In this post, we will explore how to set up a YUM repository using the RPMs available on the Linux install media.
There are already a great number of good blogs on setting up YUM repositories so this is nothing especially new. But every time I install Oracle I find I have to track down one or two that cover what I need, so this is my brain dump on how to do it.
About YUM.
On Linux, before you can install the Oracle database, you always have to install a series of additional RPM packages that Oracle requires.
Even with Oracle Enterprise Linux, which includes a Database install configuration option, the additional RPMs are not loaded.
Loading additional RPMs is straightforward in of itself, the Linux rpm command is used to load the additional package. But many packages require additional packages of their own, leading to a frustrating dependency-hell situation.
The Linux YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) exists to simplify this situation, by automating the identification and resolution of dependent packages.
That’s great, but YUM requires a repository to locate the RPM packages.
Some releases of Linux require a paid subscription to access the default YUM repository. Others are configured to use freely available ones. Knowing if the repository is trust-worthy is one problem, another is having network access to any repository. In some organizations, network access is forbidden or limited, and that issue alone can takes days to resolve, or an act of Congress in the case of EMC.
All of this is doubly frustrating as usually all of the RPMs needed by Oracle are already located on the Linux install media.
So in this example, we are going to configure a CentOS 6.4 system to use an optional YUM repository on the local install media.
With the install media mounted, we should be able to see the /media directory.
[root@localhost ]# ls /media/CentOS_6.4_Final/ CentOS_BuildTag isolinux RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Debug-6 EFI Packages RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Security-6 EULA RELEASE-NOTES-en-US.html RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Testing-6 GPL repodata TRANS.TBL images RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
Make a note of the GPG-KEY file. We will need this in a moment. In this case the key file is RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
To create a YUM repository, we need to add a repo file to the directory /etc/yum.repos.d
We will call this optional repository, or repo, dvd, as it is located on the install DVD media. You can choose any name you feel is appropriate.
The file we create will be called dvd.repo, and will contain the following entires:
[root@localhost ]# cat /etc/yum.repos.d/dvd.repo [dvd] name=Install DVD baseurl="file:///media/CentOS_6.4_Final" gpgkey="file:///media/CentOS_6.4_Final/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6" gpgcheck=1 enabled=0
The first line of the repo file states that the entries are for the dvd repo.
The baseurl tells YUM where the RPM files are located. In this example YUM will look in /media/CentOS_6.4_Final/Packages.
The double quotes here are not strictly necessary, as CentOS does not use spaces in the media file path, but some releases of Linux do use spaces, and so the double quotes allows YUM to handle that.
The gpgkey points to the GPG key file identified earlier.
The enabled=0 directive tells YUM that this repo is not enabled by default. That means our repo will not be considred unless we expressly tell YUM to use it, which prevents our DVD dependent repo from causing problems later on when the install media is ejected.
Okay, now let’s see if our new dvd repo works. One tool I find myself using on a regular basis is the dos2unix tool which converts the CR/LF symbols of DOS to the singular LF used by UNIX and Linux.
We will use YUM, and specify that we want YUM to use the dvd repo by including the directive –enablerepo=dvd.
[root@localhost yum.repos.d]# yum install --enablerepo=dvd dos2unix Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * base: centos.host-engine.com * extras: mirrors.syringanetworks.net * updates: centos.sonn.com Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package dos2unix.x86_64 0:3.1-37.el6 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================ Installing: dos2unix x86_64 3.1-37.el6 base 16 k Transaction Summary ================================================================================ Install 1 Package(s) Total download size: 16 k Installed size: 18 k Is this ok [y/N]:
YUM has completed the dependency check, and determined that it only has to install the dos2unix package. If this looks okay, you can enter Y to continue. YUM then completes the package install.
Downloading Packages: dos2unix-3.1-37.el6.x86_64.rpm | 16 kB 00:00 warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, key ID c105b9de: NOKEY Retrieving key from file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6 Importing GPG key 0xC105B9DE: Userid : CentOS-6 Key (CentOS 6 Official Signing Key) Package: centos-release-6-4.el6.centos.10.x86_64 (@anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4) From : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6 Is this ok [y/N]: y Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : dos2unix-3.1-37.el6.x86_64 1/1 Verifying : dos2unix-3.1-37.el6.x86_64 1/1 Installed: dos2unix.x86_64 0:3.1-37.el6 Complete! [root@localhost yum.repos.d]#
If the process completes successfully, you have a YUM repository you can use to assist in the install of the RPMs needed by Oracle.
The Oracle documentation includes a list of the additional RPMs needed for each release of the database software on all of the supported versions of Linux.
