title: Perl DBD::Oracle Module installation
body: <p>Could someone guide me how to install the Perl <code>DBD::Oracle</code> module?</p>
  
  <p>Here is what I have done so far:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Platform: RHEL 5.8 64 bit</li>
  <li>Installed Perl DBI package</li>
  <li>Installed Oracle Instant client for Linux 64 bit (basi + sdk + sqlplus component for the instant client</li>
  <li>Have set the correct <code>$ORACLE_HOME</code> and <code>$LD_LIBRARY_PATH</code></li>
  <li><p>Then when I do <code>perl Makefile.pl</code> it fails with the following error:</p>
  
  <pre class="lang-none prettyprint-override"><code>I'm having trouble finding your Oracle version number... trying harder
  
  WARNING: I could not determine Oracle client version so I'll just
  default to version 8.0.0.0. Some features of DBD::Oracle may not work.
  Oracle version based logic in Makefile.PL may produce erroneous results.
  You can use "perl Makefile.PL -V X.Y.Z" to specify a your client version.
  
  Oracle version 8.0.0.0 (8.0)
  DBD::Oracle no longer supports Oracle client versions before 9.2
   Try a version before 1.25 for 9 and 1.18 for 8! at Makefile.PL line 271.
  </code></pre></li>
  <li><p>The instant client version: 11.1.0</p></li>
  <li>The <code>DBD::Oracle</code> version is 1.44</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>If you have installed successfully with the Oracle instant client, then could you please let me know what am I missing?</p>
  
  <p>Is it possible to install <code>DBD::Oracle</code> without using the Oracle instant client?</p>