Creating an Oracle AI Database 26ai using the Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) is the final and most satisfying step after completing Grid Infrastructure and Database Home installation. This stage turns your infrastructure into a fully functional, production-ready database.

In this guide, we walk through Oracle AI Database 26ai database creation using DBCA, based on a real-world setup with  ASM, Oracle Restart, and best-practice defaults. The goal is not just to click Next, but to understand why each option matters.

Table of Contents

• • Related posts
  • Oracle AI Database 26ai Data Guard Creation Using RMAN Active Duplicate
  • Oracle Database 19c to 26ai Upgrade Using AutoUpgrade: Step-by-Step Real-World Guide
• Prerequisites Before Running DBCA
• Launching DBCA
• Step 1: Select Database Operation
• Step 2: Select Database Creation Mode
• Step 3: Select Database Deployment Type
• Step 4: Specify Database Identification
• Step 5: Select Database Storage Option
• Step 6: Select Fast Recovery Option
• Step 7: Specify Network Configuration
• Step 8: Oracle Data Vault Option
• Step 9: Specify Configuration Options (Memory)
• Step 10: Management Options
• Step 11: Specify Database User Credentials
• Step 12: Select Database Creation Option
• Step 13: Summary Review Before Creation
• Database Creation Progress
• Finish – Oracle AI Database 26ai Created Successfully
• Database Creation Progress and Completion
• Post-Creation Validation (Oracle Restart & DB Status)
  • Sample Output Explained
  • DBA Validation Checklist
• Final Thoughts
• Related Articles

Related posts

Oracle AI Database 26ai Data Guard Creation Using RMAN Active Duplicate

 February 10, 2026

Oracle Database 19c to 26ai Upgrade Using AutoUpgrade: Step-by-Step Real-World Guide

 February 6, 2026

This article is written for DBAs who want a clear, practical, and human-friendly DBCA walkthrough.

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Prerequisites Before Running DBCA

Discover more

database

software

db

ASM, Oracle

Oracle Enterprise Manager

Storage

RMAN

SQL

Databases

Database

Before starting DBCA, ensure the following are already in place:

• Oracle Grid Infrastructure 26ai Restart installed and running
• ASM disk group (DATA) mounted and healthy
• Oracle Database 26ai  software installed
• Listener running from Grid/DB home
• OS users and groups configured correctly

You can quickly validate with:

crsctl check has

asmcmd lsdg

lsnrctl status

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Launching DBCA

Discover more

db

asm

Installation

Oracle Enterprise Manager

Database

software

ASM, Oracle

storage

Computer data storage

Oracle Database

Switch to the oracle user and launch DBCA from the Database Home:

cd $ORACLE_HOME/bin

dbca

The Database Configuration Assistant wizard opens, guiding you through the database creation process.

(Screenshot placeholder: DBCA welcome / Database Operation)

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Step 1: Select Database Operation

Choose:

 Create a database

This option initializes a brand-new Oracle AI Database instance.

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Step 2: Select Database Creation Mode

Discover more

Computer data storage

ASM

Software

database

ASM, Oracle

ASM storage

storage

software

Storage

Databases

Choose:

 Advanced configuration

Although DBCA offers a Typical configuration, advanced mode provides full control over:

• Memory
•  Storage
• Character set
• PDB configuration
• Security options

This is the recommended choice for DBAs.

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Step 3: Select Database Deployment Type

Discover more

SQL

Databases

Software

storage

Cloud computing

Storage

asm

db

ASM, Oracle

Automatic Storage Management

Select:

• Database type: Oracle Single Instance database
• Template: General Purpose or Transaction Processing

The General Purpose template provides a balanced configuration suitable for most workloads.

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Step 4: Specify Database Identification

Discover more

Oracle Enterprise Manager

storage

Databases

asm

Cloud computing

DB

Enterprise Manager

Computer data storage

RMAN

Storage

In this step, define the database identity:

• Global database name: orcl
• SID: orcl

Enable container database:

 Create as Container database (CDB)

PDB settings:

• Number of PDBs: 1
• PDB name: orclpdb1

• 

   Use local undo tablespace for PDBs

This aligns with Oracle’s multitenant architecture, which is mandatory for modern Oracle releases.

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Step 5: Select Database Storage Option

Choose:

 Use template file for database storage attributes

Storage configuration:

• Storage type: Automatic Storage Management (ASM)
• Database files location: +DATA/{DB_UNIQUE_NAME}

• 

   Use Oracle Managed Files (OMF)

Using ASM with OMF simplifies file management and improves reliability.

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Step 6: Select Fast Recovery Option

In this setup:

• Fast Recovery Area (FRA) is not configured initially
• Archive logging is disabled at creation time

This is common for test or initial deployments. For production systems, FRA and archiving should be enabled later.

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Step 7: Specify Network Configuration

DBCA detects the existing listener created during Grid/DB installation.

Listener details:

• Listener name: LISTENER
• Port: 1522
• Status: Up

No new listener is required.

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Step 8: Oracle Data Vault Option

Leave the following unchecked:

• Configure Oracle Database Vault
• Configure Oracle Label Security

These advanced security features can be enabled later if required.

