Installation of Oracle Enterprise Linux on a VMware Virtual machine for Oracle RAC

Installation of Oracle Enterprise Linux on a VMware Virtual machine for Oracle RAC

This article complements the post for creating RAC Virtual Machines using VMware. Here we will look at installing Oracle Enterprise Linux (OEL) 5.5. OEL can be downloaded from Oracle edelivery site. After downloading OEL 5.5 64 bit version we prepare an ISO image.

We start the already configured VMware Virtual machine either specifying the ISO file or with DVD containing the ISO image in the CD/DVD drive. After connecting to the console we are at the screen specified below. As we choose to install the OEL in graphical mode we will press ENTER at the prompt.

We are prompted to test the media. We have an option to skip the media check and start with the install or to perform the media checks before the installation. If we opt for media check the installer will check the ISO image and if the image checks passes we are ensured that we can succeed in performing the installation from the media otherwise we need to prepare a new readable (non-corrupted) media. We will choose to test the media. Press OK to perform the media test.

Press TEST to start the test.

Wait for the test to complete.

We are notified by the installer for the state of the media. If the media is fine the media check succeeds and we press OK to start the installation from the media.

We are provided an option to test another media. As we have one DVD we will press CONTINUE. As the screen suggest here we can test all CD/DVD prior to the install.

The OEL screen appears and press Next to continue.

Select the language end press Next to continue.

Select the keyboard for the system and press NEXT to continue.

As suggested by the installer at the prompt press OK to initialize the new partition.

We select ‘Create a custom layout’ and press NEXT to continue. This will enable us to specify different mount points and size of each mount point. The default is a single mount point using the LVM.

Select New and enter the specifics for the / mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /boot mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /home mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /tmp mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /usr mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /var mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the / usr/local mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /opt mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the swap file system that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Select New and enter the specifics for the /u01 mount point that meet your requirements as show below. Press OK to continue.

Now that we have created the mount points verify the configuration and press Next to continue.

Select GRUB and press Next to continue.

The installer detects the available network adapters. We are presented with a list of available adapters. Activate all adapters and select each adapter by highlighting the adapter and pressing Edit. Enter the IP address for the adapter and the respective netmask that comply with your requirements and press OK to continue. As we are installing OEL for Oracle RAC deployment we have created four network adapters in the VMware server configuration for that Virtual machine that will run Oracle RAC.

Select the second adapter. Enter the IP address for the adapter and the respective netmask that comply with you requirements and press OK to continue.

Select next adapter. Enter the IP address for the adapter and the respective netmask that comply with you requirements and press OK to continue.

Select next adapter. Enter the IP address for the adapter and the respective netmask that comply with you requirements and press OK to continue.

Specify the additional settings that are specific for you setup end press Next to continue. For Oracle RAC we need to have a hostname and a Default Gateway. Lack of a default gateway will cause a problem with the VIP later on.

Select the region and press Next to continue.

Enter the root password and press Next to continue.

Select the software and the customization options and press Next to continue.

Select all the packages and press Next to continue.

Wait for the dependency check to complete.

Press Next to begin the installation.

Wait for the completion.

Press Forward to continue.

Select Yes and press Forward to continue.

For Oracle RAC select Firewall Disabled and press next to continue.

Acknowledge by pressing Yes.

Select SELinux disabled, acknowledge at the prompt and press Forward to continue.

Press Next to continue.

Select Next to continue and press Forward to continue.

On create user specify the username and press Forward to continue.

Acknowledge the sound card detection and press Forward to continue.

Pressing Finish will complete the installation. At the prompts press OK. The system will reboot to perform the setup we configured.

Now we have installed the OEL 5.5 x64. Login with the root credentials and continue with the VMware tools installation to synchronize the guest and host operating system.

Perform synchronization between guest OS and host OS. On the web VMware Infrastructure, highlight the created VM and click the “Install VMware Tools” link and click the subsequent “Install” button. Install VMware tools package by clicking on the tools rpm in the console by clicking the VMware tools rpm.

Wait for the rpm install to complete.

Acknowledge the VMware tools installation.

As root run the vmware-config-tools.pl script.

Acept the defaults and select the screen resolution.

Run vmware-tools as root. Select Time synchronisation… and press Close.

Reboot the VM.

Summary

In this post we looked at Oracle Enterprise Linux installation. During the installation we covered configuration of network adapters and creation of custom file systems. We saw how to disable firewall and SELinux settings so that to have OEL environment for Oracle RAC. We looked at how to synchronize the guest with the host OS.