How to connect to Oracle database? - php

Question

How do you connect to Oracle using PHP on MAC OS X?

Answer 1

I would think OCI would be the way to go. PHP has a module for it.

Answer 2

The PDO abstraction layer can be used to connect to, and perform actions on, an Oracle DB. Here's an article on how to use PDO with Oracle from the Oracle website.
It's also possible to use OCI.
The Oracle PHP Development Centre will have lots more useful information on using Oracle and PHP together.

Answer 3

For instantclient on osx 10.6 64bit do the following:
download the instant client librarys and sdk, stuff it all in a folder. Make sure you get the 64 bit library if you are on a 64 bit machine, 32bit won't work!
- test with sqlplus first
create this if it does not exist
sudo vi /etc/launchd.conf
and add to following to the file(with your own path!)
setenv DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH /usr/oracle_instantClient64
You probaby need to restart your system at this point for launchd to pass the path to apache to pick up the path, or see if restarting launchd works, though i have a feeling that will restart your system anyway!
You should add "extension=oci8.so" to php.ini
sudo vi /etc/php.ini
if that file does not exist copy php.ini.default
sudo cp /etc/php.ini.default /etc/php.ini
then add the above extension, there is a section with lots of extensions further down the file, put it there somewhere
oci requires a library symlink so do
sudo ln -s $DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH/libclntsh.dylib.10.1 $DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH/libclntsh.dylib
Also theres some wierd hardcoded library link in the oracle binaries so fix that
mkdir -p /b/227/rdbms/
Its only looking for the oracle libraries so link it back
ln -s /usr/oracle_instantClient64/ /b/227/rdbms/lib
now install oci8 from pear repository. If you have installed snow leopard osx 10.6 without upgrading you may have problems with pear and pecl. If so you will need to install pear first. see: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2602597?start=0&tstart=0
sudo pecl install oci8
HINT: don't use autodetect, specify the instantclient path when it asks you..
instantclient,/usr/oracle_instantClient64
restart apache
sudo apachectl graceful
test by navigating to the URL in a browser or you can call the file directly on the command line
php index.php
thats it
use the following as a test file..
<?php
$dbHost = "localhostOrDatabaseURL";
$dbHostPort="1521";
$dbServiceName = "servicename";
$usr = "username";
$pswd = "password";
$dbConnStr = "(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)
(HOST=".$dbHost.")(PORT=".$dbHostPort."))
(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=".$dbServiceName.")))";
if(!$dbConn = oci_connect($usr,$pswd,$dbConnStr)){
$err = oci_error();
trigger_error('Could not establish a connection: ' . $err['message'], E_USER_ERROR);
};
$strSQL = "SELECT SYSDATE FROM DUAL";
$stmt = oci_parse($dbConn,$strSQL);
if ( ! oci_execute($stmt) ){
$err = oci_error($stmt);
trigger_error('Query failed: ' . $err['message'], E_USER_ERROR);
};
while(oci_fetch($stmt)){
$rslt = oci_result($stmt, 1); print "<h3>query returned: ".$rslt."</h3>";
}
?>

Answer 4

I dont know the Mac specifically, nor PHP, but you usually need to install the Oracle Client tools (Instant Client).
http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/oci/instantclient/index.html
Once installed you modify the TNSNAMES.ORA file to point to the server and instance name of the Oracle database.
Then you can use the PHP "database connection" stuff (sorry) to create a connection and running your SQL statements.
Use the SQL*PLUS client to check the connection works:
ie.
c:> SQLPLUS
CONNECT scott/tiger#mydatabase
If the TNSNAMES.ORA is correct you should get a connection, or at least "username/password incorrect" that proves you got communication with the Oracle instance.
If you get TNS-12521 (?) errors then your TNSNAMES.ORA is incorrect.

Answer 5

Connecting to an oracle database should be no problem with the oci-interface, using "oci_connect()" for example.
Further examples are here:
http://php.net/manual/en/oci8.setup.php
But I do not understand, what the remark MAC OS X means - are you running an apache locally?
Hope this helps,
Bastian