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Introducing Oracle9i for Windows

This chapter introduces you to Oracle9i for Windows and helps you plan your installation.

This chapter contains these topics:

• Oracle9i for Windows Overview

• Planning Your Installation

• Documentation Library Overview

• What Documentation Do I Read First?

• Getting Started with Installation

Oracle9i for Windows Overview

Oracle9i for Windows is a development and deployment platform for the Internet. Oracle9i for Windows features include the following:

• A built-in Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that lets you store and run Java code within an Oracle9i database

• Support for SQLJ, a programming syntax that supports embeded SQL statements in Java programs

• Integration with the Component Object Model (COM) and Microsoft Transaction Server

• Integration with Oracle Enterprise Manager Console and front-end management applications that are fully accessible from clients (including Web browsers)

  See Also: Oracle9i Database Concepts Oracle9i Database New Features Oracle Enterprise Manager Concepts Guide

Planning Your Installation

This section provides information about Oracle Universal Installer, installation types, database configurations, and concepts you should be aware of in planning an installation.

• Using Optimal Flexible Architecture

• Oracle Universal Installer Overview

• Oracle9i Products for Installation

• Licensing Information

• Oracle9i Licensable Database Options

Using Optimal Flexible Architecture

Oracle Corporation recommends using the Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA) standard when installing and configuring Oracle9i databases. The OFA standard is a set of configuration guidelines for creating fast, highly available, reliable Oracle databases that require little maintenance. The following advantages are the most important:

• Structured organization of directories and files and the consistent naming used for database files simplify database administration.

• Distribution of I/O across multiple disks prevents performance bottlenecks caused by multiple read or write commands issued simultaneously to a single drive.

• Distribution of applications across multiple disks safeguards against database failures.

• Login home directories are not at risk when database administrators add, move, or delete Oracle home directories.

• Multiple versions of application software can execute concurrently.

• Software upgrades can be tested in an Oracle home in a separate directory from the Oracle home where your production database is located.

  Note: Oracle Universal Installer supports OFA, but does not require OFA.

Benefits of Using Multiple Oracle Homes

The main benefit of using multiple Oracle homes is that you can run multiple releases of the same products concurrently. For example, you can test an Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) database patch before you run your production database Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) against it.

Multiple Oracle Home Functionality in Different Releases

Modifications to multiple Oracle home functionality have occurred since it was introduced in Oracle8 release 8.0.4. This section helps you determine the capabilities of your Oracle home depending on the release you are using.

Oracle8 Releases Before 8.0.4

Releases of Oracle for Windows NT and Windows 95 prior to Oracle8 release 8.0.4 support only single Oracle homes, allowing you to install and run Oracle products in a single Oracle home. Different releases of Oracle products can be installed in the same Oracle home provided they have different first or second-digit release numbers. For example, you can install Oracle7 release 7.2 products and Oracle7 release 7.3 products or Oracle7 release 7.x and Oracle8 release 8.x products in the same Oracle home. However, you cannot install multiple third-digit releases of the same products. For example, you cannot install Oracle7 release 7.3.2 and Oracle7 release 7.3.3 products on the same computer; one installation overwrites the other.

Oracle8 Releases 8.0.4 to 8.0.6

You can install one or more releases of Oracle products in multiple Oracle homes. For example, with multiple Oracle homes, you can install Oracle8 release 8.0.x and Oracle8i release 8.1.3 products or Oracle7 release 7.x and Oracle8 release 8.0.x products in different Oracle homes on the same computer.

You can also install different releases of Oracle products in the same Oracle home provided they have different first or second-digit release numbers. For example, you can install Oracle7 release 7.2 products and Oracle8 release 8.0.x products in the same Oracle home.

Oracle8i Release 8.1.3 to Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2)

These releases have the same multiple Oracle home functionality as Oracle8 releases 8.0.4 to 8.0.6, but the following restrictions apply:

• You cannot install any release from Oracle8i release 8.1.3 to Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) into an Oracle home that was created using the old installer. (The old installer was called Oracle Installer and was used for installations before Oracle8i release 8.1.3; the new Java-based installer is called Oracle Universal Installer.)

• You cannot install releases prior to Oracle8i release 8.1.3 into an Oracle home that was created by any release from Oracle8i release 8.1.3 to Oracle9i release 2 (9.2).

• Releases from Oracle8i release 8.1.3 to Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) must be installed in separate Oracle homes. You cannot have more than one release installed in each Oracle home.

  See Also: "Multiple Oracle Homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture" of Oracle9i Database Getting Started for Windows

Oracle Universal Installer Overview

Oracle Universal Installer is a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) tool that enables you to install Oracle components from your CD. Oracle Universal Installer provides the following capabilities:

• Component and suite installations

• Web-based installations

• National language and globalization support

• Distributed installation support

• Unattended "silent" installations using response files

• Deinstallation of installed components

• Multiple Oracle homes support

  See Also: Appendix D, "Advanced Installation Topics" for more information about Web-based and silent installations

Oracle Universal Installer Restrictions

• Using the old Oracle Installer shipped with releases 7.x and 8.0.x) to install components into an Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) Oracle home directory is not supported. Likewise, you cannot install release 2 (9.2) components into a release 7.x, 8.0.x, 8.1.3, or 8.1.4 Oracle home.

