Preparing Oracle Linux VirtualBox for Oracle Database Installation

This guide summarizes the essential steps to prepare an Oracle Linux 8.8 virtual machine on VirtualBox for installing Oracle Database 19c.

1. Create the oracle User

After the Linux installation, create a dedicated OS user oracle and mark him as administrator. This is equivalent to running the following command:

useradd -m -g oinstall -G dba,oper oracle
passwd oracle
usermod -aG wheel oracle

By adding it to the wheel group, the user can act as an administrator using sudo.

2. Set a Hostname

Assign a clear hostname to make the VM easier to identify:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname OracleLinux-19c

Verify with:

hostnamectl

3. Configure Networking

Networking preparation includes three steps:

3.1 Configure Bridged Mode

By default, VirtualBox uses NAT networking, which restricts access to the VM. This change must be done while the VM is powered off.
Switch the adapter to Bridged Mode, mapping it to your host machine’s physical network card. This allows direct access from the host and other devices on the LAN.

3.2 Assign a Static IP Address

Oracle clients need a consistent address. Use nmcli (the NetworkManager command‑line tool) to configure a static IP:

nmcli con modify "static-enp0s3"   ipv4.method manual   ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.99/24   ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1   ipv4.dns "192.168.1.1 8.8.8.8"   connection.autoconnect yes
nmcli con up "static-enp0s3"

Verify the configuration:

ip addr show enp0s3

Expected result:

inet 192.168.1.99/24 scope global enp0s3

3.3 Hosts File Entry (Optional)

On the host machine, you can add an entry to the hosts file for easier name resolution:

192.168.1.99   oraclelinux-19c

4. Test Connectivity

• From inside the VM:
  • Test internet access with ping 8.8.8.8
  • Test DNS with ping google.com
• From the host machine:
  • Confirm connectivity with ping 192.168.1.99
• If the hosts file entry was added, verify you can reach oracledb19.local.

5. Enable SSH Service

To allow file transfer (SCP, WinSCP) and remote access using PuTTY, ensure the SSH service is installed and running:

sudo dnf install -y openssh-server
sudo systemctl enable sshd
sudo systemctl start sshd

Verify the service:

systemctl status sshd

Once enabled, you can connect to the VM using its IP address with any SSH client.

Test SSH Connectivity and File Transfer

From the host, try logging in:

ssh oracle@192.168.1.99

If successful, test file transfer with scp:

scp testfile.txt oracle@192.168.1.99:/home/oracle/

Confirm on the VM that the file arrived in /home/oracle/.

Final State

Your Oracle Linux VM is now:

• Equipped with a dedicated oracle user
• Assigned a custom hostname
• Connected to the LAN via Bridged Adapter
• Configured with a static IP (192.168.1.99)
• Ready for both network and DNS connectivity

The environment is ready for the next stage: downloading and installing Oracle Database 19c.