How to identify correct Oracle Database software to install on Linux platform

If you are planning to install Oracle Database on Linux platform, then you have to ensure that you are downloading/installing the correct software installation kit. Incorrect software installation for your linux platform will cause errors at relink phase of the installation. Correct Oracle Database Software installation kit can be identified based on Linux OS kernel architecture type (from OS command 'uname -a' output). Following are the different linux architectures along with examples that help to identify correct oracle database software.

Linux x86: (32-bit OS)

$ uname -a Linux celnx4 2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri Jun 30 10:33:58 EDT 2006 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

If Linux kernel architecture contains "i386 or i686 or x86", then this platform will be referred as "Linux x86". Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "Linux x86".

Linux x86_64: (64-bit OS)
$ uname -a Linux celnx7 2.6.9-55.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri Apr 20 16:36:54 EDT 2007 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

If linux kernel architecture is "x86_64", then your platform will be referred as "Linux x86_64" (or Linux AMD64 or Linux EM64T or Linux AMD64/EM64T or Linux x86_64(AMD64/EM64T) ). Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "Linux x86_64".

Linux Itanium: (64-bit OS)

$ uname -a Linux celia4 2.6.9-42.EL #1 SMP Wed Jul 12 23:25:09 EDT 2006 ia64 ia64 ia64 GNU/Linux

If linux kernel architecture is "ia64", then your platform will be referred as "Linux Itanium". Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "Linux Itanium".IBM Power Based Linux: (64-bit OS)

$ uname -a Linux stuze22 2.6.9-34.0.1.0.11.EL #1 SMP Mon Dec 4 16:10:42 PST 2006 ppc64 ppc64 ppc64 GNU/Linux

If linux kernel architecture is "ppc64", then your platform will be referred as " 'IBM Power Based Linux' or 'Linux on Power' ". Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "IBM Power Based Linux" or "Linux on Power".IBM zSeries Based Linux: (64-bit OS)

$ uname -a
Linux pazxxt12 2.6.16.46-0.12-default #1 SMP Thu May 17 14:00:09 UTC 2007 s390x s390x s390x GNU/Linux

If Linux kernel architecture is "s390x", then your platform will be referred as "IBM zSeries based Linux" or "zLinux". Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "IBM zSeries based Linux" or "zLinux".

IBM S/390 Based Linux (31-bit): (31-bit OS)

$ uname -a Linux pazxxt10 2.4.21-50.EL #1 SMP Tue May 8 17:10:38 EDT 2007 s390 s390 s390 GNU/Linux

If Linux kernel architecture is "s390" (but not s390x) , then your platform will be referred as "IBM S/390 based Linux (31-bit)". Please ensure that you are downloading/installing the Oracle Database software installation kit that is released for "IBM S/390 based Linux (31-bit)". 10gR1 (10.1.0.x) is the last/terminal Oracle Database release for this platform.