Step-by-Step: Installing Oracle 26ai via RPM and Creating Databases

Installing Oracle Database on Linux using RPM packages significantly reduces deployment complexity. Many intricate configuration steps are handled automatically during the package installation. This article demonstrates the process of installing Oracle 26ai using the RPM method on RHEL 9.

1. Linux Operating System Preparation

To resolve dependency issues on RHEL, we utilize the free Oracle YUM repositories. Manually create a configuration file pointing to the latest Oracle Linux 9 sources at /etc/yum.repos.d/oracle-linux-9.repo with the following content:

			
[ol9_baseos_latest]
name=Oracle Linux 9 BaseOS Latest
baseurl=https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL9/baseos/latest/x86_64/
gpgkey=https://yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol9
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1
[ol9_appstream]
name=Oracle Linux 9 AppStream
baseurl=https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL9/appstream/x86_64/
gpgkey=https://yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol9
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1

		

Upgrade Dependencies

			
# orce cache refresh
dnf clean all
dnf makecache
# Upgrade essential dependency libraries
dnf update fontconfig libgcc libstdc++ -y
# Install the Oracle 26ai Preinstallation RPM
dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

		

2. Software Download

Installing 26ai requires two core RPM packages: the Preinstallation package and the Database Enterprise Edition package. Download them from the official Oracle link:
https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/oracle26ai-linux-downloads.html

The Oracle 26ai pre-installation package is available for download on this page via the following path: https://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL9/appstream/x86_64/getPackage/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

This page provides x86 64-bit RPM installation packages for both Linux 8 and 9 versions of 26ai. The specific package we are downloading for Linux 9 is: oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

An Oracle account is required to complete the download. If you do not have an account, you can register for free.

3. RPM Package Installation

Step 3.1: Install Preinstallation RPM

# dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm

This package automates OS-level tuning. You can audit the results in the log file: /var/log/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai/results/orakernel.log.

Automatic actions include:

Creating the oracle user and management groups (oinstall, dba, oper, etc.).
Optimizing kernel parameters in /etc/sysctl.conf.
Configuring resource limits in /etc/security/limits.d.
Modifying boot parameters (e.g., disabling NUMA and adjusting Transparent HugePages).

Step 3.2: Install Enterprise Edition RPM

Once the environment is ready, install the main database software:

			
# dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
[root@rhel9 ~]# dnf -y install oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Updating Subscription Management repositories.
Unable to read consumer identity
This system is not registered with an entitlement server. You can use subscription-manager to register.
Last metadata expiration check: 0:52:13 ago on Thu 29 Jan 2026 09:48:21 AM CST.
Dependencies resolved.
==========================================================================================
 Package                           Architecture  Version        Repository           Size
==========================================================================================
Installing:
 oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai        x86_64        1.0-1          @commandline        2.0 G
Transaction Summary
==========================================================================================
Install  1 Package
Total size: 2.0 G
Installed size: 5.7 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-ee-26ai-1.0-1.x86_64                          1/1
  Installing       : oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.x86_64                          1/1
  Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.x86_64                          1/1
[INFO] Executing post installation scripts...
[INFO] Oracle home installed successfully and ready to be configured.
To configure a sample Oracle AI Database, optionally modify the parameters in '/etc/sysconfig/oracledb_ORCLCDB-26ai.conf' and then run following service configuration script as root: /etc/init.d/oracledb_ORCLCDB-26ai configure
  Verifying        : oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.x86_64                          1/1
Installed products updated.
Installed:
  oracle-ai-database-ee-26ai-1.0-1.x86_64
Complete!

		

Upon completion, the installer will prompt you to run the configuration script located at /etc/init.d/oracledb_ORCLCDB-26ai configure.

4. Database Creation

The RPM installation only extracts the software. The configuration script uses DBCA in silent mode to create the instance.

Step 4.1: Prepare Data Directory

			
# mkdir /u01/oracle/oradata -p
# chown oracle:oinstall /u01 -R

Step 4.2: Modify Configuration File

Edit /etc/sysconfig/oracledb_ORCLCDB-26ai.conf to set your data location and port

			
LISTENER_PORT=1521
CHARSET=AL32UTF8
ORACLE_DATA_LOCATION=/u01/oracle/oradata
CONFIGURE_TDE=false

Step 4.3: Execute Configuration Script

Run the following as root to trigger the silent database creation

			
[root@rhel9 ~]# /etc/init.d/oracledb_ORCLCDB-26ai configure
/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1/bin/dbca -silent -createDatabase -gdbName ORCLCDB -templateName General_Purpose.dbc -characterSet AL32UTF8 -createAsContainerDatabase true -numberOfPDBs 1 -pdbName ORCLPDB1 -createListener LISTENER:1521 -datafileDestination /u01/oracle/oradata -sid ORCLCDB -autoGeneratePasswords
Configuring Oracle AI Database ORCLCDB.
Prepare for db operation
8% complete
Copying database files
31% complete
Creating and starting Oracle instance
32% complete
36% complete
39% complete
42% complete
46% complete
Completing Database Creation
51% complete
53% complete
54% complete
Creating Pluggable Databases
58% complete
77% complete
Executing Post Configuration Actions
100% complete
Database creation complete. For details check the logfiles at:
/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/ORCLCDB.
Database Information:
Global Database Name:ORCLCDB
System Identifier(SID):ORCLCDB
Look at the log file "/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/ORCLCDB/ORCLCDB.log" for further details.
Database configuration completed successfully. The passwords were auto generated, you must change them by connecting to the database using 'sqlplus / as sysdba' as the oracle user.

		

As seen from the output of this command, the process essentially invokes DBCA in silent mode to perform the database creation. You can use this command as a reference when writing your database creation scripts. Since there are numerous parameters involved, you can use the following command to explore their specific usage and syntax:

$ /opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1/bin/dbca -help -createDatabase

5. Post-Installation Verification

Configure environment variables in the oracle user’s .bash_profile to ensure they persist:

			
ORACLE_BASE=/opt/oracle
ORACLE_HOME=/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhome_1
ORACLE_SID=ORCLCDB
PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/bin:$PATH
export ORACLE_BASE ORACLE_HOME ORACLE_SID PATH

		

Login and Validate

Use SQL*Plus to check the status:

			
[oracle@rhel9 ~]$ sqlplus / as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 23.26.1.0.0 - Production on Thu Jan 29 14:28:18 2026
Version 23.26.1.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition Release 23.26.1.0.0 - Production
Version 23.26.1.0.0
SQL> show pdbs;
    CON_ID CON_NAME                       OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED
---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------
         2 PDB$SEED                       READ ONLY  NO
         3 ORCLPDB1                       READ WRITE NO
SQL> select 1;
         1
----------
         1

		

In the next article, we will explore the installation of Oracle 26ai using the traditional ZIP archive method.

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