Configure the Kernel

Oracle 9i requires that you at least temporarily increase the maximum shared memory segment size for installation. To temporarily increase the maximum shared memory segment size, follow these instructions (as root):

> echo "1073741824" > /proc/sys/kernel/shmmax

Set Up the Environment

Add the following line to /home/oracle/.bashrc near the bottom:

> export LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.4.1

Install Compatibility Packages

The Apache web server that comes with Oracle 9i requires Berkeley DB version 3. Redhat 9 comes with Berkeley DB version 4. However, there is a compatibility RPM available:

> compat-db-3.3.11-4.i386.rpm

You can download it from rpmfind and install it using rpm -i as root.

Some versions of Redhat 9 came with the following glibc RPM:

> glibc-2.3.2-5.i386.rpm

Others came with:

> glibc-2.3.2-11.9.i386.rpm

The first one works but the second one is broken.

If you have run up2date (or apt-get upgrade if you're using apt) then it is likely that even if you once had a working glibc, you no longer do.

To assure that Oracle will install and run, download and install libctypefixup using the following commands (as root).

> tar xf libctypefixup-1.0.tar.gz
> cd libctypefixup-1.0
> make
> make install

Install Oracle

Now, log in as the oracle user.

Since Oracle 9.2.0 uses a graphical installer, you need to be running X Windows or point the DISPLAY environment variable to an X Windows session running somewhere.

I have had problems with the graphical installer on enlightenment and fluxbox window managers in the past, though they may work for you.

If you have a CD, mount it and cd to the mount point. If you have a cpio distribution, extract all three files using:

> cpio -idmv < lnx_920_disk1.cpio
> cpio -idmv < lnx_920_disk2.cpio
> cpio -idmv < lnx_920_disk3.cpio

Change directories to the Disk1 directory.
Type ./runInstaller
On the Welcome screen click Next
An Inventory Location dialog will pop up.
Accept the default base directory and click OK
On the Unix Group Name screen, enter oinstall for the UNIX Group Name and click Next
A dialog will pop up and prompt you to run /tmp/orainstRoot.sh as root.
Follow the instructions and click Continue
On the File Locations screen, accept the defaults and click Next
On the Available Products screen, accept the default selection Oracle9i Database 9.2.0.1.0 and click Next
On the Installation Types screen, accept the default selection Enterprise Edition and click Next
On the Database Configuration screen, accept the default selection General Purpose and click Next
On the Database Identification screen, enter ora1 for both Global Database Name and SID and click Next
On the Database File Location screen, accept the default Directory for Database Files and click Next
On the Database Character Set screen, accept the default selection Use the default character set and click Next
On the Summary screen, click Install
The Install screen will show the progress of the installation
If a dialog pops up indicating:

> Error in invoking target install of makefile
> /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/network/lib/ins_oemagent.mk

edit /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/network/lib/env_oemagent.mk and change:

    	LDLIBS=$(EXPDLIBS) $(EXOSLIBS) $(SYSLIBS) $(EXSYSLIBS) $(MATHLIB) $(USRLIBS)

to:

    	LDLIBS=$(EXPDLIBS) $(EXOSLIBS) $(SYSLIBS) $(EXSYSLIBS) $(MATHLIB) $(USRLIBS) -lctypefixup

then click Retry
If a dialog pops up indicating:

> Error in invoking target install of makefile
> /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/ctx/lib/ins_ctx.mk

edit /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/ctx/lib/ins_ctx.mk and change:

    ctxhx: $(CTXHXOBJ)
            $(LINK) $(CTXHXOBJ) $(INSO_LINK)

to:

    ctxhx: $(CTXHXOBJ)
            $(LINK) $(CTXHXOBJ) $(INSO_LINK) -ldl

then click Retry

At the end of the installation, a dialog will pop up asking you to run root.sh. Just follow the directions on the dialog and click Ok
On the Configuration Tools screen, the Database Creation Assistant will run and a dialog will most likely pop up, indicating that it failed. In that case, click Ok on the dialog and, run the following command as root:

> touch /etc/rac_on

Now select Oracle Database Configuration Assistant And click Retry
A dialog will pop up indicating that a database is being created. After a while, another dialog will pop up instructing you to provide passwords for the SYS and SYSTEM users. Enter new passwords for these users. Note that you cannont use the classic "manager" and "change_on_install" passwords.
Click OK
Sometimes the Database Creation Assistant will just hang here. Select Oracle Database Configuration Assistant And click Stop. If it doesn't stop, you may have to kill it from the command line using the following command:

> kill `ps -efa | grep "JDBC_PROTOCOL=thin" | cut -c10-15`

When the Database Creation Assistant is finished (or killed), click Next.
On the End Of Installation screen click Exit

In some cases, dbstart and dbshut don't work after installation. To ensure that they will work, you need to run the following command:

> cp /u01/app/oracle/admin/ora1/pfile/initora1.ora.* /u01/app/oracle/product/9.2.0/dbs/initora1.ora