Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux is one of the most practical ways to explore Oracle’s latest AI-driven database technology. Oracle Database 23ai introduces powerful features such as AI Vector Search, in-database machine learning, and advanced automation for developers and database administrators. This guide provides a complete step-by-step process to install and configure Oracle 23ai on Oracle Linux 8 or 9 using the RPM package method.
Understanding Oracle 23ai
Before we begin, it’s important to note that Oracle 23ai (also known as Oracle Database 23c AI) is currently available primarily as a cloud-first release on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and engineered systems like Exadata. However, Oracle provides a “Free” version of 23ai for local installations on Linux, allowing professionals and students to test its AI-driven database innovations.
This installation will help you:
- Get hands-on experience with Oracle 23ai features.
- Run local development or testing environments.
- Explore AI-integrated SQL capabilities.
Oracle 23ai Installation Prerequisites
To install Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition, you’ll need to ensure your Linux system is properly configured.
This guide assumes you are using Oracle Linux 8, but the same steps apply for Oracle Linux 9 as well.
System Requirements:
- Oracle Linux 8 or 9 (x86_64 architecture)
- Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB+ recommended)
- 10GB of free disk space
- Internet access (for package download)
Step 1: Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux – Preinstall Package Setup
Oracle provides a convenient preinstall package that automatically configures your Linux server with all required users, groups, kernel parameters, and limits for running Oracle 23ai.
Run the following command as the root user:
dnf install -y oracle-database-preinstall-23ai
What this does:
- Creates the
oracleuser and groups. - Sets kernel parameters such as shared memory.
- Configures necessary system limits.
- Ensures your OS environment is Oracle-ready.
This step saves you time and reduces errors compared to manual configuration.
Step 2: Download the Oracle 23ai RPM Package
Once the preinstallation setup is complete, download the Oracle 23ai installation RPM using wget.
Run the following command:
wget https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/db-free/oracle-database-free-23ai-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
This will fetch the latest Oracle 23ai Free Edition package directly from Oracle’s official repository.
Tip: Make sure your internet connection is active and your firewall allows outbound traffic.
Step 3: Install Oracle 23ai on Linux
Now that you have the RPM file, it’s time to install Oracle 23ai using the dnf utility.
Execute the following command as the root user:
dnf install -y oracle-database-free-23ai-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm
This step installs the Oracle Database binaries and necessary configuration files under /opt/oracle/.
You can verify installation by checking:
ls /opt/oracle/product/
You should see a directory named 23ai.
During the Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux process, ensure your server has sufficient storage and system resources for smooth configuration and startup.
Step 4: Configure Oracle 23ai Database
After the RPM installation completes, you’ll need to configure the Oracle 23ai Free Database instance.
Run the configuration script:
/etc/init.d/oracle-free-23ai configure
During configuration, the installer will:
- Create a FREE database instance.
- Initialize a Pluggable Database (PDB).
- Prompt you to set passwords for the SYS and SYSTEM users.
- Configure Oracle networking components.
You can choose your own secure passwords when prompted.
Step 5: Switch to Oracle User and Set Environment Variables
After setup, switch to the oracle user to configure your environment:
su - oracle
Next, open and edit the .bash_profile file:
vi .bash_profile
Add the following environment variables:
# .bash_profile
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
. ~/.bashrc
fi
export ORACLE_SID=FREE
export ORACLE_BASE=/opt/oracle
export ORACLE_HOME=/opt/oracle/product/23ai/dbhomeFree
PATH=$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin:$ORACLE_HOME/bin
export PATH
Save and reload the profile:
. .bash_profile
These variables ensure that the Oracle environment is loaded every time the Oracle user logs in.
Step 6: Start Oracle 23ai Database
Now, connect to SQL*Plus and start your Oracle 23ai database:
sqlplus / as sysdba
Once connected, run:
SQL> startup;
SQL> show pdbs;
This will:
- Start the Oracle instance.
- Display the list of pluggable databases (PDBs) available in your Oracle 23ai installation.
After completing Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux, verify your database setup by checking the Oracle version and confirming that all pluggable databases are open.
Verifying Installation
You can verify your Oracle 23ai installation by checking the database version:
SQL> select * from v$version;
Expected output:
Oracle Database 23ai Free Release 23.1.0.0.0 - Production
This confirms that your Oracle 23ai Free database is successfully installed and running on Linux.
Next Steps and Best Practices
Once you have Oracle 23ai running, you can:
- Explore AI Vector Search for semantic data querying.
- Enable Machine Learning (ML) models directly inside the database.
- Use Database Actions (Web UI) to manage and monitor the database.
- Experiment with multitenant architecture for container and pluggable databases.
For production-grade environments, Oracle recommends deploying Oracle 23ai on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) or Oracle Exadata systems for best performance, security, and scalability.
You can read more about Oracle Data Guard physical standby setup in our related guide here:Oracle Data Guard Physical Standby Setup
Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux is one of the most practical ways to explore Oracle’s latest AI-driven database technology.
Add this link: Learn more about Oracle Database 23ai on Oracle’s official blog
Conclusion
Completing Oracle 23ai Installation on Linux gives you a fully functional AI-ready database environment. This setup allows you to explore Oracle 23ai’s machine learning, automation, and vector search features on Linux easily.
While Oracle 23ai introduces revolutionary AI capabilities for cloud and enterprise workloads, its Free Edition for Linux provides an excellent opportunity for developers and students to experience next-gen AI-integrated database technology hands-on.
So, if you’re ready to explore the future of autonomous and intelligent databases, setting up Oracle 23ai locally is the perfect starting point!
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