Installing Oracle AI Database Free 26ai RPM on Linux x86-64
Oracle AI Database Free 26ai can be installed on supported Linux platforms using the RPM-based installation method.
This article covers:
- Installing the Oracle AI Database Preinstallation RPM
- Installing Oracle AI Database Free 26ai
- Creating and configuring the database
- Performing a silent installation
- Understanding the configuration files and directories
- Setting Oracle environment variables
Oracle Documentation
For the latest installation information, refer to the official Oracle documentation:
https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/26/xeinl/preface.html
1. Install the Oracle AI Database Preinstallation RPM
Log in to the server as the root user.
Oracle Linux 8, 9, and 10
Install the Oracle AI Database Preinstallation RPM:
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai
The preinstallation RPM automatically performs several operating-system configuration tasks required for the Oracle database installation.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Go to the Oracle Yum repository:
https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL8/appstream/x86_64/
Download the latest Oracle AI Database 26ai Preinstallation RPM.
Example:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
Install the RPM:
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Go to the Oracle Yum repository:
https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL9/appstream/x86_64/
Download the latest Oracle AI Database 26ai Preinstallation RPM.
Example:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Install the RPM:
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Go to the Oracle Yum repository:
https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL10/appstream/x86_64/
Download the latest Oracle AI Database 26ai Preinstallation RPM.
Example:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el10.x86_64.rpm
Install the RPM:
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el10.x86_64.rpm
2. Download Oracle AI Database Free 26ai
Access the Oracle AI Database Free download page:
https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/free-downloads.html
Download the appropriate RPM package for your operating system.
Examples:
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el10.x86_64.rpm
Choose the RPM corresponding to your Linux version.
3. Install Oracle AI Database Free 26ai
Oracle Linux 8 / RHEL 8
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
Oracle Linux 9 / RHEL 9
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Oracle Linux 10 / RHEL 10
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el10.x86_64.rpm
Once the RPM installation completes, the Oracle AI Database Free software installation is complete.
The database itself still needs to be created and configured.
4. Create and Configure Oracle AI Database
The configuration script creates:
- Container Database: FREE
- Pluggable Database: FREEPDB1
- Listener: Port 1521 by default
You can modify the default configuration parameters in:
/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf
Run the Configuration Script
Switch to the root user:
sudo -s
Run the configuration script:
/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure
The script prompts you to enter a password for the following administrative accounts:
- SYS
- SYSTEM
- PDBADMIN
Oracle recommends using a password that is at least 8 characters long and contains:
- At least one uppercase character
- At least one lowercase character
- At least one digit (0-9)
After the configuration completes successfully, the database and listener are started.
5. Important Oracle AI Database Free Directories
After installation, the following directories and files are important for administration and troubleshooting.
Oracle Base
/opt/oracle
This is the root of the Oracle AI Database Free directory tree.
Oracle Home
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
This is the Oracle Home where Oracle AI Database Free is installed. It contains the Oracle database executables, network configuration files, and other required components.
Database Files
/opt/oracle/oradata/FREE
This directory contains the database files.
Diagnostic Logs
/opt/oracle/diag
The database alert log is located at:
/opt/oracle/diag/rdbms/free/FREE/trace/alert_FREE.log
Database Creation Logs
/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE
The FREE.log file contains the results of the database creation process.
Configuration File
/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf
This file contains the default database configuration parameters.
Service and Configuration Script
/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai
This script is used to configure and manage the Oracle AI Database Free installation.
6. Performing a Silent Installation
Oracle AI Database Free can also be installed using silent mode.
Silent installation is useful for:
- Automated deployments
- Unattended installations
- Application-embedded database installations
- Lab and test environments
- Repeated installations
For a silent installation, the administrative password must be supplied either through the configuration file or through the configuration command.
Example Silent Installation Script
Create a wrapper shell script.
