DevOps, CI/CD and Automation

Hi all,

Ok, I am just a little confused. All I need to do is get ODBC running under Windows 7. I figured this would be easy, but apparently not. I am trying to install Oracle 11g 64 bit on a new Win 7 computer. This is to set up a "typical" end user system and is NOT for development.

I first went to the 11g download page (http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/112010-win64soft-094461.html ) and downloaded the client software (win64_11gR2_client.zip). I unzipped and installed that. I was able to run NetAdmin and edit the TNSNAMES.ora file. However, when I ran the MS ODBC manager - there were no Oracle driver options. I tried this with both the InstantClient and Runtime options.

So I figured I had missed something. I ran the deinstall and then did a system restore. I read the docs in the install and here on the forum and saw references to the instant client installs.

It told me to download the Basic Instant Client and ODBC Instant Client packages from the Oracle Technology Network Instant Client page, so I went to link http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winx64soft-089540.html and downloaded both the instant client (instantclient-basic-win-x86-64-11.2.0.1.0.zip) and the ODBC module (instantclient-odbc-win-x86-64-11.2.0.1.0.zip)

I unzipped the client-basic first per the odbc docs. No docs, just a readme with no details. And nothing named install. I did see two .exe files (adrci.exe and genezi.exe) but netiher was a clear install package. Nor was there a .msi package. So, in reading the docs, I tried to determine if "deployed" meant unzipped or installed. So I unzipped the instant ODBC files into the instantclient_11_2 folder and ran the ODBC_install. There was no reference to NETADMIN in the startfolder, but there was an ODBC shortcut - which I ran. It showed the ODBC drivers, but when I got to the TNS Service Name and clicked on the "down arrow", all I saw were what appeared to be garbage entries. There was no TNSNAMES.ora file to be found.

Ok, so now I reinstalled the initial download and then tried to add the ODBC stuff to that.... No luck.
I Ran the universal installer and tried to get it to load the ODBC stuff - but there were no .xml files (which is what it apparently wants) to load. And when I tried to install the instant ODBC, the universal installer still didn't appear to see ODBC stuff...

So I can install the first and be able to edit TNSNAMES.ORA. Or install the second and see an ODBC driver - but not configure it because I can't reference a TNSNAMES.ora file. Or do both and just get frustrated because both installs IGNORE the other....

Oh, if I run the NetAdmin and create a TNSNAMES entry - when I test it, it can connect to the server. But I just can't get the ODBC Oracle driver to find that file.....

IAC, what do I need to download (just the minimum oracle 11g) to an end user's win 7 x64 computer so that I can configure the TNSNAMES.ora settings and setup the ODBC connection?

Anyway, I am sure there is an easy answer to this. And I would be happy to mark your response as an answer so you get the credit you deserve for helping me.

And it would be even nicer if there was a little more support about ODBC in the docs that come with both the standard client and the instant client installs.

Thanks,

JustMe

Edited by: justme on Feb 8, 2011 3:39 PM