1. Introduction
Oracle Database 26ai is a next-generation database platform that leverages advanced AI and automation capabilities to simplify database management while delivering high performance, scalability, and reliability for modern enterprise applications. By providing intelligent automation, enhanced analytics, and optimized workload management, Oracle 26ai enables organizations to deploy and manage mission-critical databases more efficiently.
This document presents a complete, step-by-step guide for installing Oracle Database 26ai on a single-node Oracle Linux 8.9 environment running on VMware. It covers the entire setup process, from preparing the operating system, installing required packages, configuring the Oracle user and environment, setting up directory structures, installing the Oracle software, running root scripts, and finally creating and verifying the database instance.
This guide is designed to be practical, clear, and easy to follow, making it suitable for beginners, administrators, and professionals who want to deploy a fully functional Oracle Database 26ai environment.
2. Environment Overview
|
Component |
Details |
|
Virtualization Platform |
VMware Workstation |
|
Operating System |
Oracle Linux 8.10 (x86_64) |
|
Storage Type |
NFS |
|
Oracle Database Version |
26ai |
|
Oracle User |
oracle |
|
ORACLE_BASE |
/u01/app/oracle |
|
ORACLE_HOME |
/u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1 |
|
ORACLE_SID |
ORCL26 |
|
PDB Name |
ORCL26PDB |
|
Listener Port |
1521 (default) |
3. Prerequisites
3.1 Hardware Requirements
Standalone Server
- RAM: Minimum 8 GB (Recommended: 16 GB+)
- CPU: 2 vCPUs or more
- Primary Disk: 700 GB
- Virtualization Platform: VMware Workstation
3.2 Disk and LVM Layout (Verified)
The system uses LVM-based
storage on a single physical disk.
This layout is optimized for Oracle Database 26ai and provides flexibility for
future growth.
Physical Disk Configuration
- Disk: /dev/sda — 700 GB
- /boot: 4 GB (standard partition)
- LVM Physical Volume: ~695 GB
Logical Volume Configuration (Final State)
|
Logical Volume |
Mount Point |
Size |
|
|
ol-root |
/ |
47 GB |
|
|
ol-u01 |
/u01 |
220 GB |
|
|
ol-u02 |
/u02 |
150 GB |
|
|
ol-backup |
/backup |
163 GB |
|
|
ol-home |
/home |
50 GB |
|
|
ol-tmp |
/tmp |
35 GB |
|
|
ol-swap |
swap |
30 GB |
|
Key Notes
· All logical volumes are mounted correctly and verified
· No unused volume group space remains unallocated
· Filesystem: XFS, recommended and fully supported for Oracle databases
· /u01 is dedicated to Oracle software binaries
· /u02 is dedicated to Oracle database data files
· /backup is reserved exclusively for database backups and recovery-related files
Note: This storage layout is based on my implementation. You may adjust the sizing and mount points according to your own requirements and environment.
3.3 Network Requirements
A standalone server requires at least one primary network interface, with support for future expansion.
Public Network (eth0)
Used
for:
- Client and database connections
- SQL*Net communication
- Administrative access (SSH)
Example configuration:
- Hostname: ol8db26.localdomain
- IP Address: 192.168.73.100
Optional NAT Adapter (VM environments
only)
Used
only for:
- Internet access
- Package downloads and updates
4. Download Required Oracle Software
For a standalone Oracle Database 26ai installation using NFS-based storage, only the Oracle Database software is required. The database files are stored on NFS-mounted file systems, which are managed directly by the operating system and Oracle Database.
Required Software Package
Download the following software from the official Oracle website:
Oracle Database 26ai Software (Database Home)
This package includes:
- Oracle Database binaries required to install and configure the database
- Support for:
- Container Database (CDB)
- Pluggable Database (PDB)
- Oracle utilities and tools for database administration and management
Link :- Oracle AI Database 26ai Download for Linux x86-64
-------- Download the ZIP file shown in the picture by clicking the link above --------
Installation has 3 phases:
•Installing the Operating System and Preparing the Servers
• Installation Phase I- Installing Oracle Software
• Installation Phase II- Creating Database with DBCA
5. Installing the Operating System and Preparing the Servers
The operating system Oracle Linux 8.10 has been successfully installed on VMware Workstation. This same server will be used to proceed with the standalone Oracle Database 26ai installation.
After booting the server, ensure the operating system is fully updated and install all required OS packages and dependencies needed for the Oracle Database installation. This preparation step is essential to ensure a smooth and error-free deployment of Oracle Database 26ai in a standalone environment.
Verify OS Version
# cat /etc/os-release
# cat /etc/hostname
For installing Oracle Database 26ai on Oracle Linux 8, the recommended preinstallation package is:
oracle-database-preinstall-23ai
Oracle has not released a dedicated 26ai preinstall RPM for Oracle Linux 8 at this time. However, the 23ai preinstall package is fully forward-compatible and officially supported for newer Oracle Database releases on the same OS version.
As a fallback option, oracle-database-preinstall-19c can also be used if the 23ai package is unavailable.
These preinstallation RPMs automatically perform the following essential system configurations required for Oracle Database installation:
- Configure kernel parameters (sysctl)
- Set user limits (ulimit)
- Install all required OS packages and dependencies
- Create the oracle user and standard Oracle groups
- Apply recommended OS-level settings for database stability and performance
Using the oracle-database-preinstall RPM ensures the operating system meets Oracle’s prerequisites and significantly simplifies the database installation process, reducing manual configuration errors.
# dnf -y update
# dnf install -y oracle-database-preinstall-23ai
Change/Set the password of the Oracle user.
