2120298 - Oracle Installer does not start

Symptom

When performing the Oracle database installation, after calling the RUNNINSTALLER, you see the following error:

And in the oraInstall log, this is what you see:

---# Begin Stacktrace #---------------------------
ID: oracle.install.commons.util.exception.DefaultErrorAdvisor:8
oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.InstallerException: [INS-10102] Installer initialization failed.
        at oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.Installer.run(Installer.java:317)
        at oracle.install.ivw.common.util.OracleInstaller.run(OracleInstaller.java:106)
        at oracle.install.ivw.db.driver.DBInstaller.run(DBInstaller.java:136)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.Application.startup(Application.java:896)
        at oracle.install.commons.flow.FlowApplication.startup(FlowApplication.java:165)
        at oracle.install.commons.flow.FlowApplication.startup(FlowApplication.java:182)
        at oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.Installer.startup(Installer.java:348)
        at oracle.install.ivw.db.driver.DBInstaller.startup(DBInstaller.java:124)
        at oracle.install.ivw.db.driver.DBInstaller.main(DBInstaller.java:155)
Caused by: oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.SetupDriverException: [INS-10002] Inventory initialization failed
        at oracle.install.driver.oui.OUISetupDriver.load(OUISetupDriver.java:388)
        at oracle.install.ivw.db.driver.DBSetupDriver.load(DBSetupDriver.java:207)
        at oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.Installer.run(Installer.java:299)
        ... 8 more

---# End Stacktrace #-----------------------------
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
        at oracle.install.driver.oui.LogSafetyChecker.update(LogSafetyChecker.java:76)
        at oracle.install.driver.oui.LogSafetyChecker.update(LogSafetyChecker.java:53)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.EventSupport.fireEvent(EventSupport.java:100)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.Application.fireApplicationEvent(Application.java:1031)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.Application.shutdown(Application.java:946)
        at oracle.install.commons.base.driver.common.Installer.shutdown(Installer.java:406)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.Application.shutdown(Application.java:940)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.exception.DefaultExceptionHandler.handleException(DefaultExceptionHandler.java:48)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.exception.ExceptionManager.handleException(ExceptionManager.java:148)
        at oracle.install.commons.util.exception.ExceptionManager.handle(ExceptionManager.java:362)
        at oracle.install.ivw.db.driver.DBInstaller.main(DBInstaller.java:157)

Environment

• SAP systems with Oracle database
• Not restricted to a product or product version
• Linux or Unix Operating System

Reproducing the Issue

Start the Oracle Universal Installer with the RUNINSTALLER script.

Cause

The Oracle database user lack permission to read and write in the Oracle Inventory.

Resolution

Check where the oraInventory is located:

cat /etc/oraInst.loc

You will see the following lines:

inventory_loc
inst_group

Then make sure the ora<sid> or oracle user is either the owner or has full read/write permissions on the directory and subdirectories in the inventory_loc of the oraInst.loc output.

See Also

SAP Note #1431796: Oracle 11.2.0: Troubleshooting the Software Installation
SAP Note #1524205: Oracle 11.2.0: Database Software Installation

Keywords

orainventory, inventory, oracle, installation, installer, oui, runinstaller, aix, hp-ux, solaris, linux, redhat, suse, oel, rhel, sles, orasid, ora<sid>, oraInst.loc

Header Data

Released On	21.01.2015 17:49:37
Release Status	Released to Customer
Component	BC-DB-ORA-INS Installation SAP System with Oracle
Other Components	BC-DB-ORA Oracle
Priority	Normal
Category	Problem
Database	ORACLE 10.2.0.5 ORACLE 11.2.0.1.0 ORACLE 11.2.0.2 ORACLE 11.2.0.3