How to install Oracle R Enterprise (ORE) on Exadata

Very recently, we have deployed ORE (R Distribution and R Enterprise) 3.1.1 packages on 4 node Exadata environment. This blog will discuss the prerequisites and procedure to deploy Oracle R Distribution v3.1.1.

Note: Ensure you have a latest system (root and /u01) backup before you deploy the packages on the db server.

What is R and Oracle Enterprise

R is third-party, open source software. Open source R is governed by GNU General Public License (GPL) and not by Oracle licensing. Oracle R Enterprise requires an installation of R on the server computer and on each client computer that interacts with the server.

Why Oracle R Distribution? 

• Oracle R Distribution simplifies the installation of R for Oracle R Enterprise.
  
• Oracle R Distribution is supported by Oracle for customers of Oracle Advanced Analytics, Oracle Linux, and Oracle Big Data Appliance.

What is needed for R Distribution deployment for Oracle Linux 6?

The Oracle R Distribution RPMs for Oracle Linux 6 are listed as follows:

http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
        /R-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
        /R-core-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
        /R-devel-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
        /libRmath-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
       /libRmath-devel-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
http://public-yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/getPackage
       /libRmath-static-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm

If the following dependent RPM is not automatically included, then download and install it explicitly:

texinfo-tex-4.13a-8.el6.x86_64.rpm

The picture below depicts the ORE client/server installation steps:

Oracle R Distribution on Oracle Linux Using RPMs

Oracle recommends that you use yum to install Oracle R Distribution, because yum automatically resolves RPM dependencies. However, if yum is not available, then you can install the RPMs directly and resolve the dependencies manually. Download the required rpms and its dependent rpms from below link:


http://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL6/addons/x86_64/index.html

To know more about rpms and its dependent rpms, visit the following Oracle website:

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E57012_01/doc.141/e57007/install_r.htm#BABECIBB

You can install the rpms in the following order:

yum localinstall libRmath-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
yum localinstall libRmath-devel-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
yum localinstall libRmath-static-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
yum localinstall R-core-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
yum localinstall R-devel-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm
yum localinstall R-3.1.1-2.el6.x86_64.rpm

Once the rpms are installed, you can validate the installation , using the below procedure:

go to /usr/lib64/R directory on the database, as oracle user, type R:

You must see the output below:



type q() to exit from the R interface.

And repeat on the rest of the db nodes, if you are on RAC.

To install R distribution, use the procedure below:

rpm -e R-Rversion
rpm -e R-devel
rpm -e R-core
rpm -e libRmath-devel
rpm -e libRmath

 In the blog post, I will demonstrate how to configure Oracle R Enterprise.