This article covers the errors you will receive from a Linux or UNIX OS if your ORACLE_HOME variable is not defined correctly and how to resolve it.
1. Initialize sqlplus without defining an ORACLE_HOME variable at the OS layer.
mylinux:> sqlplus ‘/ as sysdba’
Error 6 initializing SQL*Plus
Message file sp1
SP2-0750: You may need to set ORACLE_HOME to your Oracle software directory
2. Set your ORACLE_HOME variable at the OS layer.
mylinux:> export ORACLE_HOME=/opt/app/oracle/10.2.0
mylinux:>
3. Oracle SQLPLUS starts up normally once it know where to find the Oracle Home software directory defined by the OS parameter ORACLE_HOME.
mylinux:> sqlplus ‘/ as sysdba’
SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.4.0 – Production on Wed May 5 14:52:47 2010
Copyright (c) 1982, 2007, Oracle. All Rights Reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.4.0 – 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
SQL>
Larry J. Catt, OCP 9i, 10g
oracle@allcompute.com
www.allcompute.com