SecureAnyCloud
Deployment guide

Oracle DB Client 12.1

Overview

Oracle Database Client provides the tools and libraries you need to connect to and manage remote Oracle Database instances, without installing a full database server. This guide covers Oracle Database Client 12.1 (12.1.0.2.0) on Oracle Linux 8, one variant of the SecureAnyCloud Oracle Database Client listing. For a different client version, return to all Oracle Database Client versions.

What you get:

  • Oracle Database Client (Administrator install) preconfigured at /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1
  • SQL*Plus, SQL*Loader (sqlldr), tnsping and Oracle Net (TNS/EZConnect)
  • Full OCI and JDBC Thin client libraries for application development
  • Seeded tnsnames.ora and sqlnet.ora files, ready for TNS alias configuration
  • A system-wide environment: sqlplus, sqlldr and tnsping work from any shell, and the Oracle environment variables are set on login via /etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh
  • The bundled Oracle JDK replaced with a system-managed OpenJDK (eliminates CVE exposure)
  • A first-boot OS update sweep for the latest security patches
  • 24/7 SecureAnyCloud support with a guaranteed 24-hour response SLA

Prerequisites

Before you launch this AMI, make sure you have:

  • An active AWS account with an active Marketplace subscription for this listing
  • An EC2 key pair for SSH access
  • The hostname, port and service name of the Oracle database you want to connect to

Recommended instance type: t3.medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM)

1

Launch the AMI

  • Go to AWS Marketplace and search for "Oracle Database Client SecureAnyCloud".
  • Click Continue to Subscribe, accept the terms, then click Continue to Configuration.
  • Select your preferred Region and the 12.1 on Oracle Linux 8 software version.
  • Click Continue to Launch, then choose Launch through EC2.
  • Select instance type t3.medium (recommended) or larger.
  • Configure storage with a minimum of 20 GB gp3.
  • Configure your Security Group with this inbound rule: port 22, protocol TCP, source your IP, for SSH access.
  • Select your EC2 key pair and launch the instance.
2

Connect via SSH

When the instance is running and has passed both status checks (2/2), connect as ec2-user:

ssh -i your-key.pem ec2-user@<instance-public-ip>

Replace <instance-public-ip> with the Public IPv4 address shown in the EC2 console.

3

Verify the Oracle Client installation

/etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh configures the Oracle environment automatically for all users. On login, it sets ORACLE_HOME, PATH and LD_LIBRARY_PATH. Confirm that the client works:

sqlplus -V

The output looks like this:

SQL*Plus: Release 18.0.0.0.0 - Production Version 12.1.0.2.0

Check that Oracle Net (the TNS layer) loads correctly:

tnsping invalid_alias

The output begins with:

TNS Ping Utility for Linux: Version 12.1.0.2.0

The alias invalid_alias is intentionally unknown. The banner confirms that the TNS layer works.

List the core OCI client libraries. The environment is set automatically on login:

ls "$ORACLE_HOME"/lib/libclntsh.so*
4

Configure tnsnames.ora

Add your remote database connection aliases to tnsnames.ora. The file is at /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora. Open it with any editor:

sudo vi $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/tnsnames.ora

Add an entry in this format:

MY_DATABASE = (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = your-db-hostname)(PORT = 1521)) ) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED) (SERVICE_NAME = your-service-name) ) )

Replace these values:

  • your-db-hostname with the IP address or DNS name of the Oracle Database server
  • 1521 with the listener port, if it uses a different port
  • your-service-name with the database service name (ask your DBA if you are unsure)
5

Connect to a remote Oracle database via SQL*Plus

To test connectivity without a TNS alias, use EZConnect syntax and replace the sample values with your own:

sqlplus username/password@//your-db-hostname:1521/your-service-name

When you have configured a TNS alias, connect with it:

sqlplus username/password@MY_DATABASE

Type EXIT to leave the SQL*Plus session.

6

Using SQL*Loader

SQL*Loader (sqlldr) is included for high-speed bulk data loading. Confirm that it is present:

sqlldr /? 2>&1 | head -5

Environment variables reference

  • ORACLE_HOME: /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1
  • ORACLE_BASE: /u01/app/oracle
  • TNS_ADMIN: /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1/network/admin

/etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh sets these automatically for ec2-user.

Filesystem layout

  • /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1: Oracle Client ORACLE_HOME
  • /u01/app/oraInventory: Oracle Universal Installer inventory
  • /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora: TNS alias configuration
  • /u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0/client_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora: Oracle Net client settings
  • /home/oracle/setEnv.sh: source file for the oracle user environment variables

On startup

A first-boot OS update script runs once on first launch to apply the latest security patches. It removes itself after it completes successfully. To check for it, run:

sudo crontab -l

To disable it, run:

sudo crontab -l | grep -v initial_boot_update | sudo crontab - sudo rm -f /stage/scripts/initial_boot_update.sh

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect via SSH

  • Verify that the instance has passed both EC2 status checks (2/2).
  • Confirm that your security group allows inbound TCP port 22 from your IP.
  • Make sure you connect as ec2-user with the correct key pair.

SQL*Plus cannot connect: ORA-12541, TNS no listener

The Oracle listener on the target database is not running. Contact the database administrator.

SQL*Plus cannot connect: ORA-12514, TNS listener does not know of service

The service name in your connection string does not match the target database. Verify the correct service name with the database administrator.

SQL*Plus cannot connect: ORA-12170, TNS connect timeout

  • Verify that the target database hostname and port are reachable with telnet your-db-hostname 1521.
  • Check that the database server's security group or firewall allows inbound port 1521 from this EC2 instance.

Back to all Oracle Database Client versions

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