Oracle: Install Oracle Instant Client & SQLDeveloper

The University of Minnesota Oracle DBA team is recommending SQLDeveloper 24.3 and Oracle Instant Client 23.8.

In this article:

• Windows Installation
• SQL Developer Configuration
• Troubleshooting SQL Developer
   

Installing on Windows with Software Center

Note: If you are working with Mac or Linux, verify your settings are correct using the Troubleshooting (on this page) information.

1. To install Oracle SQLDeveloper and the Instant Client on Windows, open Software Center
2. The Oracle SQLDeveloper 24.3 installation should be listed. Select it and choose to install.
   • If Oracle SQLDeveloper 24.3 is not listed, contact Technology Help.
     

Configuring SQL Developer

Users who install SQLDeveloper 24.3 do not need to manually configure the application. All settings are pre-configured, including connections to the Oracle Databases hosted by OIT.

In the event problems are encountered, these settings should be verified:

1. From the Tools menu, choose Preferences, then Database, then Advanced.​​​​​​
2. In the Display Null Value As field, enter (null)
3. Check the Use Oracle Client checkbox checked and use the Configure... button to set to Instant Client: file:/C:/OIT-Oracle/instantclient_23_8/
4. For the Tsnames Directory use the Browse... button to set to C:\OIT-Oracle
5. As noted, pre-defined connections to OIT hosted Oracle Databases can be found under Connections. These are conveniently grouped for easy access.

Troubleshooting SQL Developer

If you receive the error ORA-01017 Invalid username/password when attempting to connect with your Duo multi-factor login, the problem is all but certain to be with your configuration. You shouldn't see this with the Software Center installation (on this page), but if you're working with your own installation, such as with a Mac or Linux PC, please verify these settings:

For SQLDeveloper 24.3 & Instant Client 23.8

• From the Tools menu, choose Preferences, then Database, then Advanced and ensure that Use OCI/Thick driver is not checked. Then restart SQL Developer

• From the Help menu, choose About, then Properties. Type oci in the search box. Verify that the property sqldeveloper.oci.available is false. This confirms that your installation is properly configured to use Duo logins.

For Versions of SQLDeveloper before 24.3 & Instant Client before 23.8

• From the Tools menu, choose Preferences, then Database, then Advanced and ensure that Use OCI/Thick driver is checked. Then restart SQL Developer

• From the Help menu, choose About, then Properties. Type oci in the search box. Verify that the property sqldeveloper.oci.available is true. This confirms that your installation is properly configured to use Duo logins.

If you encounter problems connecting to databases with SQL Developer, first review the settings above.

If those are correct, verify the following:

• Your PATH environment variable should contain C:\OIT-Oracle\instantclient_23_8 before any other Oracle client paths.

• Your TNS_ADMIN environment variable should be set to C:\OIT-Oracle

  • No files other than tnsnames.ora which have tnsnames in the file name, for example tnsnames.ora.bkp should be in C:\OIT-Oracle, as SQLDeveloper can sometimes use those, causing issues with connections using TNS entries.

If after checking the above you continue to have problems, contact Technology Help.