Oracle 26ai Free: Local Docker Setup + Connect with SQLcl [Quick Guide]

Overview

In this post, you'll learn how to set up Oracle 26ai Free locally in Docker and connect with SQLcl. This step-by-step guide is perfect for beginners who want a fresh, clean environment on their local machine to experiment and learn Oracle 26ai features.

Oracle 26ai Free - Install locally using Docker

While this blog post explains the setup step by step, the YouTube video gives a complete visual walkthrough. You'll see each command in action, how to verify the database, and connect with SQLcl smoothly.

Step 1: Pull the Latest Oracle 26ai Free Docker Image

docker pull container-registry.oracle.com/database/free:latest

This downloads the latest image from Oracle's container registry.

Step 2: Run the Oracle 26ai Free Container

docker run -d --name oracle26ai-free -p 1521:1521 -p 5500:5500 -e ORACLE_PWD=YourPassword123 container-registry.oracle.com/database/free:latest

Replace YourPassword123 with a secure password. Ports 1521 and 5500 allow SQLcl or GUI connections.

Step 3: Monitor Container Logs

docker logs oracle26ai-free --tail 50 -f

Wait for the line DATABASE IS READY TO USE! before connecting with SQLcl.

Step 4: Set Up SQLcl

Move SQLcl to a folder without spaces, e.g., C:\Oracle\sqlcl, and add C:\Oracle\sqlcl\bin to your PATH.

sql -v

This should display the SQLcl version confirming it is installed correctly.

Step 5: Connect to Oracle 26ai Free with SQLcl

sql system/YourPassword123@//localhost:1521/FREEPDB1

You should see output like:

Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0

Step 6: Verify Database Version

SELECT banner FROM v$version;

This confirms your database version.

Step 7: Safe Exit and Reconnect

Exit SQLcl safely:

EXIT

Stop the container to save resources:

docker stop oracle26ai-free

Later, start and reconnect:

docker start oracle26ai-free

sql system/YourPassword123@//localhost:1521/FREEPDB1

Step 8: Optional Logs and Health Check

docker logs oracle26ai-free --tail 50 -f

docker ps

Always ensure the container is Up (healthy) before connecting.

Conclusion

With these steps, you now have a fully functional "Oracle 26ai Free database" running locally in Docker, connected via SQLcl, ready for testing, learning, and experimentation. You can safely stop, start, and reconnect anytime, making it perfect for a development or learning environment.