SecureAnyCloud
Deployment guide

Oracle DB Client 26ai

Overview

Oracle Database Client 26ai (23.26.1.0.0) on Oracle Linux 9 is an AMI in the SecureAnyCloud Oracle Database Client listing. "26ai" is Oracle's 2026 annual release update of the 23ai client (opatch lsinventory reports it as Oracle Client 26ai, and sqlplus -V reports Release 23.26.1.0.0). For a different client version, return to the list of all Oracle Database Client versions.

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.

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
  • 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 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

  • 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 26ai on Oracle Linux 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 the inbound rule below.

Inbound rule (port, protocol, source, purpose):

22 TCP Your IP SSH access

  • Select your EC2 key pair and launch the instance.
2

Connect over 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 is working:

sqlplus -V

The output looks like this:

SQL*Plus: Release 23.26.1.0.0 - Production Version 23.26.1.0.0

Check that Oracle Net (TNS layer) loads correctly:

tnsping invalid_alias

The output begins with:

TNS Ping Utility for Linux: Version 23.26.1.0.0

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

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

Connect to a remote Oracle database with SQL*Plus

Use EZConnect syntax to test connectivity without a TNS alias. Replace the host name, port and service name with the values for your database:

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

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

sqlplus username/password@MY_DATABASE

Type EXIT to leave the SQL*Plus session.

6

Use 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

Variables, each with its value:

ORACLE_HOME /opt/oracle/client

ORACLE_BASE /opt/oracle

TNS_ADMIN /opt/oracle/client/network/admin

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

Filesystem layout

Paths, each with its description:

/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 oracle user env vars

On startup

A first-boot OS update script runs once on first launch to apply the latest security patches. It self-removes after completing successfully. To check it:

sudo crontab -l

To disable:

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

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect over 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: telnet your-db-hostname 1521
  • Check that the database server's security group or firewall allows inbound port 1521 from this EC2 instance.

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