Check the following link, under the section Package Requirements.
Oracle Database Preinstallation Tasks
Here we find that the Oracle Database Package Requirements for Linux x86-64 for the operating system Oracle Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, and Asianux Server 4 for which CentOS 6.4 is compatible, the package requirements are as follows:
- binutils-2.20.51.0.2-5.11.el6 (x86_64)
- compat-libcap1-1.10-1 (x86_64)
- compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6 (x86_64)
- compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6 (i686)
- gcc-4.4.4-13.el6 (x86_64)
- gcc-c++-4.4.4-13.el6 (x86_64)
- glibc-2.12-1.7.el6 (i686)
- glibc-2.12-1.7.el6 (x86_64)
- glibc-devel-2.12-1.7.el6 (x86_64)
- glibc-devel-2.12-1.7.el6 (i686)
- ksh
- libgcc-4.4.4-13.el6 (i686)
- libgcc-4.4.4-13.el6 (x86_64)
- libstdc++-4.4.4-13.el6 (x86_64)
- libstdc++-4.4.4-13.el6 (i686)
- libstdc++-devel-4.4.4-13.el6 (x86_64)
- libstdc++-devel-4.4.4-13.el6 (i686)
- libaio-0.3.107-10.el6 (x86_64)
- libaio-0.3.107-10.el6 (i686)
- libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6 (x86_64)
- libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6 (i686)
- make-3.81-19.el6
- sysstat-9.0.4-11.el6 (x86_64)
The documentation states that the packages (or later versions) must be installed, and with each revision of the operating system, exact version numbers will change.
Also in many cases Oracle is directing us to install both the i686 (32-bit) package and the x86_64 (64-bit) package.
We can therefore streamline the install process using YUM as follows:
yum install --enablerepo=dvd \ binutils-2.* \ compat-libcap1-1.* \ compat-libstdc++-33-3.* \ compat-libstdc++-33-3.*.i686 \ gcc-4.* \ gcc-c++-4.* \ glibc-2.*.i686 \ glibc-2.* \ glibc-devel-2.* \ glibc-devel-2.*.i686 \ ksh \ libgcc-4.*.i686 \ libgcc-4.* \ libstdc++-4.* \ libstdc++-4.*.i686 \ libstdc++-devel-4.* \ libstdc++-devel-4.*.i686 \ libaio-0.* \ libaio-0.*.i686 \ libaio-devel-0.* \ libaio-devel-0.*.i686 \ make-3.* \ sysstat-9.*
Executing the YUM command should produce a result similar to this:
[root@localhost ~]# yum install --enablerepo=dvd binutils-2.* compat-libcap1-1.* compat-libstdc++-33-3.* compat-libstdc++-33-3.*.i686 gcc-4.* gcc-c++-4.* glibc-2.*.i686 glibc-2.* glibc-devel-2.* glibc-devel-2.*.i686 ksh libgcc-4.*.i686 libgcc-4.* libstdc++-4.* libstdc++-4.*.i686 libstdc++-devel-4.* libstdc++-devel-4.*.i686 libaio-0.* libaio-0.*.i686 libaio-devel-0.* libaio-devel-0.*.i686 make-3.* sysstat-9.*
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
Setting up Install Process
Package binutils-2.20.51.0.2-5.36.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package gcc-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package glibc-2.12-1.107.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package glibc-devel-2.12-1.107.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package libgcc-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package libstdc++-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package libaio-0.3.107-10.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package 1:make-3.81-20.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package sysstat-9.0.4-20.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package compat-libcap1.x86_64 0:1.10-1 will be installed
---> Package compat-libstdc++-33.i686 0:3.2.3-69.el6 will be installed
---> Package compat-libstdc++-33.x86_64 0:3.2.3-69.el6 will be installed
---> Package gcc-c++.x86_64 0:4.4.7-3.el6 will be installed
---> Package glibc.i686 0:2.12-1.107.el6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: libfreebl3.so(NSSRAWHASH_3.12.3) for package: glibc-2.12-1.107.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libfreebl3.so for package: glibc-2.12-1.107.el6.i686
---> Package glibc-devel.i686 0:2.12-1.107.el6 will be installed
---> Package ksh.x86_64 0:20100621-19.el6 will be installed
---> Package libaio.i686 0:0.3.107-10.el6 will be installed
---> Package libaio-devel.i686 0:0.3.107-10.el6 will be installed
---> Package libaio-devel.x86_64 0:0.3.107-10.el6 will be installed
---> Package libgcc.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6 will be installed
---> Package libstdc++.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6 will be installed
---> Package libstdc++-devel.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6 will be installed