• Oracle Universal Installer automatically installs Oracle's version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). This version is required to run Oracle Universal Installer and several Oracle assistants. Do not modify the JRE, unless doing so with a patch provided by OracleMetaLink. Visit:

  http://metalink.oracle.com/

• Oracle Universal Installer is capable of running a noninteractive installation of Oracle products and can optionally be configured for "silent" mode. Silent mode is a background process and does not display windows.

• Oracle Universal Installer is capable of Web-based installations. Refer to Oracle Universal Installer Concepts Guide for more information about this Installer feature.

• Installation of Oracle9i database components from a remote Terminal Services Client onto a Windows 2000 server that is running a Terminal Server Service or Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server is not supported. If you attempt to install Oracle9i in this manner, many database configuration tools will hang. Start all the configuration tools from the Terminal Server console and not from the Terminal Services Client.

  See Also: Oracle Universal Installer Concepts Guide This guide is included in your Oracle9i Database Documentation CDs and is automatically installed on your hard drive during installation. To access this guide, choose Start > Programs > Oracle Installation Products > Universal Installer Concepts Guide.

Oracle9i Products for Installation

During installation, you are asked to choose one of three top-level components. These products are:

• Oracle9i Database

• Oracle9i Client

• Oracle9i Management and Integration

Each top-level component contains several installation types, each of which contains a series of individual components. The following sections list the three top-level components and their installation types.

Oracle9i Database

The Oracle9i database is an object-oriented relational database management system, which consists of an Oracle database and an Oracle instance. There are four installation types:

• Enterprise Edition: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs a preconfigured seed database, networking services, licensable Oracle Options, database environment tools, the Oracle Enterprise Manager framework of management tools, including Console, Management Server, and Intelligent Agent, Oracle utilities, and online documentation. It also installs those products most commonly used in data warehousing and transaction processing environments.

• Standard Edition: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs a preconfigured seed database, networking services, Oracle Enterprise Manager framework of management tools, including Console, Management Server, and Intelligent Agent, and Oracle utilities.

• Personal Edition: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs the same software as the Enterprise Edition installation type, but supports only a single user development and deployment environment that requires full compatibility with Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition.

  Note: Oracle9i release 1 (9.0.1.1.1) was the terminal release for Personal Edition on Windows 98.

• Custom: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition, and Personal Edition installations.

Oracle9i Client

The Oracle9i Client is a front-end database application that connects to the database through one or more application servers. There are three Client installation types:

• Administrator: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs the Oracle Enterprise Manager Console, including enterprise management tools, networking services, utilities, and basic client software.

• Runtime: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs networking services and support files.

• Custom: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Administrator and Runtime.

Oracle9i Management and Integration

Oracle Management Server is a central processing and distribution system for management tasks. It enables distributed control between clients and managed nodes.

There are four Management and Integration installation types:

• Oracle Management Server: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs Oracle Enterprise Manager Console and Oracle Management Server, which processes all system management tasks from the Enterprise Manager console and administers the distribution of these tasks to Intelligent Agents on managed nodes across the enterprise. In addition, Oracle Universal Installer installs basic client software.

• Oracle Internet Directory: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer installs a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)-enabled Oracle Internet Directory database, LDAP-enabled client tools, and the Oracle Internet Directory database schema.

• Custom: If you select this type, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you to select individual components to install from the components available with Oracle Management Server, Oracle Internet Directory, and Oracle Integration Server.

  See Also: Appendix A, "Individual Components Available for Installation" for a list of individual components installed with each installation type

Licensing Information

Although the component CDs in your CD pack contain many Oracle components, you may use only those components for which you have purchased licenses. Those components that require separately purchasable licenses are identified in their descriptions in Appendix A.

Oracle Support Services does not provide support for components for which licenses have not been purchased.

See Also: "Oracle9i Licensable Database Options" Appendix A, "Individual Components Available for Installation"

Oracle9i Licensable Database Options

The following products require a separate license:

• Enterprise Integration Gateways, which include:
  • Procedural Gateway for APPC

  • Procedural Gateway for IBM MQSeries

  • Transparent Gateway for IBM DRDA

• Oracle Advanced Security

• Oracle Data Mining

• Oracle Enterprise Manager Packs, which include:
  • Oracle Change Management Pack

  • Oracle Diagnostics Pack

  • Oracle Management Pack for SAP R/3

  • Oracle Tuning Pack

• Oracle Label Security

• Oracle OLAP

• Oracle Open Gateways, which include:
  • Transparent Gateway for Microsoft SQL Server

  • Transparent Gateway for Sybase

  • Transparent Gateway for Teradata

• Oracle Partitioning

• Oracle Real Application Clusters

• Oracle Spatial

  See Also: Global License Terms for additional licensing information "Component Descriptions"

Documentation Library Overview

Your Oracle documentation set is provided in both HTML and PDF formats on two CDs in your CD pack that are labeled as follows:

• Oracle9i Database Documentation for Windows, Viewable CD

• Oracle9i Database Documentation for Windows, Installation CD

Use the first CD to browse the library from the CD or copy files directly to a local system. Use the second CD to install the entire documentation library with Oracle Universal Installer. The contents of the library are the same on both CDs.