Oracle Linux 8
#!/bin/bash
yum -y install /downloads/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el8.x86_64.rpm > /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
(echo "password"; echo "password";) | /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure >> /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
Oracle Linux 9
#!/bin/bash
yum -y install /downloads/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el9.x86_64.rpm > /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
(echo "password"; echo "password";) | /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure >> /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
Oracle Linux 10
#!/bin/bash
yum -y install /downloads/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el10.x86_64.rpm > /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
(echo "password"; echo "password";) | /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure >> /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log 2>&1
Note: Replace password with a secure password that meets the Oracle password requirements.
Make the script executable:
chmod +x myscript.sh
Run the script as root using sudo:
sudo ./myscript.sh
The installation log can be reviewed using:
cat /free_logs/FREEsilentinstall.log
The Oracle AI Database Free Oracle Home is:
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
7. Oracle AI Database Free Configuration Parameters
The following parameters can be configured in:
/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf
LISTENER_PORT
Specifies the listener port.
Example:
LISTENER_PORT=1521
Specify a valid numeric port. Automatic port assignment should not be used when configuring this parameter.
CHARSET
Specifies the database character set.
The default value is:
CHARSET=AL32UTF8
DBFILE_DEST
Specifies the location where database files are stored.
By default, database files are stored under:
/opt/oracle/oradata
You can specify a custom location, but the directory must have the appropriate ownership and permissions for the oracle user.
SKIP_VALIDATIONS
Controls whether memory and disk-space validation is skipped.
Default:
SKIP_VALIDATIONS=false
CONFIGURE_TDE
Controls whether Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is configured.
To enable TDE:
CONFIGURE_TDE=true
The default value is:
CONFIGURE_TDE=false
ENCRYPT_TABLESPACES
Controls which tablespaces are encrypted.
For user tablespaces, leave the value empty.
To encrypt all tablespaces:
ENCRYPT_TABLESPACES=ALL
For specific tablespaces, you can specify values such as:
ENCRYPT_TABLESPACES=SYSTEM:true,SYSAUX:false
8. Database Creation Logs
Database creation logs are available under the Oracle Base directory:
/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/
For the FREE database, the logs are located under:
/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE/
These logs are useful when troubleshooting database creation or configuration failures.
9. Setting Oracle AI Database Free Environment Variables
After installing and configuring Oracle AI Database Free, set the Oracle environment variables before using the database.
Oracle provides the following scripts for setting the environment:
oraenv
coraenv
Bash / Bourne / Korn Shell
Log in as the oracle user and set the following variables:
export ORACLE_SID=FREE
export ORACLE_HOME=/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
export ORAENV_ASK=NO
Run the oraenv script:
. /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/bin/oraenv
You should see output similar to:
The Oracle base has been set to /opt/oracle
You can verify the environment using:
echo $ORACLE_SID
echo $ORACLE_HOME
Expected values:
FREE
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
10. C Shell Environment
For C shell (csh), use:
setenv ORACLE_SID FREE
setenv ORACLE_HOME /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
setenv ORAENV_ASK NO
Source the coraenv script:
source /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/bin/coraenv
11. Verify the Installation
After configuring the database and setting the environment variables, verify that the database is running.
Check the database processes:
ps -ef | grep pmon
You should see the FREE database instance.
You can also check the listener:
lsnrctl status
To connect to the database as SYSDBA:
sqlplus / as sysdba
Check the database status:
SELECT name, open_mode FROM v$database;
Check the pluggable database:
SHOW PDBS;
The default PDB created by the configuration script is:
FREEPDB1
Conclusion
This article covered the RPM-based installation of Oracle AI Database Free 26ai on Linux, including:
- Installing the Oracle AI Database Preinstallation RPM
- Installing Oracle AI Database Free 26ai
- Creating and configuring the FREE container database
- Configuring the FREEPDB1 pluggable database
- Performing a silent installation
- Understanding important Oracle directories and log files
- Configuring TDE and other installation parameters
- Setting ORACLE_SID and ORACLE_HOME
- Verifying the database and listener
Oracle AI Database Free 26ai provides a convenient way to build a local environment for learning, development, testing, and exploring the capabilities of Oracle Database 26ai.
