Installing Oracle AI Database 26ai / 23ai (Linux)

Installs Oracle AI Database 26ai (the release that replaces 23ai, version number 23.26.x) on a single server; you choose one of three official paths: an OFA installation from the gold image ZIP for production (runInstaller -setupDBHome + dbca; file system, or the ASM of a previously installed 26ai Oracle Restart), the quick Enterprise Edition RPM, or the no-cost Free RPM (development/test). The result is a verified CDB + PDB, automatic startup, basic security settings and a first RMAN backup. For a 19c installation open the 19c installation guide; for migrating from 19c, the AutoUpgrade guide.

Topology: 1 server

Before you start

• Check the release name: since October 2025 Oracle ships 23ai under the name Oracle AI Database 26ai (version number 23.26.x). If your file carries the 23ai name (e.g. oracle-database-preinstall-23ai, /etc/init.d/oracle-free-23ai), replace the names containing 26ai in this guide with their 23ai equivalents, or download the current 26ai file.
• Supported operating system: at least 8.6 for OL/RHEL 8, at least 9.2 for OL/RHEL 9 (OL9 UEK7 5.15.0-201.135.6 / RHCK 5.14.0-284.30.1). Oracle recommends the latest minor release. OL7/RHEL7 are not supported.
• 26ai Grid Infrastructure (Oracle Restart) is installed and running, the … and … disk groups are MOUNTED in ASM, the disk group compatible.rdbms value is not higher than the database COMPATIBLE value, and the oracle user is in the asmdba group. The disks were prepared …with a udev rule…with AFD…with ASMLib v3……, on multipath aliases… (Storage preparation).
• …The Free edition uses at most 2 CPU threads, 2 GB of memory and 12 GB of user data; the server needs at least 2 GB of free RAM.…RAM matches the value in the form (… GB); swap is at least … GB.… /tmp has at least 1 GB free.
• …At least 20 GB is free under … for the software…; data and FRA are in ASM disk groups (+…, +…)…; … and … are mounted as separate disks/LVs and persistent (fstab)….…At least 10 GB under /opt (the RPM installs the software to /opt/oracle) and data space for ….…
• …The gold image … is under … (edelivery.oracle.com or the oracle.com download page).… The RU (…) and OPatch (…) have also been downloaded from My Oracle Support; check the patch number on MOS.……… is under … (oracle.com 'Oracle AI Database 26ai for Linux x86-64 (RPM)'; requires license acceptance).…Free RPM …: if the server has internet access, the guide downloads the file from download.oracle.com itself; if not, copy it to ….…
• A valid license for Enterprise/Standard Edition and a My Oracle Support account (CSI) for downloading patches are available.
• Hostname … is set and resolves to its own IP.
• Port … is not used by another process.
• There is no other Oracle installation using the same SID (…) on this server, and no old XE/Free RPM.
• The server can reach yum.oracle.com (preinstall RPM) or an internal mirror is configured.… On RHEL the preinstall RPM is downloaded from the Oracle Linux repository and installed (Oracle's official method); the BaseOS and AppStream repositories must be enabled.…
• A maintenance window and a server snapshot are ready.

Phases of the guide

• Operating system preparation — Hostname, /etc/hosts and system update · Install the preinstall RPM · Install the preinstall RPM from the Oracle Linux repository (RHEL) · Set a password for the oracle user · Check the Transparent HugePages setting · Allocate HugePages …
• Software installation (gold image ZIP) — Create the directories and set ownership · Write the environment file · Hook the environment file into the login session · Extract the gold image into ORACLE_HOME · Install the software (runInstaller -setupDBHome) · Run the root scripts …
• Listener and database (ZIP) — Create the listener (netca) · Create the CDB and PDB (dbca) · Verify the database's Oracle Restart registration · Keep the PDB open across restarts · Fix the SGA/PGA values and restart · Set local_listener (port other than 1521) …
• RPM installation — Download the Free RPM · Install the Enterprise Edition RPM · Install the Free RPM · Edit the configuration file · Create the database (configure) · Write the oracle user's environment file …
• Verification — Check the version, components and settings · Check the listener services · Check the alert log
• Security — Lock the Oracle accounts left open (ACCOUNT LOCK) · Set the password profiles
• Post-installation — RMAN settings and the first full backup · Monitoring: FRA and tablespace usage · Plan the patch schedule