🚀 The Ultimate Guide: Setting Up Oracle XE + APEX + ORDS + Tomcat on Windows

Welcome to OracleAPEXHub! If you are looking to build a robust, production-ready development environment without breaking the bank, you have come to the right place.

In this guide, I will walk you through a complete “Full Stack” installation. We are combining the lightweight power of Oracle Database XE with the low-code magic of APEX, served professionally via ORDS and Apache Tomcat.

Whether you are building an HRMS, a blog, or a complex enterprise app, this foundation is exactly what you need.

🏗️ The Architecture

Before we dive into the commands, it helps to understand what we are building. Instead of using the default embedded PL/SQL gateway, we are using a 3-tier architecture for better security and performance.

• Database: Oracle XE 21.3 (Stores your data and logic)
• App Logic: Oracle APEX 23.2 (The framework)
• Listener: ORDS 22.1 (Translates HTTP to Database calls)
• Web Server: Apache Tomcat 9 (Hosts the Listener)

📋 Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure your Windows machine (10 or 11) meets these specs:

• RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB+ highly recommended)
• Disk: 10GB free space
• Access: Administrator privileges

🔧 Phase 1: The Database Layer

Step 1: Install Oracle XE 21.3

First, we need the database engine.

1. Download: Oracle XE 21.3 for WindowsOracle XE 21.3 for Windows
2. Install: Extract the zip and run setup.exe.
3. Important: During installation, you will be asked to set a password for the SYS and SYSTEM users. Write this down!
4. Note the Path: Remember where you installed it (e.g., E:\Oracle\DB).

Step 2: Prepare Oracle APEX

1. Download: Oracle APEX 23.2Oracle APEX 23.2
2. Extract: Unzip the file to a dedicated folder, for example: E:\Oracle\apex\apex.

Step 3: Configure the Database

Open your Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to your APEX folder:

cd E:\Oracle\apex\apex
sqlplus / as sysdba

DOS

cd E:\Oracle\apex\apex
sqlplus / as sysdba

Once connected, switch to the pluggable database (PDB) where APEX will live:

ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER=XEPDB1;

SQL

ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER=XEPDB1;

Step 4: Create Tablespaces

It is best practice to keep APEX data separate from system data. Run the following SQL to create dedicated storage:

CREATE TABLESPACE appx 
DATAFILE 'E:\Oracle\DB\oradata\XE\XEPDB1\apex.dbf' 
SIZE 2000M 
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL 
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO;

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp0_02 
TEMPFILE 'E:\Oracle\DB\oradata\XE\XEPDB1\temp.dbf' 
SIZE 2000M 
AUTOEXTEND ON;

SQL

CREATE TABLESPACE appx 
DATAFILE 'E:\Oracle\DB\oradata\XE\XEPDB1\apex.dbf' 
SIZE 2000M 
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL 
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO;

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp0_02 
TEMPFILE 'E:\Oracle\DB\oradata\XE\XEPDB1\temp.dbf' 
SIZE 2000M 
AUTOEXTEND ON;

💡 Tip: If you installed Oracle XE in a different location, adjust the file paths above accordingly.

⚙️ Phase 2: Installing APEX

Step 5: Run the Installer

With your tablespaces ready, run the main installation script. This puts the APEX engine into the database.

@apexins.sql appx appx temp0_02 /i/

SQL

@apexins.sql appx appx temp0_02 /i/

☕ Grab a coffee: This step usually takes 15-30 minutes. Once it says “PL/SQL procedure successfully completed,” type EXIT;.

Step 6: Setup the Admin Account

Now we need to create the login for the APEX internal workspace.

1. Reconnect to SQL Plus:sqlplus / as sysdba ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER=XEPDB1;DOSsqlplus / as sysdba ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER=XEPDB1;
2. Run the password script:@apxchpwd.sqlSQL@apxchpwd.sql
3. Details:
   • Username: ADMIN
   • Email: Your email address
   • Password: Make it strong (e.g., Apex@SecurePass2024!)

Step 7: Unlock Users & Configure REST

We need to open the doors for the web server to talk to the database.

Configure REST:

@apex_rest_config.sql

SQL

@apex_rest_config.sql

(Enter passwords when prompted)

Unlock Accounts: Copy and run this block to unlock all necessary accounts:

-- Unlock System Accounts
ALTER USER SYS IDENTIFIED BY [YourPassword] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;
ALTER USER ANONYMOUS IDENTIFIED BY [YourPassword] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;

-- Switch Container
ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER=XEPDB1;

-- Unlock APEX Service Accounts
ALTER USER APEX_LISTENER IDENTIFIED BY [YourPassword] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;
ALTER USER APEX_PUBLIC_USER IDENTIFIED BY [YourPassword] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;
ALTER USER APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER IDENTIFIED BY [YourPassword] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;

🌐 Phase 3: The Web Layer (Tomcat & ORDS)

Step 8: Install Java (JDK 17)

Tomcat runs on Java.

1. Download: JDK 17 InstallerJDK 17 Installer
2. Install: Default path is usually C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.
3. Verify: Open CMD and type java -version.

Step 9: Install Apache Tomcat 9

1. Download: Apache Tomcat 9Apache Tomcat 9
2. Install: Save it to E:\Oracle\Tomcat 9.0.
3. Service: Ensure you check “Install as Windows Service” so it starts automatically.

Step 10: Install & Configure ORDS

This is the bridge between Tomcat and the Database.

1. Download: ORDS 22.1ORDS 22.1
2. Folder Setup:
   • Create E:\Oracle\ORDS
   • Create E:\Oracle\ORDS\Config
   • Extract the zip into E:\Oracle\ORDS
3. Move Images:
   • Copy the images folder from your APEX download (E:\Oracle\apex\apex\images).
   • Paste it into Tomcat’s webapps folder (E:\Oracle\Tomcat 9.0\webapps).
   • Rename the folder from images to i.
4. Run ORDS Installer: Open CMD, navigate to your JDK bin, and run the installer:cd C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17\bin java.exe -jar E:\Oracle\ORDS\ords.war installDOScd C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17\bin java.exe -jar E:\Oracle\ORDS\ords.war install
5. Wizard Prompts: Follow these inputs carefully:
   • Config Location: E:\Oracle\ORDS\Config
   • Database Server: localhost
   • Port: 1521
   • Service Name: XEPDB1
   • Verify/Install Schema: 1
   • PL/SQL Gateway User: APEX_PUBLIC_USER
   • Passwords: Enter the passwords you set in Step 7.
   • Mode: Enter 2 to exit (we will run it via Tomcat, not standalone).

Step 11: Deploy to Tomcat

1. Copy ords.war from your ORDS folder.
2. Paste it into E:\Oracle\Tomcat 9.0\webapps\.
3. Start the Apache Tomcat service from Windows Services.
4. Wait about 30 seconds for Tomcat to deploy the WAR file.

🎉 Success! How to Login

Open your browser and navigate to: 👉 http://localhost:8080/ords

• Workspace: INTERNAL
• Username: ADMIN
• Password: The password you created in Step 6.

From here, you can create new workspaces and start building your applications!

🆘 Troubleshooting Common Issues

• 404 Not Found: Usually means ords.war isn’t in the webapps folder, or Tomcat isn’t running. Check the logs at Tomcat 9.0\logs.
• Images Missing: Did you rename the images folder to i inside webapps? Clear your browser cache and try again.
• Account Locked: If you get login errors, run the SQL unlock commands from Step 7 again.

💬 specific Questions?

Did you get stuck on a step? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll help you debug your setup. Happy coding!

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