Oracle Database 26ai Installation Using RPM on Oracle Linux 9 (OEL 9) – Step-by-Step Guide

 

In this post I will describe the installation of Oracle Database 26ai 64-bit on Oracle Linux 9 (OL8) 64-bit. The installation requires a minimum of 2g swap memory and secure Linux set to permissive or disabled.

Add hosts entry in hosts file

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# cat /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1   localhost localhost.localdomain localhost4 localhost4.localdomain4

::1         localhost localhost.localdomain localhost6 localhost6.localdomain6

10.0.0.45 dbvm-1.subnet09221504.vcn09221504.oraclevcn.com dbvm-1

Download the RPM for oracle installation:-

The required rpm can be downloaded directly from oracle website

https://www.oracle.com/database/free/get-started/

Rpm url : oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

Download the rpm as root user

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# wget https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL9/appstream/x86_64/getPackage/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# dnf install -y oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai   Last metadata expiration check: 0:04:32 ago on Sat 06 Jun 2026 06:11:34 AM GMT. Dependencies resolved. ==============================================================================================================================================================================================  Package                                                         Architecture                        Version                                 Repository                                  Size ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Installing:  oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai                              x86_64                              1.0-1.el9                               ol9_appstream                               34 k   Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Install  1 Package   Total download size: 34 k Installed size: 81 k Downloading Packages: oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm                                                                                                       416 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total                                                                                                                                                         407 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00 Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction   Preparing        :                                                                                                                                                                      1/1   Installing       : oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Verifying        : oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Installed:   oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64   Complete! [root@dbvm-1 opc]# dnf install -y oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai   Last metadata expiration check: 0:04:32 ago on Sat 06 Jun 2026 06:11:34 AM GMT. Dependencies resolved. ==============================================================================================================================================================================================  Package                                                         Architecture                        Version                                 Repository                                  Size ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Installing:  oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai                              x86_64                              1.0-1.el9                               ol9_appstream                               34 k   Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Install  1 Package   Total download size: 34 k Installed size: 81 k Downloading Packages: oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm                                                                                                       416 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total                                                                                                                                                         407 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00 Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction   Preparing        :                                                                                                                                                                      1/1   Installing       : oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Verifying        : oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                  1/1   Installed:   oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64   Complete!

Now Download and install the 26ai binary as root user

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# wget https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/db-free/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

 

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# dnf -y install  oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.el9.x86_64.rpm Last metadata expiration check: 0:37:25 ago on Sat 06 Jun 2026 06:11:34 AM GMT. Dependencies resolved. ==============================================================================================================================================================================================  Package                                                     Architecture                          Version                                  Repository                                   Size ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Installing:  oracle-ai-database-free-26ai                                x86_64                                23.26.2-1                                @commandline                                1.4 G   Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================================================== Install  1 Package   Total size: 1.4 G Installed size: 3.8 G Downloading Packages: Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction   Preparing        :                                                                                                                                                                      1/1   Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1   Installing       : oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1   Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1 [INFO] Executing post installation scripts... [INFO] Oracle home installed successfully and ready to be configured. To configure Oracle AI Database Free, optionally modify the parameters in '/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf' and then run '/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure' as root.     Verifying        : oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1   Installed:   oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.2-1.x86_64   Complete!

ORACLE_HOME for 26ai oracle binary is /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree

 

Database creation:-

[root@dbvm-1 opc]# /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure Specify a password to be used for database accounts. Oracle recommends that the password entered should be at least 8 characters in length, contain at least 1 uppercase character, 1 lower case character and 1 digit [0-9]. Note that the same password will be used for SYS, SYSTEM and PDBADMIN accounts: Confirm the password: Configuring Oracle Listener. Listener configuration succeeded. Configuring Oracle AI Database FREE. Enter SYS user password: ************* Enter SYSTEM user password: ************ Enter PDBADMIN User Password: *************** Prepare for db operation 7% complete Copying database files 29% complete Creating and starting Oracle instance 30% complete 33% complete 36% complete 39% complete 43% complete Completing Database Creation 47% complete 49% complete 50% complete Creating Pluggable Databases 54% complete 71% complete Executing Post Configuration Actions 93% complete Running Custom Scripts 100% complete Database creation complete. For details check the logfiles at:  /opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE. Database Information: Global Database Name:FREE System Identifier(SID):FREE Look at the log file "/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE/FREE.log" for further details.   Connect to Oracle AI Database using one of the connect strings:      Pluggable database: dbvm-1/FREEPDB1      Multitenant container database: dbvm-1

Note: Database creation is still possible like old ways we have been doing so far.

Following screenshot shows how to create the database manually. 

[root@dbvm-1 opc]#dbca

Here we kept a separate path for oracle data files.

