Setting up Oracle 11g R2 database client for AutoPLANT

Overview

This guide is intended to help AutoPLANT users setting up client computers for work with projects stored in Oracle database. Oracle server configuration is not in scope of this document.

Notes before beginning

1. Please obtain Oracle database client installers at:
   http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/112010-win32soft-098987.html
   http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/112010-win64soft-094461.html
   AutoPLANT 32bit version requires only 32bit client, hence use the first link only. For AutoPLANT 64bit both database clients have to be installed.
   In order to download Oracle clients you’ll be asked to create a free account at Oracle site, or you can use your existing login created before.
2. Client installation needs to be done by a local administrator with elevated rights (Run as Administrator). It’s highly
   recommended to review client installation guide by Oracle to see if all the requirements are met:
   http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e24282/toc.htm
3. Oracle database client has to be installed before installing any AutoPLANT product (Piping, P&ID, etc)

Procedure of installing Oracle client

1. Extract installer obtained from Oracle site and run as administrator setup.exe. Select Custom installation type:
   
   
   
   
2. In the languages section choose a language of your interest, or leave a default one – English
3. If installing on Windows 32bit, you can leave default installation paths. However for Windows 7 64bit it’s required to install clients into separate locations. Hence change “Oracle Base” folder, “Software Location” will be updated appropriately by installed. There is no need to change Software Location path manually.
   
   
   
   
4. Select the components as displayed below. Please note that SQL*Plus is an optional component, but it’s a very handy utility to check connection to Oracle server after installation. It’s recommended to have it installed.
   
   
   
   
5. At the end of installation you will be presented with a guide helping to setup connection to Oracle database. Click Next to move forward.
   
   
   
   
6. By default a local naming method is selected, which parameters are saved locally in your computer. Leave a default option selected, unless your database is configured to use a different naming method.
   
   
   
   
7. Enter an Oracle Service Name. Please do not confuse it with a PC name. Service Name is a name of Oracle database instance. If you are familiar with MS SQL databases, then MachineName\InstanceName used to connect to MS SQL database can be considered as an equivalent to Oracle Service Name.
   
   
   
   
8. By default TCP protocol is used, typically no changes are required here.
   
   
   
   
9. Enter a PC name of machine where Oracle database is deployed. Leave the standard port number selected, unless you are sure that non standard port is configured for database.
   
   
   
   
10. This step asks to do a connection test, leave “No, do not test” option selected and proceed further.
11. It’s a good practice to have Net Service Name coincide with Service Name, therefore leave it by default.
    
    
    
    
12. Configure the firewall exception to allow inbound and outbound traffic through port 1521
13. If you are installing on Windows 7 64bit, install 64bit version of Oracle client selecting a different Oracle Base folder at step 3. It’s recommended to reboot your machine before installing 64bit client.
14. Finally it’s good to test if connection to Oracle database succeeds. First inspect if connection configuration files were created properly during installation:
    C:\Oracle_x86\product\11.2.0\client_1\NETWORK\ADMIN\tnsname.ora
    
    
    
    If you installed 64bit version of client, check if tnsname.ora is the same as in 32bit location you installed.
    Open SQL Plus command line utility. For the user name enter you login in the following form: user_name@net_service_name. Here user_name is a login to database (should be given by DB administrator.  If you have DBA access to the database, you can create it yourself) and net_service_name is taken from step 11.
    
    
    
    If connection is successful you will see greetings from Oracle. Otherwise if error occurs, you should troubleshoot if tnsnames.ora is defined properly, if ping works to database machine, check the firewall settings etc.
    
    
15. Install the AutoPLANT
16. Check the Project Administrator if Oracle database type is available to choose during creation of new project:
    
    

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