How To Configure Oracle Instant Client

This article is a step-by-step instruction for configuring Oracle Instant Client so that our tools for Oracle could work with it.

1. Download Oracle Instant Client

You can download Basic Instant Client package using one of the following links (depending on your platform):

• Windows (32-bit) – https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winsoft-085727.html
• Windows (x64) – https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winx64soft-089540.html
• Any other platform – https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/features/instant-client/index-097480.html

2. Extract client files

Extract content of the .zip archive to the desired destination folder. For example,

C:\ORACLE\INSTANT

3. Add client folder to PATH

Add the full path to Instant Client folder (C:\ORACLE\INSTANT in our case) to PATH environment variable. A reboot may be required.

4. Add TNS_ADMIN variable

Add TNS_ADMIN environment variable that tells the client where to look for tnsnames.ora file. In our example, it will point to the client’s folder.

TNS_ADMIN = C:\ORACLE\INSTANT

5. Add NLS_LANG variable

Add NLS_LANG environment variable if localization is required. For example,

NLS_LANG=American_America.CL8MSWIN1251

Reboot your computer.

6. Create registry file

Create the inst_ora.reg file with the following content:

Windows Registry Editor Version  5.00
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE]
"ORACLE_HOME"="C:\ORACLE\INSTANT"
@=""
"ORACLE_HOME_NAME"="OraHome"
"ORACLE_GROUP_NAME"="Oracle  -  OraHome"
"NLS_LANG"="NA"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ALL_HOMES]
"HOME_COUNTER"="1"
"DEFAULT_HOME"="OraHome"
"LAST_HOME"="0"
@=""
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ALL_HOMESID0]
"NAME"="OraHome"
"PATH"="C:\ORACLE\INSTANT"
"NLS_LANG"="NA"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\HOME0]
"ORACLE_HOME"="C:\ORACLE\INSTANT"
"ORACLE_SID"="ORCL1120"
"ID"="0"
"ORACLE_GROUP_NAME"="Oracle  -  OraHome"
"ORACLE_HOME_NAME"="OraHome"
"NLS_LANG"="American_America.CL8MSWIN1251"
"ORACLE_HOME_KEY"="Software\ORACLE\HOME0"

Note:
ORACLE_HOME value is set for this example. You’ll need to set your own value. Same for ORACLE_SID and NLS_LANG variables.

7. Register client

Launch inst_ora.reg file adding data to the registry.

Ready

Oracle Instant Client is ready for work.