Yes. Enterprise ArcSDE isn't a database, it's an application server that lives in a database.
You must always install and preconfigure the host RDBMS before Enterprise ArcSDE.
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Like SQL*Server, you will want to install the database first.
If you use the SDE Direct Connect model, which is what ESRI recommends, then you have to install Oracle client software on the client machines (any machine which uses SDE).
In the case of ArcMap you have to install the 32 bit client because ArcMap is 32 bit. In the case of ArcGIS Server you have to install the 64 bit client because ArcGIS Server is 64 bit.
The easiest way to do this is to install the Oracle Instant Client which is available via Oracle or via the ESRI Customer Care Portal in the downloads section (see attachment). You can also install the full Oracle Client as well.
Here are my instructions for the installing the instant client from the ESRI download. In these I assume that you want both the 32 bit and 64 bit clients. Adjust as needed.
Double-Click OracleDatabaseInstantClient_101_130029.exe
You will be prompted for a location to unzip the files. Change to root drive (C:) and click OK.
Navigate to C:\OracleDatabaseInstantClient. Notice there is a Windows32 and a Windows64 directory.
For both directories:
Navigate to the directory to find a zip file.
Unzip the contents of the zip file into the same directory.
If you are using 7 Zip then just unzip here.
If you are using the built-in Windows unzip utility then you must edit the proposed directory.
You should have the following folders:
- C:\OracleDatabaseInstantClient\Windows64\instantclient_11_2
- C:\OracleDatabaseInstantClient\Windows32\instantclient_11_2
Edit the system PATH environment variable. Add the path to each client folder to the end of the path. For example:
C:\OracleDatabaseInstantClient\Windows64\instantclient_11_2;C:\OracleDatabaseInstantClient\Windows32\instantclient_11_2
Order is important. Notice the 64 bit client is first in the path.
If you want to use TNSNAMES then you can configure the system TNS_ADMIN environment variable to point to a directory which has the file tnsnames.ora in it.
Here is the link:
https://customers.esri.com
I can't comment on how customers gain access to this.
In my case, I ask the primary ESRI contact at my company to grant me access.