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Step 9: Specify Configuration Options (Memory)

Memory configuration:

 Use Automatic Shared Memory Management (ASMM)

Example values:

• SGA: ~5.9 GB
• PGA: ~1.9 GB

DBCA dynamically adjusts memory based on system capacity. This approach balances performance and simplicity.

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Step 10: Management Options

In the Management Options screen, DBCA allows you to register the database with Enterprise Manager (EM) Cloud Control.

In this setup:

• 

   Register with Enterprise Manager (EM) Cloud Control is left unchecked

This is a common and recommended approach for many environments. Most DBAs prefer to complete the database creation first and register the database with OEM later using the agent.

Step 11: Specify Database User Credentials

DBCA now prompts for passwords for administrative database accounts.

Accounts created:

• SYS – Primary database administrator
• SYSTEM – Secondary administrative user
• PDBADMIN – Administrator for the pluggable database

In this example:

• 

   Use the same administrative password for all accounts

You may see a warning such as:

The ADMIN password entered does not conform to Oracle recommended standards

This is a warning only and does not block database creation.

 Best Practice: For production systems, always use strong passwords that meet Oracle complexity requirements.

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Step 12: Select Database Creation Option

On the Database Creation Option screen:

• 

   Create database

• 

   Save as a database template (optional)

• 

   Generate database creation scripts (optional)

Advanced options such as initialization parameters and custom  storage locations can be accessed here if required.

For most environments, the default selection is sufficient.

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Step 13: Summary Review Before Creation

The Summary screen provides a complete overview of the database configuration, including:

• Global database name and SID
• Oracle Single Instance deployment type
• Container database with one PDB
• ASM storage using +DATA disk group
• Memory configuration (ASMM)
• Initialization parameters

 Important DBA Tip: Always review this screen carefully. Any mistake here will require recreating the database.

Click Finish to start database creation.

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Database Creation Progress

DBCA now performs the following operations:

• Creates datafiles, control files, and redo logs in ASM
• Builds the data dictionary
• Configures CDB and PDB
• Registers the database with Oracle Restart
• Starts the database and listener services

Progress can be monitored in real time on the Progress Page.

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Finish – Oracle AI Database 26ai Created Successfully

Once all steps complete, DBCA displays the Finish screen with the confirmation message:

The configuration of Oracle AI Database was successful.

This confirms that your Oracle AI Database 26ai has been created, configured, and started successfully.

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Database Creation Progress and Completion

The progress page shows real-time creation steps. Once completed, DBCA confirms successful database creation.

At this point, your Oracle AI Database 26ai is fully operational.

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Post-Creation Validation (Oracle Restart & DB Status)

After DBCA completes successfully, it is important to verify that Oracle Restart, ASM, listener, database, and PDB resources are correctly registered and running.

Run the following command as the oracle user:

crsctl stat res -t

Sample Output Explained

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name           Target  State        Server                   State details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ora.DATA.dg
               ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   STABLE
ora.LISTENER.lsnr
               ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   STABLE
ora.asm
               ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   Started,STABLE
ora.ons
               OFFLINE OFFLINE      testdb                   STABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cluster Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ora.cssd
      1        ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   STABLE
ora.diskmon
      1        OFFLINE OFFLINE                               STABLE
ora.evmd
      1        ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   STABLE
ora.orcl.db
      1        ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   Open,HOME=/u01/app/o
                                                             racle/product/26ai/d
                                                             bhome_1,STABLE
ora.orcl.orclpdb.pdb
      1        ONLINE  ONLINE       testdb                   READ WRITE,STABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What this means:

• ora.DATA.dg – ASM disk group is mounted and healthy
• ora.LISTENER.lsnr – Listener is up and managed by Oracle Restart
• ora.asm – ASM instance is running normally
• ora.ons – Oracle Notification Service is offline (expected for single-node Restart setups)

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Key confirmations:

• ora.cssd – Cluster Synchronization Service is running (required even for Restart)
• ora.evmd – Event Manager daemon is online
• ora.orcl. db – Database is OPEN and managed by Oracle Restart
• ora.orcl.orclpdb.pdb – Pluggable database is OPEN in READ WRITE mode

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DBA Validation Checklist

 ASM disk group ONLINE 

 Listener ONLINE 

 Database OPEN 

 PDB READ WRITE 

 All resources STABLE

This confirms that:

• Oracle Restart is functioning correctly
• The database will auto-start on server reboot
• The environment is production-ready

---

Verify database status:

sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL> select name, open_mode from v$database;

NAME      OPEN_MODE
--------- --------------------
ORCL      READ WRITE

SQL> show pdbs;

    CON_ID CON_NAME                       OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED
---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------
         2 PDB$SEED                       READ ONLY  NO
         3 ORCLPDB                        READ WRITE NO

Ensure:

• Database is OPEN
• PDB is OPEN in READ WRITE mode

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Final Thoughts

Creating an Oracle AI Database 26ai using DBCA is a structured, reliable process when combined with:

• Oracle Grid Infrastructure Restart
• ASM storage
• Proper OS and memory configuration

By following this approach, you get a clean, supportable, and production-ready Oracle AI Database environment.

Related Articles

• Installing Oracle Database 26AI on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
• Oracle AI Database 26ai – January 2026 Release Update (23.26.1.0.0)