Install Oracle XE on Ubuntu

Oracle XE can be downloaded at the Oracle site. I chose the Debian install for Linux. I read the installation guides. This is how to do it:

If you do not have 1GB free memory, or want to reduce the database footprint:

• $sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/swpfs1 bs=1M count=1000
  
• $sudo mkswap /swpfs1
  
• $sudo swapon /swpfs1
  

I used the Ubuntu apt-get utility to install the database.

• sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
  

Insert "deb http://oss.oracle.com/debian unstable main non-free" into the file if it does not exist and save. Then import the Key:

• $wget http://oss.oracle.com/el4/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle -O- |sudo apt-key add -
  

Now install the db:

• $sudo apt-get update
  
• $sudo apt-get install oracle-xe

After the installation you need to run the following:

• sudo /etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure

Follow the instructions and write down the ports and passwords that you specify. Then you will need to update the users on the system. Go to System>Administration>Users and Groups. Unlock the editor and under the manage groups tab, add your user to the dba group.

The database should be running. Go to http://localhost:8080 - assuming you didn't change this port in post config, and the database info page should appear. The database is now integrated in the menu as well - so if not running, start it it up by navigating to the Applications>Oracle Database>Start Database.

One more step is to specify the ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_SID environmental variables:

• gedit $HOME/.bashrc

Add the following lines:

• ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server
• ORACLE_SID=XE
• export ORACLE_HOME ORACLE_SID

You could also/instead add these to your /etc/environment file. In that file you would add:

• ORACLE_HOME="/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server"
  
• ORACLE_SID="XE"
  

Either login in again, or type

• source .bashrc
• source /etc/environment

To run Oracle utilities add /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server/bin to the path in /etc/environment and source it.

You should be good to go. You can access the database home page via the menu, or go to http://localhost:8080/apex.