Installing Oracle Client on Windows

1- What is Oracle Client? 

 If you have 2 computers A and B. Computer B is  installed Oracle Database. Standing at computer A, if you want to work with  the Oracle database at  Computer B, Computer A needs to be installed Oracle Client.

Oracle Client is part of Oracle Database software. It is not a database, but, it helps talk with an  Oracle database.

Note: Oracle Database  itself is a Oracle Client.

2- Download Oracle Client

The latest version of Oracle Client is 12.x, which can work with any different versions of Oracle Database (10, 11, 12), therefore, you should download this version.

To download the Oracle Client, visit the following address

• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/index.html

Here, you have two choices for downloading such as Oracle Client 32bit or Oracle Client 64bit. If you want to work with the visual tools such as   PL/SQL Developer, Toad, .. you should download and install 32bit version.

Here, I will download the 32bit version. Downloading requires you to log in with an account. If you do not have an account, you can register for free.

Downloaded results:

3- Installing Oracle Client 

 Extract the file downloaded in the above step by you.

You have 4 options to install:

Instant Client

This installation type installs only the shared libraries required by Oracle Call Interface applications that use the Instant Client feature. It requires much less disk space than the other Oracle Client installation types.

Note: If you select Instant Client install type, then you cannot apply software updates during the installation session. To download and apply the latest software updates, you must select Administrator, Runtime, or Custom install type.

Administrator

This installation type installs the Oracle Enterprise Manager Standalone Console, Oracle networking services, and client software that enables applications or individuals to connect to an Oracle database. It also installs development tools that you can use to develop applications.

Runtime

This installation type installs a limited number of components for a database application user. With the exception of Oracle Enterprise Manager Standalone Console, it installs the same components as the Administrator installation type.

Custom

This installation type allows you to select the client applications and utilities that you want to install.

Enter:

• Oracle base: C:/oracleclient_12
   

OK, Oracle Client has been installed successfully.

4- Configuring TNSNAME

tnsping

# tnsping server-host:1521/sid-id # Example: tnsping 192.168.13.129:1521/db12c

To be able to connect to a database located in another computer, you need to configure TNSNAME. Create a file named tnsnames.ora located in the  folder:

• C:\oracleclient_12\product\12.2.0\client_1\network\admin

tnsnames.ora

YOUR_DB_ALIAS =   (DESCRIPTION =     (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = your_server_ip )(PORT = 1521))     (CONNECT_DATA =       (SERVER = DEDICATED)       (SERVICE_NAME = db12c)     )   )