Oracle Database 26AI Free edition
installation in Linux server
Oracle Database 26ai has come up with
below editions
On-premise editions:
- Oracle AI Database Free
- Standard Edition 2 on Oracle
Database Appliance
- Enterprise Edition on Engineered
Systems
OCI editions:
- Oracle Base Database Service
Standard Edition
- Oracle Base Database Service
Enterprise Edition
- Oracle Base Database Service
Enterprise Edition - High Performance
- Oracle Base Database Service
Enterprise Edition - Extreme Performance
- Oracle Exadata Database Service on
Dedicated Infrastructure
- Oracle Exadata Database Service on
Cloud@Customer
The FREE edition has come up with many
features. It allows to create upto 16pdbs. However Dataguard and RAC are not available. We can get more details of this edition from
https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/26/dblic/Licensing-Information.html
The following development
platforms are not included with Oracle AI Database Free. We can download them
separately and use them with Oracle AI Database Free:
- Oracle APEX
- Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio
- Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS)
- Oracle SQL Developer
Operating system users and groups
can be created manually or it can be created by executing preinstall package.
Manual creation of operating
system users:
[root@database26ai ~]# grep -i
oinstall /etc/group
[root@database26ai ~]# groupadd -g
201 oinstall
[root@database26ai ~]# groupadd -g
202 oracle
[root@database26ai ~]# useradd -g
oinstall -G oracle -d /home/oracle oracle
[root@database26ai ~]# cd
/home/oracle
[root@database26ai oracle]# mkdir
.ssh
Copy the ssh key of opc to oracle
to allow direct ssh login to oracle user.
[root@database26ai oracle]# cp
/home/opc/.ssh/authorized_keys .ssh/
drwx------. 3 opc opc 74
Nov 1 22:10 opc
drwxr-xr-x. 3 root root 18
Nov 1 22:17 oracle
[root@database26ai home]# chown -R
oracle:oinstall oracle
In Oracle linux we can directly
invoke preinstall package command.
[root@database26ai home]# dnf
install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai
Ksplice for Oracle Linux 9
(x86_64)
62 MB/s | 13 MB 00:00
Oracle Linux 9 OCI Included
Packages (x86_64)
48 MB/s | 193 MB 00:03
Oracle Linux 9 BaseOS Latest
(x86_64)
81 MB/s | 91 MB 00:01
Oracle Linux 9 Application Stream
Packages (x86_64)
98 MB/s | 72 MB 00:00
Oracle Linux 9 Addons
(x86_64)
11 MB/s | 735 kB 00:00
Oracle Linux 9 UEK Release 8
(x86_64)
9.1 MB/s | 19 MB 00:02
Dependencies resolved.
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Package
Architecture
Version
Repository Size
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai x86_64 1.0-1.el9
ol9_appstream 34 k
.
.
.
compat-openssl11
x86_64
1:1.1.1k-5.el9_6.1
ol9_appstream 541 k
xorg-x11-utils
x86_64
7.5-40.el9
ol9_appstream 123 k
xorg-x11-xauth
x86_64
1:1.1-10.el9
ol9_appstream 36 k
Transaction Summary
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Install 22 Packages
Total download size: 3.9 M
Installed size: 11 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/22):
ksh-1.0.6-7.0.1.el9_6.1.x86_64.rpm
5.8 MB/s | 889 kB 00:00
(2/22):
compat-openssl11-1.1.1k-5.el9_6.1.x86_64.rpm
8.9 MB/s | 1.5 MB 00:00
.
.
.
(22/22):
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
442 kB/s | 34 kB 00:00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
12 MB/s | 3.9 MB 00:00
Running transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Running transaction
Preparing :
1/1
Installing :
libXi-1.7.10-8.el9.x86_64
1/22
Installing :
libICE-1.0.10-8.el9.x86_64 .
.
Running scriptlet:
initscripts-10.11.8-4.0.1.el9.x86_64
21/22
Created symlink
/etc/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/import-state.service →
/usr/lib/systemd/system/import-state.service.
Created symlink
/etc/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/loadmodules.service →
/usr/lib/systemd/system/loadmodules.service.
