Add Oracle Instant Client

This article explains how to install Oracle Instant Client in Exasol.

You can use Oracle Instant Client to connect to an Oracle database and load data using the IMPORT FROM ORA syntax. You install the client by uploading it to BucketFS.

Prerequisites

  • In native AWS deployments, the Amazon EC2 security group must contain an inbound rule to allow traffic on the port used for the default bucket in BucketFS. The default port for this bucket is 2581. For more information, refer to the AWS documentation.

Always change the default write password of the default bucket to a secure password. For more information, see Change Bucket Password.

Compatible client versions

Exasol version Oracle Instant Client version Note
8.31.0 and earlier 12.1.0.2.0 Download the client from Oracle Instant Client Downloads.
8.32.0 to 2025.1.5 23.5.0.24.07 (direct download) These versions are not available on the Oracle Instant Client downloads page. You have to use the direct download links.
2025.1.6 and later 23.9.0.25.07 (direct download)

Procedure

  1. Download the compatible version of Oracle Instant Client to your local machine.

  2. Upload the zip archive containing the client to BucketFS in Exasol. By default, the database is configured to use the following path for Oracle Instant Client:

    /buckets/bfsdefault/default/drivers/oracle/

Example:

The following examples use curl on a Linux terminal, but you can also use other interfaces and tools.

Placeholder values in the examples are styled as Bash variables, for example: $NODE_IP. Replace these placeholders with your own values.

Copy 
curl -v --insecure -X PUT -T instantclient-basic-linux.x64-23.5.0.24.07.zip https://w:$WRITE_PW@$DATABASE_NODE_IP:2581/default/drivers/oracle/instantclient-basic-linux.x64-23.5.0.24.07.zip

The option --insecure or -k tells curl to bypass the TLS certificate check. This option allows you to connect to a HTTPS server that does not have a valid certificate. Only use this option if certificate verification is not possible and you trust the server.

You must connect to one of the database nodes, not to the access node.

Verification

To verify that Oracle Instant Client is installed, perform an IMPORT statement using the IMPORT FROM ORA syntax.

Example:
Copy 
CREATE OR REPLACE CONNECTION OCI_ORACLE
    TO '192.168.99.103:1521/xe'
    USER 'system'
    IDENTIFIED BY 'oracle';
Copy 
SELECT * FROM (
    IMPORT FROM ORA at OCI_ORACLE
    STATEMENT 'select ''Connection works'' from dual'
);