Add Oracle Instant Client

This article explains how to upload Oracle Instant Client to BucketFS.

Exasol supports using Oracle Instant Client to connect to an Oracle database using the IMPORT FROM ORA syntax. The client is installed by uploading it to BucketFS.

Prerequisites

  • Traffic must be allowed on the port used for the default bucket in BucketFS. The default port for this bucket is 2581.

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

  • Oracle Instant Client must be downloaded to your local machine.

    For Exasol versions up to version 8.31.0, Oracle Instant Client 12.1.0.2.0 is the only supported version of the client. You can download the client from the Oracle website.

    For Exasol version 8.32.0 and later, Oracle Instant Client 23.5.0.24.07 is required. This version of the client has been deprecated by Oracle and is therefore not available on the Oracle website. You can download the client using this direct link.

Procedure

To install Oracle Instant Client, upload the zip archive containing the client to BucketFS. By default, the database is configured to use the following path for the Oracle Instant Client:

/buckets/bfsdefault/default/drivers/oracle/

For more information about how to manage files in BucketFS, see Manage Buckets and Files in BucketFS.

Example:
curl -v --insecure -X PUT -T instantclient-basic-linux.x64-12.1.0.2.0.zip https://w:$WRITE_PW@$DATABASE_NODE_IP:2581/default/drivers/oracle/instantclient-basic-linux.x64-12.1.0.2.0.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.

Verification

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

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