Installing :
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64
22/22
Running scriptlet:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64
22/22
Verifying :
initscripts-10.11.8-4.0.1.el9.x86_64
1/22
Verifying :
compat-openssl11-1:1.1.1k-5.el9_6.1.x86_64
2/22
Verifying :
ksh-3:1.0.6-7.0.1.el9_6.1.x86_64
.
.
.
Installed:
compat-openssl11-1:1.1.1k-5.el9_6.1.x86_64
initscripts-10.11.8-4.0.1.el9.x86_64 ksh-3:1.0.6-7.0.1.el9_6.1.x86_64
libICE-1.0.10-8.el9.x86_64
libSM-1.2.3-10.el9.x86_64
libX11-xcb-1.7.0-11.el9.x86_64 libXcomposite-0.4.5-7.el9.x86_64
libXi-1.7.10-8.el9.x86_64
libXinerama-1.1.4-10.el9.x86_64
libXmu-1.1.3-8.el9.x86_64 libXrandr-1.5.2-8.el9.x86_64
libXt-1.2.0-6.el9.x86_64
libXtst-1.2.3-16.el9.x86_64
libXv-1.0.11-16.el9.x86_64 libXxf86dga-1.1.5-8.el9.x86_64
libXxf86vm-1.1.4-18.el9.x86_64
libdmx-1.1.4-12.el9.x86_64
lm_sensors-libs-3.6.0-10.el9.x86_64
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64 sysstat-12.5.4-9.0.2.el9.x86_64
xorg-x11-utils-7.5-40.el9.x86_64
xorg-x11-xauth-1:1.1-10.el9.x86_64
Complete!
The installation log can be viewed
at /var/log/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai/backup/<Date>/orakernel.log
[root@database26ai home]# ls -lrt
/var/log/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai/backup/Nov-01-2025-22-20-34/orakernel.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 9780
Nov 1 22:20
/var/log/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai/backup/Nov-01-2025-22-20-34/orakernel.log
Download the 26ai Database rpm in the Linux server.
[oracle@database26ai ~]$ wget
https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/db-free/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm?AuthParam=1762036803_f09ff4b8afe93cbce77e64c537288c8d
--2025-11-01 22:38:25--
https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/db-free/oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm?AuthParam=1762036803_f09ff4b8afe93cbce77e64c537288c8d
Resolving download.oracle.com
(download.oracle.com)... 23.222.200.112
Connecting to download.oracle.com
(download.oracle.com)|23.222.200.112|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting
response... 200 OK
Length: 1431761556 (1.3G)
[application/x-redhat-package-manager]
Saving to:
‘oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm?AuthParam=1762036803_f09ff4b8afe93cbce77e64c537288c8d’
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_
100%[====================================================================================================>] 1.33G
114MB/s in 11s
2025-11-01 22:38:37 (119 MB/s) -
‘oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm?AuthParam=1762036803_f09ff4b8afe93cbce77e64c537288c8d’
saved [1431761556/1431761556]
Install the downloaded RPM. It
perform 26ai database software installation. By default the ORACLE_HOME : /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/
ORACLE_BASE : /opt/oracle
[root@database26ai oracle]# dnf -y install
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Last metadata expiration check:
3:17:40 ago on Sat 01 Nov 2025 10:54:34 PM GMT.
Dependencies resolved.
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Package
Architecture
Version
Repository Size
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai x86_64 23.26.0-1
@commandline 1.3 G
Transaction Summary
=============================================================================================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total size: 1.3 G
Installed size: 3.6 G
Downloading Packages:
Running transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Running transaction
Preparing :
1/1
Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
1/1
Installing :
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
1/1
Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
1/1
[INFO] Executing post installation
scripts...
[INFO] Oracle home installed
successfully and ready to be configured.
To configure Oracle AI Database
Free, optionally modify the parameters in
'/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf' and then run
'/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure' as root.
