How do I know if Oracle is installed on AIX or not?

[SP69]

Hi,
What is the quickest way to determine if Oracle is installed on an AIX server or not?
Thanks.
SP69

 

[sirron]

type this at your command prompt
it will search for anything that is on your machine

find / -name oracle

 

[Chapter11]

if there is no more disk space, memory, or cpu time, then it probably has Oracle

 

[bi]

Good one, Chapter11!

 

[SP69]

Thanks.

 

[WiccaChic]

Bank accounts overdrawn...or you feel like you have been raped when you get the bill for software maintenance.

Sorry, had to jump in!

 

[bjverzal]

grep -i kernel /etc/inittab

Oracle usually puts a "# Load kernel extensions" comment in the inittab. Also, look for an /etc/oratab file.

BV

 

[KOG]

Hi

Another thing to check is if there is a user called oracle under aix user lists. Also check if there is an oracle database running check under /etc/oratab.

 

[nani3456]

I think the most easiest way to find oracle installed is

# lslpp -L | grep oracle

 

[bjverzal]

That won't work because Oracle does not install in bff format.

Unless they've changed it from 8.x

BV

 

[jrb23]

how about ps -ef |grep oracle

 

[mrn]

pg or cat /etc/oratab will tell you what instances are installed if any.

If the file isn't there then oracle most likley isn't either.

--
| Mike Nixon
| Unix Admin
|
----------------------------

 

[alexhu]

So in summary

/etc/oratab does not have to be there

ps -ef |grep oracle will only work if the database is up

# lslpp -L | grep oracle will not work as Oracle is not installed that way

the "definitive" way is 'find / -name oracle' and then search for the rest of the binaries

Alex

 

[bjverzal]

I'm curious - if /etc/oratab is not there, how does Oracle know which instances to start - or even exist? I've never heard that argument before.

BV

 

[KenCunningham]

I guess oratab is only used for auto shutdown/startup? If starting a database manually it's not required.

 

[bjverzal]

OK

 

[mrn]

alexhu,

using your thinking then

find / -name oracle

may not work because the filesystem could be unmounted...

There is no one answer, I was just suggesting another method to try........ I've never seen an oracle install that didn't place an oratab file.

--
| Mike Nixon
| Unix Admin
|
----------------------------

 

[Chapter11]

Try looking for /etc/loadext and /etc/pw-syscall*

those are pretty good signs Oracle is on, or has been on, the machine.

 

[alexhu]

mrn - Oracle installs do place a /etc/oratab, but it doesn't need to be there. It has to be manually updated to include all the databases you have on the system. now if you have a development box with say 10 instances, not all of which are started at once, its easier to forget about /etc/oratab (or delete it) and start whatever you want up after the system has one of its rare reboots.

unmounted filesystems are not counted - because the software on that filesystem can not be considered installed

The main thing to look for that oracle is installed (as the OP asked) is the oracle binary - if its not there then oracle is not 'installed', depending on your definition of installed ! (mine being you can use the software)

Alex