Install

OEL Linux OS 7.x Installation

Overview

What follows is the most common way to perform a core Linux OS installation for an Oracle production system. Adjust as required for your environment. Interface names (eth1, eth2 etc.) may be different in your environment.

If in Virtualbox use right Ctrl key to move mouse outside of window.
This page is designed for OEL but generally covers RHEL and CentOS too.
Be sure to perform any Post Installation Actions (common aliases etc.).

OS Disk

 Role            Size
 App Server    = 128gb
 Oracle Server = 160gb *

Why so much for Oracle? Patches.
Optimally 250gb may be a good investment if you need to scale from Oracle 12.x to 19c.

SWAP Size

 1gb to 2gb     = 1.5 times the size of the RAM
 2gb to 16gb    = Equal to the size of the RAM
 More than 16gb = 16 GB *

* /swap shows less than 16b in some tools. Oracle will complain if less than 16gb is detected. Thus 18gb can be an ideal value for Oracle systems.

Prerequisites

Go to the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud and download Oracle Linux:
1. Select: Popular Downloads
2. Select: Oracle Linux <VersionYouWant>
  Example: Oracle 7.x
  It will say Added to Cart once clicked.
3. Select: Selected Software
4. Accept License
5. Select DL Option
  Example: [x] V921569-01.iso Oracle Linux Release 7 Update 4 for x86 (64 bit), 4.6 GB

Procedure

0. Boot from the ISO.
1. Select installation option:

Ex: Install Oracle Linux 7.x Enter

OS Installer\Boot runs...

2. Welcome\Language

Continue accepting the default.

3. Installation Summary

SOFTWARE SELECTION

(x) Server with GUI
[x] Development Tools

After above set select .

SYSTEM (disk partitioning)

• Partitioning: (x) I will configure partitioning - then select .

• Click: "Click here to create them automatically"

• Change Partitioning as follows (minimum values shown):

/ (root file system)   130 GiB (or more: see /u01 & /u02 below)
/swap                  18 GiB 
/home                  10 GiB

• Make sure to select after each change then

• /swap can show as less than 16b in some tools. Oracle will complain if less than 16gb with production RAM values. Thus 18gb can be an ideal value.

• Initially while in the configuration window you can set /home to smaller values to make space available.

/u01 & /u02

Though you do not have to allocate partitions for these now, adding these here for completeness.

/u01/app      Oracle application binaries and support files.
/u01/orasw    Oracle software and patch file location.
/u01/scripts  DBA scripts.

/u02          Exports, RMAN backups, wallets.

/u01 & /u02 can be created as directories off /(root) if enough space is provided (assuming you have a modern SAN).

KDUMP

Disable if test system.

NETWORK & HOSTNAME

RAC configuration example here.

   [Configure] each as shown:
     eth1
       General: 
         [x] Automatically connect to this network when it is available.
       IPv4 Settings
         Method: Manual
         Select [Add]: 192.168.56.71\255.255.255.0

   Host name: (Example: lnx01) [Apply]

• If VirtualBox, set interfaces for NAT and Host-only Adapter to Automatic (DHCP).

• After above set select .

Select

• While install running you can set root password.

• Select when prompted.

Accept license from console screen. In some instances it may present a GUI for this.
Select .
Post Boot Prompts
- Welcome: English
- Typing: English
- Privacy -> Location Services: OFF
- Time Zone: <Your TZ> Ex: EDT (UTC-04) New York, United States
About You
Full Name: lnxuser
Password: ********

Post Installation

Perform as needed for your environment:

Ensure your DNS (/etc/resolv.conf)) has a search domain entry and one or more nameserver IP entries.
If your application vendor allows, update the OS and packages: yum update -y
Disable Firewall.
Configure NTP.
Configure sendmail (smtp).
Install dos2unix package.
Configure standard shell (aliases, env vars) and cron job entries.
If Oracle server, perform the LINUX OS Prep for an Oracle database system.

Aliases - Common

# Aliases - Common
alias cl='clear;crontab -l'
alias l9='ls -alt | head -9' 
alias l20='ls -alt | head -20'
alias l50='ls -alt | head -50'
alias oslog='tail -f /var/log/messages'
alias tf='date;ls -l|wc -l'

For oslog alias: chmod 644 /var/log/messages

RAC Network Example

A system to be a RAC node requires two interfaces:
1. One for the public network (ex: 192.168.56.71).
2. One for the privet network (ex: 192.168.10.1).
Change IPs to match your environment.

eth1
  General: 
    [x] Automatically connect to this network when it is available.
    IPv4 Settings
    Method: Manual
    [Add] 192.168.56.71\255.255.255.0

eth2
  General: 
    [x] Automatically connect to this network when it is available.
  IPv4 Settings
    Method: Manual
     [Add] 192.168.10.1\255.255.255.0