Getting Started with Oracle 23ai Free on Arm-based Linux

Ever since Oracle 23ai Free was released, I’ve been curious about what it could do. I don’t have any clients using version 23 yet, but I thought it was a good chance to explore and get familiar with what’s new.

So I decided to try installing it on an Arm-based Linux setup. I wasn’t expecting much, but honestly, it runs really well, and the free version already comes with some advanced features that are great for testing and learning.

If you’re a student, someone who enjoys experimenting, or just want to see serious database tech running on tiny hardware, this guide might help.

Follow the steps below to complete the setup successfully.

Step 1: Chapter 1: Introduction of Oracle 23ai Free

Step 2: Chapter 2: Installing Oracle Database Free Using RPM Packages

Step 3: Chapter 3: Creating and Configuring an Oracle Database

Step 4: Chapter 4: Setting Oracle Database Free Environment Variables

Step 5: Chapter 5: Starting and Stopping Oracle Database 23ai

Step 6: Step 6: Enabling GUI Access for DBCA – X11 Forwarding

Step 7: Chapter 7: Creating a New PDB with DBCA)

Step 8: Chapter 8 - Interactive Oracle PDB Selector Script for SQL*Plus (CDB Environment)

By the end, you should have Oracle 23ai Free purring along nicely on your setup.

And if you’re wondering what’s actually included in the free version, I added a link to the full list of features.

Licensing Information: Database Licensing Information User Manual

If anything goes wrong along the way, feel free to reach out. I’ve already used up a few of my seven lives figuring it out.

PS: I know, in English cats have nine lives. But where I come from, we keep it to seven, maybe we just play it safer.

🐾
Clotilde
Tested it, broke it, fixed it, and now I'm sharing it...classic me!