The library includes a Web-based search tool that enables you to search for information about a particular product, parameter, file name, procedure, error message, or other area of interest. The search tool also makes it possible to construct a "virtual book" drawn from the complete documentation library, but consisting of topics and procedures relevant for your needs. The library also includes a comprehensive Master Index, as well as lists of SQL and PL/SQL keywords, initialization parameters, catalog views, and data dictionary views.

Instructions for installing the library and viewing its contents are in three README files at the root level of the documentation CDs:

• README.htm

• README.pdf

• README.txt

The contents of the three files are identical; only the format differs.

The following manuals are not included on the Oracle9i Database Documentation CDs:

• This installation guide and Oracle9i Database Release Notes for Windows

  To access these documents before installation, open start_here.htm in the \doc directory on the first component CD.

  To access these documents after installation, choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Release Documentation or open start_here.htm in the ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\doc directory on your hard drive.

• Oracle Enterprise Integration Gateways documentation

  These documents are on the Oracle Enterprise Integration Gateways documentation CD.

• Oracle Migration Workbench documentation

  These documents are now available on the Oracle9i Database Documentation CDs.

• Oracle Fail Safe and Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard documentation

  These documents are on the Oracle Fail Safe and Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard product CD, shipping in a subsequent CD pack.

• Oracle Transparent Gateway

  After installation, Oracle Transparent Gateway documentation is available in:

  ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\tg4msql\doc

  ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\tg4sybs\doc

  ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\tg4tera\doc

What Documentation Do I Read First?

The README file at the root level of the documentation CD includes a description of your Oracle documentation set. This README provides a list of:

• Available online documentation formats

• Documentation available on your Oracle9i Database Documentation CDs

Oracle Corporation recommends that you read or review the documentation listed in Table 1-1 before you install Oracle components. This helps ensure that you make the correct decisions during Oracle component installation.

Table 1-1 What Documentation Do I Read First?  

For Information About...	See...
Important last-minute installation and configuration information	Oracle9i Database Release Notes for Windows (click start_here.htm in the \doc directory on the first component CD.) Note: After installation, view README files for additional components in the ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\relnotes directory.
How to obtain customer support	http://www.oracle.com/support/
Basic database concepts and administration	Oracle9i Database Concepts Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide for Windows
Oracle Enterprise Manager concepts and administration	Oracle Enterprise Manager Concepts Guide Oracle Enterprise Manager Administrator's Guide Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Guide
Networking concepts and administration	Oracle9i Net Services Administrator's Guide
Creating a correctly configured Oracle9i database from the start	Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide for Windows Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide Oracle9i Database Performance Tuning Guide and Reference
Upgrading an Oracle database from a previous release	"Database Upgrade Requirements" Oracle9i Database Migration Note: Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant automatically prompts you during installation to upgrade a pre-9.0 database detected on your hard drive. Do not use Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant to upgrade a cluster database.
Installing all Oracle components available on the CD	Chapter 4, "Installing Oracle Components"
Installing Oracle components in multiple homes on a computer	"Using Optimal Flexible Architecture" "Multiple Oracle Homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture" of Oracle9i Database Getting Started for Windows
Upgrading an Oracle9i database configured for use with Oracle Internet Directory	Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide "Database Upgrade Requirements" "Oracle Internet Directory Installations"
Installing Oracle Real Application Clusters	Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Documentation Online Roadmap Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Setup and Configuration Appendix B, "Oracle Real Application Clusters Preinstallation Tasks"
Noninteractive installation using response files	"About Oracle Components in Noninteractive Mode"

Getting Started with Installation

You are now ready to begin the installation process. To start quickly, follow these chapters in the order listed:

To...	See...
Find out about installation requirements for: Each installation type Migrating an Oracle database Individual components Single Oracle home components Oracle Enterprise Manager components Networking protocols and vendors	Chapter 2, "Preinstallation Requirements"
Select a method for creating your Oracle9i database and configuring your Oracle Net client/server environment	Chapter 3, "Selecting Database Creation and Oracle Net Services Configuration Methods"
Perform preinstallation tasks for Oracle Real Application Clusters clustered databases	Appendix B, "Oracle Real Application Clusters Preinstallation Tasks"
Install and deinstall Oracle components	Chapter 4, "Installing Oracle Components"
Install Oracle components noninteractively	"About Oracle Components in Noninteractive Mode"