
When I try to establish connection to Oracle server in Navicat, I get an error message saying Instant Client is required. What is that and what should I do?
updated at
Apply OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Apply Navicat Product: Navicat for Oracle, Navicat Premium
Apply Navicat Version No.: All
Instant Client package is required for Basic and TNS connection type. To download Instant Client package (Instant Client Package - Basic), please go to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/features/instant-client/index-097480.html
Note: Navicat version 9 or above, instant client is bundled in Navicat.
Connection Type
- Basic
In Basic mode, Navicat Oracle connects to Oracle through the Oracle Call Interface (OCI). OCI is an application programming interface that allows an application developer to use a third-generation language's native procedure or function calls to access the Oracle database server and control all phases of SQL statement execution. OCI is a library of standard database access and retrieval functions in the form of a dynamic-link library. - TNS
In TNS mode, Navicat Oracle connects to Oracle server using an alias entry from a tnsnames.ora file.
Windows
Installation Instructions
Note: Navicat version 10 or below, Navicat only support 32-bit instant client.
- Download the appropriate Instant Client packages for your platform. All installations REQUIRE the Basic or Basic Lite package.
Note:- For Oracle 9i or above, you need Instant Client 11 or below
- For Oracle 8 and 8i server, you need Instant Client 10 or below
- Unzip the packages into a single directory such as "C:\instantclient_11_1".
- In Options -> OCI / Environment, choose the oci.dll in the directory you defined in Step 2 ("C:\instantclient_11_1\oci.dll").
- Restart Navicat.
macOS
Installation Instructions
Note: Navicat version 10 or below, Navicat only support 32-bit instant client.
- Download the appropriate Instant Client packages for your platform. All installations REQUIRE the Basic or Basic Lite package.
Hint:- MAC OSX any versions running on PPC cpu should use PPC Navicat and PPC Instant Client.
- MAC OSX 10.4 or below running on INTEL cpu should use PPC Navicat and PPC Instant Client.
- MAC OSX 10.5 up running on INTEL cpu should use X86 Navicat and x86 Instant Client.
- Just simply unzip the packages and copy all files under /usr/lib or ~/lib. (Copy all files under /usr/lib for Mac OS X 10.3, otherwise, copy all files under /usr/lib or ~/lib for Mac OS X 10.4 or above.)
Tips: Besides, you can place the instant client in anywhere you like and then specify the path in Preferences.
- Restart Navicat.
Linux
Installation Instructions
- All installations REQUIRE the Basic or Basic Lite package.
- For Navicat version 11.1 or below, please download Instant Client packages for Microsoft Windows (32-bit).
- For Navicat version 11.2 -12.1, please download the Instant Client for Microsoft Windows according to the Navicat version.
- For Navicat version 15, please download the Instant Client for Linux (64-bit).
- For Oracle 9i or above, you need Instant Client 11 or below
- For Oracle 8 and 8i server, you need Instant Client 10 or below
- Unzip the packages into a single directory such as "/home/instantclient_11_1".
- In Options -> OCI / Environment, choose the oci.dll / libclntsh.so in the directory you defined in Step 2 ("/home/instantclient_11_1").
- Restart Navicat.
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