Verifying :
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
1/1
Installed:
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
Configure the database. It collect
sys and system user passwords and configures a new database. The Oracle
database files will be located at /opt/oracle/oradata/FREE
[root@database26ai oracle]#
/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure
Specify a password to be used for
database accounts. Oracle recommends that the password entered should be at
least 8 characters in length, contain at least 1 uppercase character, 1 lower
case character and 1 digit [0-9]. Note that the same password will be used for
SYS, SYSTEM and PDBADMIN accounts:
Confirm the password:
Configuring Oracle Listener.
Listener configuration succeeded.
Configuring Oracle AI Database
FREE.
Enter SYS user password:
****************
Enter SYSTEM user password:
*************
Enter PDBADMIN User Password:
*************
Prepare for db operation
7% complete
Copying database files
29% complete
Creating and starting Oracle
instance
30% complete
33% complete
36% complete
39% complete
43% complete
Completing Database Creation
47% complete
49% complete
50% complete
Creating Pluggable Databases
54% complete
71% complete
Executing Post Configuration
Actions
93% complete
Running Custom Scripts
100% complete
Database creation complete. For
details check the logfiles at:
/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE.
Database Information:
Global Database Name:FREE
System Identifier(SID):FREE
Look at the log file
"/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/FREE/FREE.log" for further details.
Connect to Oracle AI Database
using one of the connect strings:
Pluggable database: database26ai/FREEPDB1
Multitenant container database:
database26ai
[oracle@database26ai FREE]$ ps -ef
| grep pmon
oracle 62187
1 0 Nov02 ? 00:00:22 db_pmon_FREE
oracle 235321
235132 0 18:04 pts/0 00:00:00 grep --color=auto pmon
[oracle@database26ai FREE]$ export
ORACLE_SID=FREE
[oracle@database26ai FREE]$
sqlplus "/ as sysdba"
SQL*Plus: Release 23.26.0.0.0 -
Production on Tue Nov 4 18:04:55 2025
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025,
Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai Free
Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Version 23.26.0.0.0
SQL> select * from v$version;
|
BANNER
|
BANNER_FULL
|
BANNER_LEG
|
CON_ID
|
|
Oracle AI
Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
|
Oracle AI
Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for
Free Version
23.26.0.0.0
|
Oracle AI Database
26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 -Develop, Learn, and
Run for Free
|
0
|
SQL> show pdbs
CON_ID CON_NAME
OPEN MODE RESTRICTED
----------
------------------------------ ---------- ----------
2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO
3 FREEPDB1 READ WRITE NO
SQL> select comp_name, version
from dba_registry ;
COMP_NAME VERSION
----------------------------------------
------------------------------
Oracle Database Catalog Views 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Database Packages and
Types 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Real Application
Clusters 23.0.0.0.0
JServer JAVA Virtual Machine 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle XDK 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Database Java Packages 23.0.0.0.0
OLAP Analytic Workspace 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle XML Database 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Workspace Manager 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Text 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle OLAP API 23.0.0.0.0
COMP_NAME VERSION
----------------------------------------
------------------------------
Spatial 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Label Security 23.0.0.0.0
Oracle Database Vault 23.0.0.0.0
14 rows selected.
[oracle@database26ai OPatch]$
./opatch version
OPatch Version: 12.2.0.1.47
OPatch succeeded.
[oracle@database26ai OPatch]$
./opatch lsinventory
Oracle Interim Patch Installer
version 12.2.0.1.47
Oracle Home : /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree
Central Inventory :
/opt/oracle/oraInventory
from :
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/oraInst.loc
OPatch version : 12.2.0.1.47
OUI version : 12.2.0.9.0
Log file location :
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/cfgtoollogs/opatch/opatch2025-11-04_18-07-26PM_1.log
Lsinventory Output file location :
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeFree/cfgtoollogs/opatch/lsinv/lsinventory2025-11-04_18-07-26PM.txt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Machine Information::
Hostname:
database26ai.publicsubnet.tfvcn.oraclevcn.com
ARU platform id: 226
ARU platform description:: Linux x86-64
Installed Top-level Products (1):
Oracle Database 26ai
23.0.0.0.0
There are 1 products installed in
this Oracle Home.
CLID: O
There are no Interim patches
installed in this Oracle Home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPatch succeeded.