---> Package libstdc++-devel.x86_64 0:4.4.7-3.el6 will be installed
--> Running transaction check
---> Package nss-softokn-freebl.i686 0:3.12.9-11.el6 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository
Size
================================================================================
Installing:
compat-libcap1 x86_64 1.10-1 dvd 17 k
compat-libstdc++-33 i686 3.2.3-69.el6 dvd 189 k
compat-libstdc++-33 x86_64 3.2.3-69.el6 dvd 183 k
gcc-c++ x86_64 4.4.7-3.el6 dvd 4.7 M
glibc i686 2.12-1.107.el6 dvd 4.3 M
glibc-devel i686 2.12-1.107.el6 dvd 974 k
ksh x86_64 20100621-19.el6 dvd 686 k
libaio i686 0.3.107-10.el6 dvd 21 k
libaio-devel i686 0.3.107-10.el6 dvd 13 k
libaio-devel x86_64 0.3.107-10.el6 dvd 13 k
libgcc i686 4.4.7-3.el6 dvd 112 k
libstdc++ i686 4.4.7-3.el6 dvd 300 k
libstdc++-devel i686 4.4.7-3.el6 dvd 1.6 M
libstdc++-devel x86_64 4.4.7-3.el6 dvd 1.6 M
Installing for dependencies:
nss-softokn-freebl i686 3.12.9-11.el6 dvd 116 k
Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install 15 Package(s)
Total download size: 15 M
Installed size: 47 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 6.9 MB/s | 15 MB 00:02
warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, key ID c105b9de: NOKEY
Retrieving key from file:///media/CentOS_6.4_Final/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
Importing GPG key 0xC105B9DE:
Userid: "CentOS-6 Key (CentOS 6 Official Signing Key) "
From : /media/CentOS_6.4_Final/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Installing : libgcc-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 1/15
Installing : libstdc++-devel-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 2/15
Installing : nss-softokn-freebl-3.12.9-11.el6.i686 3/15
Installing : glibc-2.12-1.107.el6.i686 4/15
Installing : compat-libcap1-1.10-1.x86_64 5/15
Installing : glibc-devel-2.12-1.107.el6.i686 6/15
Installing : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.x86_64 7/15
Installing : ksh-20100621-19.el6.x86_64 8/15
Installing : libstdc++-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 9/15
Installing : libaio-0.3.107-10.el6.i686 10/15
Installing : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.x86_64 11/15
Installing : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.i686 12/15
Installing : gcc-c++-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 13/15
Installing : libstdc++-devel-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 14/15
Installing : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.i686 15/15
Verifying : compat-libcap1-1.10-1.x86_64 1/15
Verifying : glibc-devel-2.12-1.107.el6.i686 2/15
Verifying : gcc-c++-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 3/15
Verifying : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.x86_64 4/15
Verifying : libstdc++-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 5/15
Verifying : libgcc-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 6/15
Verifying : glibc-2.12-1.107.el6.i686 7/15
Verifying : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.x86_64 8/15
Verifying : compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-69.el6.i686 9/15
Verifying : libaio-0.3.107-10.el6.i686 10/15
Verifying : libstdc++-devel-4.4.7-3.el6.x86_64 11/15
Verifying : ksh-20100621-19.el6.x86_64 12/15
Verifying : nss-softokn-freebl-3.12.9-11.el6.i686 13/15
Verifying : libstdc++-devel-4.4.7-3.el6.i686 14/15
Verifying : libaio-devel-0.3.107-10.el6.i686 15/15
Installed:
compat-libcap1.x86_64 0:1.10-1
compat-libstdc++-33.i686 0:3.2.3-69.el6
compat-libstdc++-33.x86_64 0:3.2.3-69.el6
gcc-c++.x86_64 0:4.4.7-3.el6
glibc.i686 0:2.12-1.107.el6
glibc-devel.i686 0:2.12-1.107.el6
ksh.x86_64 0:20100621-19.el6
libaio.i686 0:0.3.107-10.el6
libaio-devel.i686 0:0.3.107-10.el6
libaio-devel.x86_64 0:0.3.107-10.el6
libgcc.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6
libstdc++.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6
libstdc++-devel.i686 0:4.4.7-3.el6
libstdc++-devel.x86_64 0:4.4.7-3.el6
Dependency Installed:
nss-softokn-freebl.i686 0:3.12.9-11.el6
Complete!
YUM makes resolving the dependency hell of RPM packages much more managable, and greatly simplifies the installation of Oracle on the Linux platform.
A local repo based on the install media means you don’t have to worry about subscriptions, trust-worthy free repos, or network access rules.
the gruffdba 