Oracle introduced Oracle AI Database ora26ai 26ai just a few hours ago, the next generation of its AI-enabled database platform.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the installation of this version on Oracle Linux 9.
System Resource Limits
Oracle AI Database ora26ai 26ai allows you to use up to:
2 CPU cores
2 GB of RAM
12 GB of user data storage
This edition is designed for developers, learners, and small-scale testing environments.
1. Configure Hostname and Hosts File
Set the hostname and update the /etc/hosts file:
Set the hostname and update the /etc/hosts file:
[root@ora01db ~]# vi /etc/hosts
192.168.1.31 ora01db
[root@ora01db ~]# vi /etc/hostname
ora01db2. Prepare the Operating System Repository
Before installing Oracle packages, prepare the OS for preinstallation RPM by mounting the Oracle Linux ISO and creating a local repository:
mounting the Oracle Linux ISO and creating a local repository:
[root@ora01db ~]# mkdir /dvd
[root@ora01db ~]# mount /dev/sr0 /dvd
mount: /dvd: WARNING: source write-protected, mounted read-only.
[root@ora01db ~]# rm -rf /etc/yum.repos.d/*
Create the repository file /etc/yum.repos.d/OL9.repo:Create the repository file /etc/yum.repos.d/OL9.repo:
[root@ora01db ~]# vi /etc/yum.repos.d/OL9.repo
[InstallMedia-BaseOS]
name=Oracle Linux 9 - BaseOS
baseurl=file:///dvd/BaseOS/
metadata_expire=-1
gpgcheck=0
enabled=1
[InstallMedia-AppStream]
name=Oracle Linux 9 - AppStream
baseurl=file:///dvd/AppStream/
metadata_expire=-1
gpgcheck=0
enabled=13. Install the Preinstallation RPM
Download the preinstall package from the Oracle Linux repository:
oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0–1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Then, install it using dnf:
dnf install -y /software/oracle-ai-database-preinstall-26ai-1.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpmThis package automatically configures the required OS settings, users, and kernel parameters for the Oracle Database installation.
4. Install Oracle AI Database Free 26ai
Download the database package:
oracle-ai-database-free-26ai-23.26.0–1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Then install it:
[root@ora01db ~]#dnf -y localinstall /software/oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.el9.x86_64.rpm
Last metadata expiration check: 0:07:06 ago on Tue 14 Oct 2025 07:10:07 PM +0330.
Dependencies resolved.
====================================================================================================================================
Package Architecture Version Repository Size
====================================================================================================================================
Installing:
oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai x86_64 23.26.0-1 @commandline 1.3 G
Transaction Summary
====================================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total size: 1.3 G
Installed size: 3.6 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-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64 1/1
Installing : oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64 1/1
Running scriptlet: oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64 1/1
[INFO] Executing post installation scripts...
[INFO] Oracle home installed successfully and ready to be configured.
To configure Oracle AI Database ora26ai, optionally modify the parameters in '/etc/sysconfig/oracle-ora26ai-26ai.conf' and then run '/etc/init.d/oracle-ora26ai-26ai configure' as root.
Verifying : oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64 1/1
Installed:
oracle-ai-database-ora26ai-26ai-23.26.0-1.x86_64
Completed!After installation, you’ll see a message confirming that Oracle Home has been set up successfully:
[INFO] Oracle home installed successfully and ready to be configured.
To configure Oracle AI Database Free, optionally modify the parameters in '/etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf' and then run '/etc/init.d/oracle-free-26ai configure' as root.5. Configure the Database
Before running the configuration script, review or modify the following parameters in /etc/sysconfig/oracle-free-26ai.conf:
[root@ora01db ~]# cat /etc/sysconfig/oracle-ora26ai-26ai.conf
#This is a configuration file to setup the Oracle AI Database.
#It is used when running '/etc/init.d/oracle-ora26ai-26ai configure'.
# LISTENER PORT used Database listener, Leave empty for automatic port assignment
LISTENER_PORT=
# Character set of the database
CHARSET=AL32UTF8
# Database file directory
# If not specified, database files are stored under Oracle base/oradata
DBFILE_DEST=
# DB Domain name
DB_DOMAIN=
# Configure TDE
CONFIGURE_TDE=false
# Encrypt Tablespaces list, Leave empty for user tablespace alone or provide ALL for encrypting all tablespaces
# For specific tablespaces use SYSTEM:true,SYSAUX:false
ENCRYPT_TABLESPACES=
# SKIP Validations, memory, space
SKIP_VALIDATIONS=false6. Run the Configuration Script
Now run the configuration utility to create the database:
[root@ora01db ~]# /etc/init.d/oracle-ora26ai-26ai configure Specify a password to be used for database accounts. Oracle recommends that the password entered should be at least 8 characters in length, contain at least 1 uppercase character, 1 lower case character and 1 digit [0-9]. Note that the same password will be used for SYS, SYSTEM and PDBADMIN accounts: Confirm the password: Configuring Oracle Listener. Listener configuration succeeded. Configuring Oracle AI Database ora26ai. Enter SYS user password: ** Enter SYSTEM user password: ** Enter PDBADMIN User Password: ** Prepare for db operation 7% complete Copying database files 29% complete Creating and starting Oracle instance 30% complete 33% complete 36% complete 39% complete 43% complete Completing Database Creation 47% complete 49% complete 50% complete Creating Pluggable Databases 54% complete 71% complete Executing Post Configuration Actions 93% complete Running Custom Scripts 100% complete Database creation complete. For details check the logfiles at: /opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/ora26ai. Database Information: Global Database Name:ora26ai System Identifier(SID):ora26ai Look at the log file "/opt/oracle/cfgtoollogs/dbca/ora26ai/ora26ai.log" for further details. Connect to Oracle AI Database using one of the connect strings: Pluggable database: ora01db/ora26aiPDB1 Multitenant container database: ora01db
7. Set Environment Variables
Edit the Oracle user’s .bash_profile to define environment variables:
Edit the Oracle user’s .bash_profile to define environment variables:
[oracle@ora01db ~]$ cat .bash_profile # .bash_profile # Get the aliases and functions if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then . ~/.bashrc fi # User specific environment and startup programs export ORACLE_SID=ora26ai export ORACLE_BASE=/opt/oracle export ORACLE_HOME=/opt/oracle/product/26ai/dbhomeora26ai export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin:$ORACLE_HOME/bin
8. Connect to the Database
Finally, connect as SYSDBA:
[oracle@ora01db ~]$ sqlplus "/as sysdba"
SQL*Plus: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Tue Oct 14 19:35:17 2025
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai ora26ai Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for ora26ai
Version 23.26.0.0.0
SQL> show pdbs
CON_ID CON_NAME OPEN MODE RESTRICTED
---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------
2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO
3 ora26aiPDB1 READ WRITE NOYour Oracle AI Database Free 26ai instance is now ready for development and learning purposes.