To connect the database:-

[oracle@dbvm-1 ~]$ sqlplus sys@//localhost:1521/free as sysdba   SQL> show pdbs      CON_ID CON_NAME                       OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED ---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------          2 PDB$SEED                       READ ONLY  NO          3 FREEPDB1                       READ WRITE NO   [oracle@dbvm-1 ~]$ sqlplus sys@//localhost:1521/freepdb1 as sysdba SQL> show con_name  CON_NAME ------------------------------ FREEPDB1

To Start and stop database:-

[root@dbvm-1 sshd_config.d]# /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai stop Shutting down Oracle AI Database instance FREE. Oracle AI Database instance FREE shut down. Stopping Oracle Net Listener. Oracle Net Listener stopped.   [root@dbvm-1 sshd_config.d]# /etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai start Starting Oracle Net Listener. Oracle Net Listener started. Starting Oracle AI Database instance FREE. Oracle AI Database instance FREE started.

How to Patch Oracle Database to 19.31 on Windows: Step-by-Step Guide

 

In this article, I'll walk you through the steps I used to patch an Oracle Database 19c environment from version 19.29 to 19.31 following Oracle's April 2026 Quarterly Release Update.

Quarterly patching is a regular responsibility for Oracle DBAs, and while the version numbers may change, the underlying process remains largely consistent across Oracle 19c Release Updates. This guide is intended to serve as a practical reference that you can use during your own patching activities.

Note: Never apply a patch directly to a Production environment without first validating it in Development or Test. Thorough testing helps identify potential issues before they impact business-critical systems.

Requirements

Before proceeding, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:

• Oracle Database 19c (Windows x86-64)
• Active My Oracle Support (MOS) account
• Appropriate access to ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_BASE directories
• Minimum 12 GB free disk space in Oracle Home
• WinSCP or equivalent file transfer utility
• Scheduled maintenance window and approved downtime

 

Step 1: Download the Patch and OPatch Utility

Log in to Oracle Support and download the following:

• Patch file: 38818049 → p38818049_190000_MSWIN-x86-64.zip
• OPatch utility: 6880880 → p6880880_190000_MSWIN -x86-64.zip

Steps to download: Select Patches & Updates → enter patch number → select platform Windows x86-64 → download both files and review the README.

 

Step 2: Check and Update OPatch

On the server, check your current OPatch version:

cd %ORACLE_HOME%/OPatch opatch version

 

You need version 12.2.0.1.48 or higher. If it's older, update it:

cd %ORACLE_HOME% ren OPatch OPatch_backup1 robocopy p6880880_190000_MSWIN -x86-64.zip   %ORACLE_HOME% cd %ORACLE_HOME% unzip p6880880_190000_MSWIN -x86-64.zip

 

Step 3: Run Pre-checks

Before applying the patch, check for conflicts with existing patches:

 

C:\Users\Administrator>cd C:\software\oracle_patch_19.31\38818049   C:\software\oracle_patch_19.31\38818049>D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\OPatch\opatch prereq CheckConflictAgainstOHWithDetail -ph ./ Oracle Interim Patch Installer version 12.2.0.1.51 Copyright (c) 2026, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.   PREREQ session   Oracle Home       : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1 Central Inventory : C:\Program Files\Oracle\Inventory    from           : OPatch version    : 12.2.0.1.51 OUI version       : 12.2.0.7.0 Log file location : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\opatch\opatch2026-06-06_19-40-37PM_1.log   Invoking prereq "checkconflictagainstohwithdetail"   Prereq "checkConflictAgainstOHWithDetail" passed.   OPatch succeeded.

 

As we see "OPatch succeeded", we are good to go. If there are conflicts, resolve them before proceeding.

Step 4: Stop the Database and Listener

sqlplus / as sysdba   SQL> shutdown immediate SQL> exit   lsnrctl stop

 

Verify all services are completely down before moving to the next step.

Step 5: Clean Up Inactive Patches (Optional but Recommended)

This frees up Oracle Home space before applying the new patch:

cd %ORACLE_HOME%/OPatch   ./opatch util listOrderedInactivePatches   ./opatch util deleteInactivePatches

 

