How to Install Oracle Database XE on Debian Sarge

Few days ago Oracle Database Express Edition has been released.

Oracle Database 10g Express Edition (Oracle Database XE) is an entry-level, small-footprint database based on the Oracle Database 10g Release 2 code base that’s free to develop, deploy, and distribute; fast to download; and simple to administer. Oracle Database XE is a great starter database for:

• Developers working on PHP, Java, .NET, and Open Source applications
• DBAs who need a free, starter database for training and deployment
• Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and hardware vendors who want a starter database to distribute free of charge
• Educational institutions and students who need a free database for their curriculum

I have spent some time for installing it on Debian Sarge because it has only Debian Unstable support and many people does not know, that required lib (libaio) can be installed to Sarge. Now, I will describe step-by-step howto about installing Oracle XE on Debian Sarge.

First of all, you do not need to download Oracle XE installation package for Debian from Oracle Express Download Page. You do not need to do it because Oracle has its own debian repository for automated installations.

To use this reposotory you need to add following lines to /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb http://oss.oracle.com/debian/ unstable main non-free
deb-src http://oss.oracle.com/debian/ unstable main

Next, you need to update your package files (as root):

# apt-get update
...
Reading Package Lists... Done
#

Now, you able to install your new Oracle XE! Just run following commands as a root user and answer for some questions about admin passwords and Oracle starting at boot:

# apt-get install oracle-xe-universal
...
(Reading database ... 62016 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking oracle-xe (from oracle-xe_10.2.0.1-0.060128_i386.deb) ...
Setting up oracle-xe (10.2.0.1-0.060128) ...
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition is not configured.  You must run
'/etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure' as the root user to configure the database.
Executing Post-install steps...
You must run '/etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure' as the root user to configure the database

# /etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure
Specify the HTTP port that will be used for Oracle Application Express [8080]:

Specify a port that will be used for the database listener [1521]:

Specify a password to be used for database accounts.  Note that the same
password will be used for SYS and SYSTEM.  Oracle recommends the use of
different passwords for each database account.  This can be done after
initial configuration:

Confirm the password:   (* make sure you remember this password *)

Do you want Oracle Database 10g Express Edition to be started on boot (y/n) [y]: y

Starting Oracle Net Listener...Done
Configuring Database...Done
Starting Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance...Done
Installation Completed Successfully.
To access the Database Home Page go to "http://127.0.0.1:8080/apex"

# 

That’s all! Now you have installed Oracle Express Edition on your Debian Sarge server. Be happy using it!

Related posts:

1. Oracle Database 10g Express Edition: Not Just for Learners
2. Unofficial Debian GNU/Linux Repositories Overview
3. A Concise apt-get / dpkg primer for new Debian users
4. Tuning and Optimizing Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Oracle 9i and 10g Databases
5. Oracle SQL Developer (formerly Project Raptor) Release 6 is Out