Instant Client in Oracle 10g

1. Download the Basic and SQL*Plus Instant Client packages. You also might want to go ahead and download all of the other packages and keep them together as a single version of this product. Even if you do not have a need for one of the additional support libraries, they do not take but a minute and could come in handy if versions become an issue.

Contents of the Basic Package

Contents of the SQL*Plus Package

2. Unzip the packages that you will be using into a newly created directory of your choice. When I did this, I wanted a truly portable installation and ended up putting this on my USB Flash Drive. Therefore, my directory was E:\OracleInstantClient.

Contents of My Instant Client Directory

3. Set environment variables such that the following are maintained.

1. SET PATH=E:\OracleInstantClient;%PATH%
   • This is obviously for finding the executables.

2. SET TNS_ADMIN=E:\OracleInstantClient
   • This is only for finding the tnsnames.ora file. You do not have to have this in the Instant Client directory but if you were on a database box or one that already has the Oracle Client on it, where else would you put it?

3. SET LD_LIBRARY_PATH=E:\OracleInstantClient
   • Obviously to find the shared libraries shipped with Instant Client.

4. SET SQLPATH=E:\OracleInstantClient
   • If you use a glogin.sql file, you will need to set this to find it.

4.  Connection methods for SQL*Plus. It does not matter if you install the Instant Client on the database server or on a true client machine, you will always need to specify some form of an Oracle Net connection name or identity. Here are some examples.

1. After modifying the tnsnames.ora file that is in the directory pointed to by TNS_ADMIN you can use the following

   • Method:  sqlplus <user>/<password>@<tns_entry> 

   • example: sqlplus scott/tiger@daten

2. If you would rather not use the tnsnames.ora naming, you can bypass this by using a more descriptive connect string.

   • Method: sqlplus <user>/<password>@//<machine>:<port>/<service_name>

   • example: sqlplus scott/tiger@//bier.pinehorse.com:1521/daten

3. You may also wish to bypass the using of an Oracle Net name by setting the environment variables TWO_TASK (on unix) or LOCAL (on windows)

   • Method: SET LOCAL=<service_name>
              sqlplus <user>/<password>

   • example: SET LOCAL=daten
     
              sqlplus scott/tiger