Configure MS Windows Installation

For the most part, an installation on an MS Windows platform does not require any special preparation of the operating system like a Unix or Linux platform. Primarily one must simply ensure that sufficient system resources are available to support the installation, as outlined earlier.

One then logs onto the server or desktop as an administrator and launches the database installation setup executable. An installation on MS Windows is much more seamless, automatic and faster than a typical Linux / Unix installation, although there are certainly advantages in a production environment to operating on a Linux or Unix platform.

Confirm The Operating System Platform

In order to ensure proper operation of the database and obtain technical support from vendors, it is necessary that one utilize a supported operating system platform for the database installation. As of this writing, the supported MS Windows platforms are those noted here:

• Windows Server 2003, all editions
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows Vista, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions
• Windows Server 2008, all editions except the Server Core option
• Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions

Setting Environment Variables

Like any other platform running an Oracle instance, one key requirement for some installations on MS Windows is the setting of environment variables. To access environment variables, follow this procedure:

1. Right mouse-click on the My Computer icon.
2. Click on the Advanced tab.
3. Click on the Environment variables button.

From the resulting dialog, one may modify the values of existing environment variables, create new ones or delete existing ones.

ORACLE_HOME Variable

One requirement which might exist for the Oracle database is to ensure that there is no ORACLE_HOME environment variable defined in advance of an installation. This would only be the case if the server had an older installation of Oracle software. One should delete the ORACLE_HOME environment variable definition if one exists.

ORACLE_HOSTNAME Variable

This is used during installation and configuration of the administrator graphical interface Enterprise Manager. It should be set to the host name and domain name of the server system. While there are some circumstances in which setting this variable is not necessary, our recommendation is that it should be defined.

System Groups

The installation will automatically create a group known as ora_dba and the privileged account performing the installation will automatically be assigned to this group. There are generally no other requirements for users or groups on the MS Windows platform.