Installed sqlplus from oracle downloads. Unpacked both files instantclient-basic-linux.x64-12.1.0.1.0.zip instantclient-sqlplus-linux.x64-12.1.0.1.0.zip sqlplus fails to start with this error:
Error 6 initializing SQL*Plus SP2-0667: Message file sp1.msb not found SP2-0750: You may need to set ORACLE_HOME to your Oracle software directory
I assume I don't have to install the whole oracle server for sql client to run. and basic-linux zip is deemed to be everything you need to run OCI apps which sqlplus is.
Where do I get these .msb files?
You may need to set ORACLE_HOME to your Oracle software directory
You need to set ORACLE_HOME to wherever you've unzippd the files:
export ORACLE_HOME=/path/to/instantclient
You probably also want to add that to your PATH, and might need to add it to LD_LIBRARY_PATH. Which is actually all the instructions tell you to do.