Oracle 11g for SQL Class ---Need best Install method options!!!

[tkolarik]

HI,
I am taking an SQL course starting next week and I am looking for the best way to install Oracle 11g so that everything is not disrupted and that I can remove it easily if needed.

1. First, I am only looking at free versions the one on the Oracle site shows the windows version as X32, but there is not one that says 64-bit. Does that mean that Oracle 11g is a 32-bit version? Also, it shows a Linux x64?

2. Should I install it within a virtual machine, Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode or other Virtual PC install, or VMware. another option is install within Linux. Which Linux distro and bit size would be best for that?

I can't ask the instructors until class begins and don'w want to waste time doing this when I could be studying.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!!!

Thanks

[DaemonCantor]

It only comes in x86 flavor for Windows but it should work just fine on a x64 system. I personally haven't used it or have a use for that level of Database. For what I do, I use MySQL which is now owned by Oracle and is pretty much the Standard for Web Based stuff like Stores, eBay, Google and even this Forum. I understand you need it for school so go ahead and install it to a VMWare Windows Server 2008 R2 to get full use of it with out messing with your present OS but remember that it will run Slower than if installed Natively. If you would rather use the x64 Linux Distro I would suggest OpenSUSE since I've used that more often than any other Distro.

[Zygomorphic]

I'm running OpenSUSE right now, and I will say that it (OpenSUSE 12.2) works well and reliably with my G53SX. 🙂 It is a little harder to get installed, but once installed, it runs really well. Can't say how well the database software would work, but LINUX is a good OS and very powerful.

Good luck in your class! 🙂

What computer do you have? Get the bit-size that matches your computer (x86 if <=2 GB of RAM). If the only free LINUX Oracle 11g is x64, then I guess you are using that. If your processor supports hardware virtualization, (VT-X,VMT instructions) you can virtualize either, just keep in mind the RAM requirements can be high. I have 16 GB of RAM, so that's not an issue for me. 🙂

[tkolarik]

Thanks guys,

I have the G75VW - Bestbuy version with 16GM RAM.

[Zygomorphic]

tkolarik wrote:
Thanks guys,

I have the G75VW - Bestbuy version with 16GM RAM.

OK, you shouldn't have a problem with a VM, just run VirtualBox for the LINUX variant.
Download VBox from here:
www.virtualbox.org

Set up a VM with 8 GB of RAM, 4 processors and a 40 GB HDD. It is pretty easy to do.
Download OpenSUSE 12.2 x64 with live KDE from the following website:
http://software.opensuse.org/122/en
Select Live KDE and click on 64bit and then click Download. The ISO is 678 MB, so it can take a while to download.