D Configuring Networks for Oracle Database

Typically, the computer on which you want to install Oracle Database is connected to the network, has local storage to contain the Oracle Database installation, has a display monitor, and has a media drive.

This section describes how to install Oracle Database on computers that do not meet the typical scenario. It covers the following topics:

D.1 Installing Oracle Database on Computers with Multiple IP Addresses

You can install Oracle Database on a computer that has multiple IP addresses, also known as a multihomed computer. Typically, a multihomed computer has multiple network cards. Each IP address is associated with a host name; additionally, you can set up aliases for the host name. By default, Oracle Universal Installer uses the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable setting to find the host name.

Clients must be able to access the computer using this host name, or using aliases for this host name. To check, ping the host name from the client computers using the short name (host name only) and the full name (host name and domain name). Both must work.

Setting the ORACLE_HOSTNAME Environment Variable

To set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable:

  1. Display System in the Windows Control Panel.

  2. In the System Properties dialog box, click Advanced.

  3. In the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables.

  4. In the Environment Variables dialog box, under System Variables, click New.

  5. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter the following information:

    • Variable name: ORACLE_HOSTNAME

    • Variable value: The host name of the computer to use.

  6. Click OK, then in the Environment Variables dialog box, click OK.

  7. Click OK in the Environment Variables dialog box, then in the System Properties dialog box, click OK.

D.2 Installing Oracle Database on Computers with Multiple Aliases

A computer with multiple aliases is registered with the naming service under a single IP address but with multiple aliases. The naming service resolves any of those aliases to the same computer. Before installing Oracle Database on such a computer, set the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable to the computer whose host name you want to use.

D.3 Installing Oracle Database on Nonnetworked Computers

You can install Oracle Database on a non-networked computer. If the computer, such as a laptop, is configured for DHCP and you plan to connect the computer to the network after the Oracle Database installation, perform these steps before you install Oracle Database on the non-networked computer.

  1. Install a loopback adapter on the computer.

    The loopback adapter and local IP address simulate a networked computer. If you connect the computer to the network, Oracle Database still uses the local IP address and host name.

    See Also:

    "Installing a Loopback Adapter"

  2. Ping the computer from itself, using only the host name and using the fully qualified name, which should be in the DRIVE_LETTER:\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file.

    For example, if you installed a loopback adapter on a computer called mycomputer on the mydomain.com domain, check the following:

    DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer                Ping itself using just the hostname.
Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.
DRIVE_LETTER:\>ping mycomputer.mydomain.com   Ping using a fully qualified name.
Reply from 10.10.10.10                    Returns local IP.

    Note:

    When you ping a computer from itself, the ping command should return the local IP address (the IP address of the loopback adapter).

    If the ping command fails, contact your network administrator.

Connecting the Computer to the Network after Installation

If you connect the computer to a network after installation, the Oracle Database instance on your computer can work with other instances on the network. Remember that you must have installed a loopback adapter on your computer. Your computer can use a static IP or DHCP, depending on the network to which you are connected.

D.4 Installing a Loopback Adapter

When you install a loopback adapter, the loopback adapter assigns a local IP address for your computer. After the loopback adapter is installed, there are at least two network adapters on your computer: your own network adapter and the loopback adapter. To run Oracle Database on Windows, set the loopback adapter as the primary adapter.

You can change the bind order for the adapters without reinstalling the loopback adapter. The bind order of the adapters to the protocol indicates the order in which the adapters are used. When the loopback adapter is used first for the TCP/IP protocol, all programs that access TCP/IP first probe the loopback adapter. The local address is used for tools, such as Oracle Enterprise Manager. Any other applications that use a different Ethernet segment are routed to the network card.

A loopback adapter is required if:

This section covers the following topics:

D.4.1 Checking if a Loopback Adapter is Installed on Your Computer

To check if a loopback adapter is installed on your computer, run the ipconfig /all command:

DRIVE_LETTER:\>ipconfig /all

Note:

Loopback Adapter installed on the computer should be made the Primary Network Adapter.

If there is a loopback adapter installed, you would see a section that lists the values for the loopback adapter. For example:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Loopback Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-4C-4F-4F-50
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0

D.4.2 Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows Server 2008

To install a loopback adapter on Windows Server 2008:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Add Hardware to start the Add Hardware wizard.

  3. In the Welcome window, click Next.

  4. In the The wizard can help you install other hardware window, select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and click Next.

  5. From the list of hardware types, select the type of hardware you are installing, select Network adapters, and click Next.

  6. In the Select Network Adapter window, make the following selections:

    • Manufacturer: Select Microsoft.

    • Network Adapter: Select Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

  7. Click Next.

  8. In the The wizard is ready to install your hardware window, click Next.

  9. In the Completing the Add Hardware Wizard window, click Finish.

  10. Click Manage Network Connections. This displays the Network Connections Control Panel item.

  11. Right-click the connection that was just created. This is usually named "Local Area Connection 2". Choose Properties.

  12. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click Properties.

  13. In the Properties dialog box, click Use the following IP address and do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

      • 192.168.x.x (x is any value between 0 and 255)

      • 10.10.10.10

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Record the values you entered, which you need later in this procedure.

    4. Leave all other fields empty.

    5. Click OK.

  14. Click Close.

  15. Close Network Connections.

  16. Restart the computer.

  17. Add a line to the DRIVE_LETTER:\ WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with the following format, after the localhost line:

    IP_address   hostname.domainname   hostname

    where:

    • IP_address is the non-routable IP address you entered in step 13.

    • hostname is the name of the computer.

    • domainname is the name of the domain.

    For example:

    10.10.10.10   mycomputer.mydomain.com   mycomputer

  18. Check the network configuration:

    Note:

    Domain name is optional.

    1. Open System in the Control Panel, and verify that Full computer name displays the host name and the domain name, for example, sales.us.example.com.

    2. Click Change. In Computer name, you should see the host name, and in Full computer name, you should see the host name and domain name. Using the previous example, the host name would be sales and the domain would be us.example.com.

    3. Click More. In Primary DNS suffix of this computer, you should see the domain name, for example, us.example.com.

D.4.3 Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

  1. Click Start and enter hdwwiz in the Search box.

  2. Click hdwwiz to start the Add Hardware wizard.

  3. Go to step 3 of Section D.4.2, "Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows Server 2008". The remaining steps are the same as given for Windows Server 2008.

D.4.4 Installing Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2:

  1. Complete steps 1-5 of Section D.4.2, "Installing a Loopback Adapter on Windows Server 2008".

  2. In the Select Network Adapter window, make the following selections:

    • Manufacturer: Select Microsoft.

    • Network Adapter: Select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter.

    Then continue with the same steps as given for Windows Server 2008.

D.4.5 Removing a Loopback Adapter

To remove a loopback adapter:

  1. Display System in the Windows Control Panel.

  2. In the Hardware tab, click Device Manager. This tab is not available with Windows Server 2008. Click Device Manager instead.

  3. In the Device Manager window, expand Network adapters. You should see Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

  4. Right-click Microsoft Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

    In Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2, right-click Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Restart the computer.

  7. Remove the line from the DRIVE_LETTER:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file, added after the localhost line while installing the loopback adapter on other Windows operating systems.