etc/hosts with FQDN                              │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  4. SET KERNEL PARAMETERS                                       │
│     /etc/sysctl.conf, /etc/security/limits.conf, SELinux        │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  5. SETUP                                                       │
│     Install packages, create groups/users, set environment      │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  6. INSTALLATION                                                │
│     ./runInstaller (interactive)                                │
│     Follow installation screens                                 │
│     Run root scripts                                            │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  7. POST INSTALLATION                                           │
│     Edit /etc/oratab and set the restart flag to Y              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Configuration Files

File	Purpose
`/etc/hosts`	Hostname resolution
`/etc/sysctl.conf`	Kernel parameters
`/etc/security/limits.conf`	User limits
`/etc/pam.d/login`	PAM limits configuration
`/etc/selinux/config`	SELinux mode
`/home/oracle/.bash_profile`	Oracle environment variables
`/etc/oratab`	Database startup configuration

Best Practices

Practice	Description
Use a Certified OS	Use a certified OS version for production
Use Separate Mount Points	Mount `/u01` on a separate disk
Configure the Firewall	Instead of disabling, configure ports (1521, etc.)
Set Secure Passwords	Use strong passwords for SYS, SYSTEM, and other schemas
Patch Before Creating DB	Apply the latest patches before creating the database
Test the Installation	Verify connectivity and basic operations after installation
Document Configuration	Keep a record of all parameters and settings
Enable Automatic Startup	Configure `/etc/oratab` for automatic startup

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Prerequisite check fails	Missing packages	Install required packages via rpm
Installer won't start	DISPLAY not set	Set the DISPLAY variable or use X emulation
Root script fails	Wrong permissions	Run as root and verify paths
Database won't start	Wrong ORACLE_HOME	Verify environment variables
Memory errors	Insufficient memory	Increase server memory or reduce SGA
Firewall blocks connections	Firewall enabled	Configure or disable the firewall
SELinux blocks installation	SELinux enabled	Disable SELinux and reboot
Kernel parameter errors	Wrong sysctl values	Verify and correct `/etc/sysctl.conf`

Summary

Installing Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) on Enterprise Linux 4.5 and 5.0 involves the following key phases:

Download Software: Obtain the Oracle 11g installation media
Unpack Files: Extract the installation files
Hosts File: Configure the server's hostname
Set Kernel Parameters: Configure kernel parameters, user limits, and SELinux
Setup: Install packages, create groups/users, set environment
Installation: Run the Oracle Universal Installer (OUI)
Post Installation: Configure automatic startup via /etc/oratab

Key Points to Remember

Oracle Database 11g Release 1 requires specific kernel parameters and user limits
SELinux should be disabled during installation
The required packages must be installed from the OS installation media
The oracle user must be created with the correct groups
The environment variables must be set in .bash_profile
The Oracle Universal Installer guides you through the installation
The root scripts must be run after the installer completes
The /etc/oratab file controls automatic startup

Why This Matters

Proper installation and configuration of Oracle Database 11g Release 1 is essential for:

Reliable Performance: Correct kernel parameters and user limits ensure optimal database performance
Security: Proper user/group setup and SELinux configuration protect the database
Manageability: Environment scripts and automatic startup simplify administration
Scalability: A well-configured database can handle growing workloads
Compatibility: Correct setup ensures compatibility with Oracle E-Business Suite and other applications

By following this guide, you can successfully install Oracle Database 11g Release 1 on Enterprise Linux 4.5 and 5.0, providing a solid foundation for your Oracle applications.

References

Oracle Database Documentation: Database Installation Guide for Linux
Oracle Database Documentation: Database Administrator's Reference
My Oracle Support: Oracle Database 11g Release 1 Certification Matrix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Documentation: RHEL 4 and 5 Installation Guide
Related Articles: Oracle Universal Installations (OUI) Silent Installations, Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA): Creating Databases in Silent Mode

Pages

1. Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1) Installation on Enterprise Linux 4.5 and 5.0