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Create Oracle Database 18c on Windows – Advanced Configuration for the pros

Oracle Database 18c (18.3) is available for download for windows platform since August 22, 2018. If you are new to Oracle or if you are a developer and need a database to play with, you can install an Oracle 18c database quickly on your laptop with a few clicks. Read “Oracle18c Database on your Windows laptop in 6 clicks!“. If you installed the Oracle Database 18c software, and want to create a new database swiftly, read “Create Oracle Database 18c in 3 clicks!“

If you are setting up a production system or a database for enterprise applications, you will need to go through the advanced configuration. The best option is to choose “Set Up Software Only” in Oracle Universal Installer (OUI) to complete the Oracle software installation, then use Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) to create a new database.

OUI and DBCA have the advanced configuration. The OUI advanced configuration is not “advanced” enough, DBCA lets you customize the database configuration options even more – good for an experienced DBA. In my opinion, Oracle should remove the “Advanced Configuration” option from OUI, thus make DBAs to force use DBCA. Let’s see the “Advanced” options difference when using the OUI to create the database vs using DBCA to create the database.

Installation Type (OUI & DBCA)

OUI: Choose Advanced Install
DBCA: Choose Advanced Configuration

Database Edition & Software Owner (OUI only)

These screens are part of the Oracle Software install. 

Choose if you want to install Oracle Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition 2
Choose the Windows user who will own the Oracle binaries software installation

Choosing Database Type

OUI gives only two options – both options include the data files from the template. 
No custom database option.
DBCA has more options. In addition to the two options with templates, you can create a custom database. Also, there is option to choose Single instance, or RAC or RAC one node. 

Database Identification

OUI options are limited. Only 1 pluggable database creation and a CDB must have one PDB. Local undo tablespace for PDB is the default.
In DBCA you can specify the number of PDBs required in CDB. If more than one, the PDB name becomes PDB prefix. You can also create CDB with no PDBs. Option to choose local undo tablespace or not for PDB. 

Database Storage

OUI lets you choose file system or ASM for storage.
DBCA has more options – use of OMF, redo and control file multiplexing. 
OUI gives option to enable recovery, which includes configuring the fast recovery area location.
DBCA gives option to configure Fast Recovery Area including its size, and Archive log mode. 

Configuration Options

OUI has enough configuration options, but DBCA has a lot more. 

  • Memory: 
    • OUI: Automatic memory management and for shared memory management, you only specify the total memory, OUI allocates the PGA and SGA. 
    • DBCA: Automatic memory management, Automatic shared memory management, and Manual shared memory management options.
  • Sizing:
    • OUI: No option to change block size (8k) or the number of processes.
    • DBCA: Option to change block size if the template used is “Custom Database”. Specify processes.
  • Character Sets:
    • OUI: Option to choose database character set.
    • DBCA: In addition to database character set, choose national character set, language, and territory.
  • Connection mode:
    • OUI: No option to change – dedicated server mode. 
    • DBCA: Option to configure a dedicated server or shared server mode. 
  • Sample Schema:
    • OUI and DBCA give the option to install the sample schema.

MEMORY:

OUI: Automatic memory management and shared memory management
DBCA: Automatic memory management, Automatic
 shared memory management, and Manual shared memory management options.

CHARACTER SETS:

OUI: Option to choose database character set.
DBCA: In addition to database character set, choose national character set, language, and territory.

SIZING & CONNECTION MODE (DBCA ONLY):

DBCA: Option to change block size if the template used is “Custom Database”.
DBCA: Option to configure a dedicated server or shared server mode. 

Management Options

OUI: Option to configure OEM Cloud Control. Database Express is automatically configured on port 5500.
DBCA: In addition to OEM Cloud Control configuration, option to specify port for Database Express. 

Schema Passwords

OUI and DBCA: Option to specify one password for admin accounts or different passwords. PDBADMIN is applicable only when PDBs are created. 
OUI and DBCA: Option to specify one password for admin accounts or different passwords. PDBADMIN is applicable only when PDBs are created. 

Database Creation Option – DBCA Only

DBCA has option to save the DB create script, create a DB template and customize storage locations, as well as change initialization parameters. No such options in OUI.
The Customize Storage option in DBCA gives flexibility to specify storage parameters. 
DBCA gives option to configure a new listener or to register the database with an existing listener. OUI always creates a new listener and configures port 1521. 
DBCA gives option to configure Oracle Database Vault and Oracle Label Security. No such option in OUI.

Summary

OUI: Summary shows only Global Setting and Database Configuration.
DBCA: Summary shows much more.

If you plan on creating a database using a GUI tool for enterprise applications, always use DBCA. DBCA gives more flexibility and options. If you are installing the software and want a database with basic default options, use the OUI starter database option, desktop class.  

DBCA Database Creation Screens

All the screens that belong to DBCA are in the gallery below. You can also see the options included with the OLTP and DW templates – both are very much similar, one difference is the parameter star_transformation_enabled=TRUE in DW template. Both DW and OLTP include the pre-created data files, so the database creation would be much faster. The custom template builds the database from scratch, thus takes longer. 

  • DBCA 1: Select Database Operation
  • DBCA 2: Select Database Creation Mode
  • DBCA 3: Select Database Deployment Type
  • DBCA 3a: Data Warehouse Template Options
  • DBCA 3b: General Purpose or Transaction Processing Template Options
  • DBCA 3c: Custom Database Creation Template options
  • DBCA 4: Specify Database Identification Details
  • DBCA 5: Select Database Storage Option
  • DBCA 6: Select Fast Recovery Option
  • DBCA 7: Specify Network Configuration Details
  • DBCA 8: Select Database Options – Only available if Custom Database Creation template is chosen in Screen 3.
  • DBCA 8: Select Oracle Data Vault Config Option
  • DBCA 9a: Specify Configuration Options – Memory
  • DBCA 9b: Specify Configuration Options – Sizing
  • DBCA 9c: Specify Configuration Options – Character Sets
  • DBCA 9d: Specify Configuration Options – Connection Mode
  • DBCA 10: Specify Management Options
  • DBCA 11: Specify Database User Credentials
  • DBCA 12: Select Database Creation Option
  • DBCA 13: Summary