Oracle XE Seems to install with no errors but I get apex resource not found when I try to acces the Database Home Page

This is what I get when I enter the command you recommended?

#ps -ef | grep smon
root      9430 13694  0 May08 ttyp0    00:00:00 grep smon

I tried several ways to start the db including the force-reload and this is what I get:

# sudo ./oracle-xe force-reload
Shutting down Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance.
Stopping Oracle Net Listener.

Starting Oracle Net Listener.
Starting Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance.

# ps -ef|grep smon
root      7756  6060  0 May07 ttyp0    00:00:00 grep smon

Still no oracle processes on the list?

I have installed and reinstalled Oracle XE many times...  following several different sets of instructions...  Still can not connect through sql plus or to the Oracle XH Home Page.

Any other ideas.  

This is known problem.

Backup LISTENER.ORA file!!!!!!!

In ...\network\admin open listener.ora

see

SID_LIST_LISTENER =
  (SID_LIST =
    (SID_DESC =
      (SID_NAME = PLSExtProc)
      (ORACLE_HOME = D:\Ora10g)
      (PROGRAM = extproc)
    )
    (SID_DESC =
      (SID_NAME = test)
      (ORACLE_HOME = D:\Ora10g)
    )
  )

Add the entry
    (SID_DESC =
      (SID_NAME = test)
      (ORACLE_HOME = D:\Ora10g)
    )
with regard to the particular Oracle Home and SID Name.

Restart the listener:
c:>lsnrctl stop
c:>lsnctl start

No, this is not a known problem. This question is regarding Linux XE edition, not Windows.

Did you run oracle-xe configure after you installed the RPM?

  /etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure

If so, which options did you choose?

Please show how you are accessing it via http (Port 8080?)

I just set it up on a Redhat 5 box, no problem. See below for the log.

When I check for instances with "ps -ef | grep smon", I see:

oracle    3970     1  0 11:22 ?        00:00:00 xe_smon_XE


I think perhaps you skipped the configure step?

[root@localhost Oracle]# rpm --install oracle-xe-univ-10.2.0.1-1.0.i386.rpm 
Executing Post-install steps...
You must run '/etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure' as the root user to 
configure the database.
 
[root@localhost Oracle]# /etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure
 
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Configuration
-------------------------------------------------
This will configure on-boot properties of Oracle Database 10g Express 
Edition.  The following questions will determine whether the database should 
be starting upon system boot, the ports it will use, and the passwords that 
will be used for database accounts.  Press <Enter> to accept the defaults. 
Ctrl-C will abort.
 
Specify the HTTP port that will be used for Oracle Application Express [8080]:
 
Specify a port that will be used for the database listener [1521]:
 
Specify a password to be used for database accounts.  Note that the same
password will be used for SYS and SYSTEM.  Oracle recommends the use of 
different passwords for each database account.  This can be done after 
initial configuration:
Confirm the password:
 
Do you want Oracle Database 10g Express Edition to be started on boot (y/n) [y]:
 
Starting Oracle Net Listener...Done
Configuring Database...Done
Starting Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance...Done
Installation Completed Successfully.
To access the Database Home Page go to "http://127.0.0.1:8080/apex"
[root@localhost Oracle]# 
                                              

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Thank you.

I modified the LISTENER.ORA file as recommended:  This is what I have now:

# listener.ora Network Configuration File:

SID_LIST_LISTENER =
  (SID_LIST =
    (SID_DESC =
      (SID_NAME = PLSExtProc)
      (ORACLE_HOME = /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server)
      (PROGRAM = extproc)
    )
    (SID_DESC =
      (SID_NAME = XE)
      (ORACLE_HOME = /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server)
    )
  )

LISTENER =
  (DESCRIPTION_LIST =
    (DESCRIPTION =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC_FOR_XE))
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pcctestlab.com)(PORT = 1521))
    )
  )

DEFAULT_SERVICE_LISTENER = (XE)

then
lsnrctl stop
lsnctl start

LSNRCTL for Linux: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 31-AUG-2009 10:56:18

Copyright (c) 1991, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Starting /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server/bin/tnslsnr: please wait...

TNSLSNR for Linux: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
NL-00280: error creating log stream /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server/network/log/listener.log
 NL-00278: cannot open log file
  SNL-00016: snlfohd: error opening file
   Linux Error: 13: Permission denied

Listener failed to start. See the error message(s) above...

[root@pcctestlab /]#

???

Also,  I have never gotten this line:
DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=127.0.0.1)(PORT=8080))(Presentation=HTTP)(Session=RAW))

from lsnrctl status.  How do I add a listener for port 8080?

I did not skip the configure step, but it would appear so...  

Ok.  I uninstalled and started over... Still nothing...
 Here is a log.  What am I missing?  Thank you for all of your help so far.


[root@pcctestlab /]# rpm -ivh oracle-xe-10.2.0.1-1.0.i386.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:oracle-xe              ########################################### [100%]
Executing Post-install steps...

You must run '/etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure' as the root user to
configure the database.

[root@pcctestlab /]# /etc/init.d/oracle-xe configure

Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Configuration
-------------------------------------------------
This will configure on-boot properties of Oracle Database 10g Express
Edition.  The following questions will determine whether the database should
be starting upon system boot, the ports it will use, and the passwords that
will be used for database accounts.  Press <Enter> to accept the defaults.
Ctrl-C will abort.