# passwd oracle
To confirm that the oracle user belongs to all necessary groups, run:
# id oracle
Disable "Secure Linux" :
# vi /etc/selinux/config
SELINUX=disabled
Stop and disable “Firewall” service :
# systemctl stop firewalld.service
# systemctl disable firewalld.service
Directory Structure Preparation
Before starting the installation, the required directory structure was created to organize Oracle software, installation files, database files, and recovery data.
An installation staging directory /u02/orainstall was created to store the Oracle Database installation files. This location can be customized as per individual requirements.
The following directories were configured:
- /u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1 – Oracle Database software home
- /u01/app/oraInventory – Oracle inventory directory
- /u02/oradata – Database datafiles, control files, and redo logs
- /u02/fra – Fast Recovery Area (FRA)
- /u02/orainstall – Installation media staging directory
After creating the directories, ownership and permissions were assigned to ensure proper access for the Oracle software owner.
# mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1
# mkdir -p /u01/app/oraInventory
# mkdir -p /u02/oradata/
# mkdir -p /u02/fra
# mkdir -p /u02/orainstall
# chown -R oracle:oinstall /u01
# chown -R oracle:oinstall /u02
# chmod -R 775 /u01
# chmod -R 775 /u02
This directory layout follows Oracle best practices and provides a clean separation between software binaries, database files, and recovery-related data.
We’ll add 1 ethernet cards to our server, that’s why we shut down the server.
# shutdown -h now
Click "Edit virtual machine settings".
Click “Add”.
Select “Network Adapter” and click “Finish”.
Add 1 ethernet cards as “host-only”.
Boot the server.
Ethernet card is added to the server as “ens224” Click “connect”.
Manage settings for “ens224”. This card will be used for “Used for client connections, SSH, DB access, and future Data Guard configuration”.
edit the file /etc/hosts.
# vi /etc/hosts
Transfer Installation Files to the Linux Server
After downloading the required Oracle installation files in Step 4 (Grid Infrastructure and Oracle Database Home), transfer them from your Windows machine to standalone server only using WinSCP.
1. Open WinSCP and connect to server using the oracle user.
2. Navigate to the desired folder on the Linux server (example: /u02/orainstall or any folder you created for installation files).
3. Upload the downloaded zip file:
· Oracle Database Home installation file
Switch to Oracle user and create profile files.
# su - oracle
$ vi .profile_db
Before starting the installation, enable the GUI by setting export DISPLAY=:0 and allow root access with xhost +.
8. Installation Phase I- Installing Oracle Software
Unzip with the Oracle user.
$ unzip LINUX.X64_23261000_db_home.zip -d /u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1
After unzip is Done . set up the db environment by sourcing the profile script, and then start the installation.
$ . .profile_db
$ cd /u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1
$ ./runInstaller
Click “Software only”.
Click “Single Instance database installation”.
Be sure that software location is the “/u01/app/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1” index.
Make sure Inventory Location is Correct.
Check all the groups are assigned properly.
Write the root password to run the scripts automatically. I suggest running the scripts manually but since this is a test environment, we’ll run them automatically.
Click “Install”.
Approve to run the scripts automatically.
Finish the software installation by clicking “Close”.
10. Installation Phase II- Creating Database with DBCA
you must load the Database Home environment using the .profile_db file. Once the database environment variables are active, you can start the Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) to create the database:
$ . .profile_db
$ dbca
The DBCA tool will guide you through the graphical interface to configure a Standalone database, including selecting the database name, storage options (NFS), character set, memory settings, and pluggable database (PDB) configuration.
Click “Create a database”.
Click “Advanced Configuration”.
Click “General Purpose or Transaction Processing” and click “Next”.
You need to name the database and adjust sid value. We chose both as ‘orcl26’. In 26ai the “Create as Container database” option is enabled by default.so name PDB as ‘orcl26pdb’ and continue.
Select NFS as the storage option for database files and browse to the appropriate storage location.
Enable “Archiving” and Select “FRA”.
Create a new listener
Since we’ll not use “DB Vault” and “Label Security”, click “Next”.
We’ll continue by using ASSM, if you wish you can use something else in accordance with your system. What’s important is that, the value shouldn’t exceed two third of the physical RAM value of the server.
Continue because we won’t use cloud control.
Choose the passwords for “SYS” and “SYSTEM”.
Select “Create Database”.
Click “Finish” and start the installation.
Click “Close” and finish the installation.
11. Final Status Verification
12.
Summary
In this deployment, a
fully functional Standalone Oracle Database 26ai environment was
successfully installed and configured on Oracle Linux 8.10, running on VMware
Workstation.
The database was deployed using a filesystem-based storage architecture over
NFS, without Grid Infrastructure or ASM, following a clean and simplified
standalone setup.
The following key tasks were successfully completed:
- OS preparation: Oracle Linux 8.9 was updated and configured using the oracle-database-preinstall-26ai package to meet all Oracle prerequisites.
- Storage configuration: Implemented an LVM-based storage layout with XFS filesystem, using /u01 for Oracle software, /u02 (NFS-based) for database data files, and /backup for backups.
- Oracle software installation: Installed Oracle Database 26ai in a standalone configuration without Grid Infrastructure.
- Database creation: Created a Single Instance Container Database (CDB) with a Pluggable Database named orcl26pdb using filesystem storage.
- Network configuration: Configured and validated the Oracle Net Listener on port 1521.
- Environment setup: Configured Oracle environment variables and user profiles.
- Validation: Verified database status, background processes, listener services, and version banners to confirm system stability.
The system is now fully operational and ready for standalone Oracle Database 26ai workloads, providing a clean, maintainable, and production-ready filesystem-based architecture suitable for learning, testing, and enterprise use cases.