Step 6: Check Available Disk Space

Do not proceed if space is insufficient in oracle home

Step 7: Apply the Patch

C:\Software\oracle_patch_19.31\38818049>D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\OPatch\opatch apply Oracle Interim Patch Installer version 12.2.0.1.51 Copyright (c) 2026, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.     Oracle Home       : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1 Central Inventory : C:\Program Files\Oracle\Inventory    from           : OPatch version    : 12.2.0.1.51 OUI version       : 12.2.0.7.0 Log file location : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\opatch\opatch2026-06-04_06-01-03AM_1.log   Verifying environment and performing prerequisite checks...   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start OOP by Prereq process. Launch OOP...   Oracle Interim Patch Installer version 12.2.0.1.51 Copyright (c) 2026, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.     Oracle Home       : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1 Central Inventory : C:\Program Files\Oracle\Inventory    from           : OPatch version    : 12.2.0.1.51 OUI version       : 12.2.0.7.0 Log file location : D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\opatch\opatch2026-06-04_06-04-26AM_1.log   Verifying environment and performing prerequisite checks... OPatch continues with these patches:   38818049   Do you want to proceed? [y|n] y User Responded with: Y All checks passed.   Please shutdown Oracle instances running out of this ORACLE_HOME on the local system. (Oracle Home = 'D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1')     Is the local system ready for patching? [y|n] y User Responded with: Y Backing up files... Applying interim patch '38818049' to OH 'D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1' ApplySession: Optional component(s) [ oracle.tomcat.crs, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.has.cfs, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.tg4msql, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.ic, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.tg4ifmx, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.network.cman, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.has.deconfig, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.network.gsm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.assistants.asm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.wlm.dbwlm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rhp.crs, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.has.cvu, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.tfa, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.tg4sybs, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.usm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.ons.daemon, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.tg4tera, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.options.olap, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.assistants.usm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.rdbms.tg4db2, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.options.olap.awm, 19.0.0.0.0 ] , [ oracle.has.crs, 19.0.0.0.0 ]  not present in the Oracle Home or a higher version is found.   Patching component oracle.has.common.cvu, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.has.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.assistants.server, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ons, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.plsql, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.util, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sqlplus.ic, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sdo.locator.jrf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.perlint, 5.28.1.0.0...   Patching component oracle.swd.oui.core.min, 12.2.0.7.0...   Patching component oracle.rhp.common, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sqlplus, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.dbjava.jdbc, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.network.listener, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.odbc.ic, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.rman, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.dbjava.ucp, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.perlint.modules, 5.28.1.0.0...   Patching component oracle.precomp.common.core, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.oracore.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ntoledb.odp_net_2, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.has.db, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ntoramts, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.marvel, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.xdk.parser.java, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.network.client, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.blaslapack, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.tfa.db, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ctx, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.hsodbc, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ldap.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.assistants.deconfig, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sqlj.sqljruntime, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ldap.owm, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.duma, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.precomp.lang, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ntoledb, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.install.common, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ldap.security.osdt, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sdo, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.rsf.ic, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.wwg.plsql, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.lbac, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.oraolap, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.precomp.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ntoledbolap, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.assistants.acf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.jdk, 1.8.0.201.0...   Patching component oracle.javavm.server, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.precomp.common, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.network.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ovm, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.install.deinstalltool, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.oci, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.clrintg.ode_net_2, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.nlsrtl.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.xdk.server, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.install.plugins, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ctx.atg, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.javavm.client, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.oraolap.dbscripts, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.deconfig, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.dbjava.ic, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.dv, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.aspnet_2, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ldap.client, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.usm.deconfig, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.dbdev, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.ons.ic, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.mgw.common, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.xdk, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.oracler.server, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.has.common, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.xdk.rsf, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.dbscripts, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.olap, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.sdo.locator, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.rdbms.scheduler, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.xdk.xquery, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.nlsrtl.rsf.lbuilder, 19.0.0.0.0...   Patching component oracle.network.aso, 19.0.0.0.0... Patch 38818049 successfully applied. Sub-set patch [38111211] has become inactive due to the application of a super-set patch [38818049]. Please refer to Doc ID 2161861.1 for any possible further required actions. Log file location: D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\opatch\opatch2026-06-04_06-04-26AM_1.log   OPatch succeeded.

 

Watch the output carefully. You should see success messages for each component. The full process typically takes 20–30 minutes.

Sample successful output as above.

 

Step 8: Start the Database and Run DataPatch

Start the database first:

Start oracle services from services windows sqlplus / as sysdba  SQL> startup

 

Then run DataPatch to register the patch inside the database dictionary:

C:\Software\oracle_patch_19.31\38818049>D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\OPatch\datapatch -verbose SQL Patching tool version 19.31.0.0.0 Production on Thu Jun  4 06:14:10 2026 Copyright (c) 2012, 2026, Oracle.  All rights reserved.   Log file for this invocation: D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\sqlpatch\sqlpatch_26776_2026_06_04_06_14_10\sqlpatch_invocation.log   Connecting to database...OK Gathering database info...done Bootstrapping registry and package to current versions...done Determining current state...done   Current state of interim SQL patches:   No interim patches found   Current state of release update SQL patches:   Binary registry:     19.31.0.0.0 Release_Update 260515000147: Installed   SQL registry:     Applied 19.29.0.0.0 Release_Update 251030030715 successfully on 12-NOV-25 11.51.37.390000 AM   Adding patches to installation queue and performing prereq checks...done Installation queue:   No interim patches need to be rolled back   Patch 38818049 (Windows Database Bundle Patch : 19.31.0.0.260421(REL-APR260421) (38818049)):     Apply from 19.29.0.0.0 Release_Update 251030030715 to 19.31.0.0.0 Release_Update 260515000147   No interim patches need to be applied   Installing patches... Patch installation complete.  Total patches installed: 1   Validating logfiles...done Patch 38818049 apply: SUCCESS   logfile: D:\oracle\product\19.3.0\dbhome_1\cfgtoollogs\sqlpatch\38818049\28605540/38818049_apply_ORCL_2026Jun04_06_31_42.log (no errors) SQL Patching tool complete on Thu Jun  4 06:32:32 2026

This step is mandatory — without it the patch is applied at the binary level but not registered in the database.

Step 9: Verify the Patch

 

Step 10. Compile invalid objects

sqlplus / as sysdba SQL>@?/rdbms/admin/utlrp.sql SQL> exit

 

This concludes the database patching process on windows.