SecureAnyCloud
Deployment guide

Oracle DB Client 23ai

Overview

Oracle Database Client provides the tools and libraries you need to connect to and manage remote Oracle Database instances, without a full database server installation.

This guide covers Oracle Database Client 23ai (23.26) on AlmaLinux 9 and Oracle Linux 9, which share the same /opt/oracle/client layout. The images are separate AMIs in the SecureAnyCloud Oracle Database Client listing and form one variant family of it. For a different client version, return to the list of all Oracle Database Client versions.

What you get:

  • Oracle Database Client (Administrator install) preconfigured at /opt/oracle/client
  • SQL*Plus, SQL*Loader (sqlldr), tnsping and Oracle Net (TNS and 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 /etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh that sets all Oracle environment variables on login
  • The bundled Oracle JDK replaced with system-managed OpenJDK (eliminates CVE exposure)
  • A first-boot OS update sweep for the latest security patches
  • 24/7 SecureAnyCloud support with 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

  • Open the 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 23ai on AlmaLinux 9 software version.
  • Click Continue to Launch, then choose Launch through EC2.
  • Select instance type t3.medium (recommended) or larger.
  • Configure storage: 20 GB gp3 minimum.
  • Configure your Security Group with this inbound rule: Port 22 (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

The Oracle environment is configured automatically for all users through /etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh. On login, ORACLE_HOME, PATH and LD_LIBRARY_PATH are set. Confirm that the client works:

sqlplus -V

Expected output:

SQL*Plus: Release 23.0.0.0.0 - Production Version 23.x.x.x

Check that Oracle Net (TNS layer) loads correctly:

tnsping invalid_alias

Expected output begins with:

TNS Ping Utility for Linux: Version 23.x.x.x

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

List the core client libraries:

ls /opt/oracle/client/lib/libclntsh.so*
4

Configure tnsnames.ora

Add your remote database connection aliases to tnsnames.ora. The file is at /opt/oracle/client/network/admin/tnsnames.ora. Open it in any editor:

sudo vi /opt/oracle/client/network/admin/tnsnames.ora

Add an entry using 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's port, if it differs
  • 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 example values with your own:

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

After you configure a TNS alias, connect with it:

sqlplus username/password@MY_DATABASE

Type EXIT to leave SQL*Plus.

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: /opt/oracle/client
  • ORACLE_BASE: /opt/oracle
  • TNS_ADMIN: /opt/oracle/client/network/admin

These are set automatically for ec2-user through /etc/profile.d/oracle-client.sh.

Filesystem layout

  • /opt/oracle/client: Oracle Client ORACLE_HOME
  • /opt/oracle/oraInventory: Oracle Universal Installer inventory
  • /opt/oracle/client/network/admin/tnsnames.ora: TNS alias configuration
  • /opt/oracle/client/network/admin/sqlnet.ora: Oracle Net client settings
  • /home/oracle/setEnv.sh: source file for the oracle user's 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 are connecting 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. Confirm 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: 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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