Michel. Maria-Sube wrote: the most important thing to remember is to use the _Express_ edition, and not any of the "fancy" GUI installers. The express edition can be downloaded from http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/xe/htdocs/102xe… It's a simple RPM, which installs within minutes (rather than hours, as with the GUI version), and works on most systems (unlike the GUI version, which only work on ages-old Fedora versions) Installing it is easy: just rpm -i it, and the execute the script that it tells you. Within minutes, you are done. The disadvantage is that express edition is apparently only available for 10g, not any of the newer Oracle versions. However, if you do not absolutely need the most recent Oracle version, the Express Edition will save you lots of headaches. And yes, the express edition is rather complete: it contains both the actual database server and the client tools (sqlplus). Only a couple of rarely-used "enterprise tools" are missing from it. Regards, Alain