How to install SQL * PLUS client in linux

Go to Oracle Linux x86-64 instant clients download page

Download the matching client

oracle-instantclient11.2-basic-11.2.0.2.0.x86_64.rpmoracle-instantclient11.2-sqlplus-11.2.0.2.0.x86_64.rpm

Install

rpm -ivh oracle-instantclient11.2-basic-11.2.0.2.0.x86_64.rpmrpm -ivh oracle-instantclient11.2-sqlplus-11.2.0.2.0.x86_64.rpm

Set environment variables in your ~/.bash_profile

ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/11.2/client64PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/bin:$PATHLD_LIBRARY_PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/libexport ORACLE_HOMEexport LD_LIBRARY_PATHexport PATH

Reload your .bash_profile by simply typing source ~/.bash_profile (suggested by jbass) or Log-out user and log-in again.

Now you're ready to use SQL*Plus and connect your server. Type in :

sqlplus "username/pass@(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=192.168.2.1)(PORT=1521))(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=YOURSID)))"

The solution by @ChamaraKeragala is good, but it is unnecessary to logout/login. Instead type:

source ~/.bash_profile

For everyone still getting the following error:

sqlplus command not found

The original post refers to a set of environment variables, the most important of which is ORACLE_HOME. This is the parent directory where the oracle binaries get installed.

Depending on what version of oracle you downloaded you'll have to change the ORACLE_HOME accordingly. For example, the original question's ORACLE_HOME was set to:

ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/11.2/client64

My version of Oracle happens to be 12.1, so my ORACLE_HOME is set to:

ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/12.1/client64 

If you are unsure of the version that you downloaded, you can:

1. cd /usr/lib/oracle after the installation and find the version.
2. Look at the RPM file oracle-instantclient12.1, where the bolded bits would refer to the version number.