Specify the HTTP port that will be used for Oracle Application Express [8080]:

Specify a port that will be used for the database listener [1521]:

Specify a password to be used for database accounts.  Note that the same
password will be used for SYS and SYSTEM.  Oracle recommends the use of
different passwords for each database account.  This can be done after
initial configuration:
Confirm the password:

Do you want Oracle Database 10g Express Edition to be started on boot (y/n) [y]:y

Starting Oracle Net Listener...Done
Configuring Database...Done
Starting Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Instance...Done
Installation Completed Successfully.
To access the Database Home Page go to "http://127.0.0.1:8080/apex"
[root@pcctestlab /]#

Check the alert log:

cat /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/admin/XE/bdump/alert_XE.log


Did you install the prerequisite RPMs? (libaio and glibc)
To see if they exist do:
rpm -q glibc
rpm -q libaio

Here is the Listener Status:

[root@pcctestlab bin]# lsnrctl status

LSNRCTL for Linux: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 31-AUG-2009 14:58:08

Copyright (c) 1991, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Connecting to (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=IPC)(KEY=EXTPROC_FOR_XE)))
STATUS of the LISTENER
------------------------
Alias                     LISTENER
Version                   TNSLSNR for Linux: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
Start Date                31-AUG-2009 14:50:57
Uptime                    0 days 0 hr. 7 min. 10 sec
Trace Level               off
Security                  ON: Local OS Authentication
SNMP                      OFF
Default Service           XE
Listener Parameter File   /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server/network/admin/listener.ora
Listener Log File         /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server/network/log/listener.log
Listening Endpoints Summary...
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(KEY=EXTPROC_FOR_XE)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=pcctestlab.com)(PORT=1521)))
Services Summary...
Service "PLSExtProc" has 1 instance(s).
  Instance "PLSExtProc", status UNKNOWN, has 1 handler(s) for this service...
The command completed successfully

alert log:

Mon Aug 31 15:07:39 2009
Starting ORACLE instance (normal)
Mon Aug 31 15:07:39 2009
Starting ORACLE instance (normal)
Mon Aug 31 15:07:40 2009
Starting ORACLE instance (normal)
Mon Aug 31 15:07:40 2009
Starting ORACLE instance (normal)


Yes, I installed those prequesites.

I had to have my vpn host company "mimic" a swap file to get past that part of the install.  

here is what free -m shows:
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:         12165      11843        322          0         34       2971
-/+ buffers/cache:       8837       3328
Swap:        24575          7      24568

[root@pcctestlab /]# rpm -q libaio
libaio-0.3.107-4.fc10.i386
[root@pcctestlab /]# rpm -q glibc
glibc-2.9-3.i386
[root@pcctestlab /]#

The alert log you posted is not a complete alert log and appears to indicate that Oracle is attempting to start, but silently failing.

Check for trace files in the cdump directory.

Check for messages in syslog or use the dmesg command.

Here is a trace file from udump

/usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/admin/XE/udump/xe_ora_8064.trc
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
ORACLE_HOME = /usr/lib/oracle/xe/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/server
System name:      Linux
Node name:      pcctestlab.com
Release:      2.6.18-53.1.19.el5.028stab053.14ent
Version:      #1 SMP Thu May 8 21:34:57 MSD 2008
Machine:      i686
Instance name: XE
Redo thread mounted by this instance: 0 <none>
Oracle process number: 0
Unix process pid: 8064, image: oracle@pcctestlab.com

skgm warning: ENOSPC creating segment of size 0000000030200000
fix shm parameters in /etc/system or equivalent

I also just looked at my oradata XE folder and it is empty... Should there be something in here?

I appreciate the time that mrjoltcola has devoted to my issue.  However I have abandonded this process for now and switched to a windows server for now.  1 hour or less to install tomcat and oracle xe and everything works the first time.

You were all on the right track according to everything I can read.  Must be a limitation of my vps setup.  Thanks again for the help.  I have reverted to Windows.

>>fix shm parameters in /etc/system or equivalent

That is the problem right there. It appears you skipped section "2.1.3 Server Component Kernel Parameter Requirements ". The kernel params need to be set at a minimum, per the document:

semmsl 250
semmns 32000
semopm 100
semmni 128
shmmax 536870912
shmmni 4096
shmall 2097152
file-max 65536
ip_local_port_range 102465000

Install guide: http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/xe/files/install.102/b25144/toc.htm

Set those in /etc/sysctl.conf

This was what I had set in my sysctl.conf file:
###########
# Oracle XE Recommended Values
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
kernel.shmmax = 536870912
kernel.semmsl 250
kernel.semmns 32000
kernel.semopm 100
kernel.semmni 128
kernel.shmmni 4096
kernel.shmall 2097152
kernel.file-max 65536
net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000
########

Wow, this one keeps getting more interesting. According to one of your posts above I take it you are running under virtualization? You mentioned your hosting company had to emulate a swap for you. So I'm thinking it somehow is related to that but just a hunch. The error says that Oracle cannot allocate a segment of shared memory, so I'm wondering if other things are running, or if the kernel settings were actually not applied.

Given your initial posting 24692620 your instance is (or was no registered) by the Listener.

As next steps you have to check all network settings and to pay attention to existance of
more then one network cards.

After that you have to pay attention on others experts opinions and to check if the instance is running.

As friendly recommendation I will suggest not to close question in hurry, because some experts
that can help you have no mercy ...

mrjoltcola and schwertner
Thank you again for all of your help on this.  I found similar threads that also were unresolved, and decided not to waste any more of anyone's time on this.  I am up and running on a windows server with oracle xe and am connecting to the database from my jsp and java running on Apache webserver.  

I apologize if closing the question to early offended anyone.

Thanks again.
Shawn