Installing the Oracle Database - Expert Consolidation in Oracle Database 12c - page 189

Should you have different requirements adjust the paths to match your standards and click “Next” to proceed to
the following screen.
Create Inventory
The Oracle central inventory is an important location for the maintenance of the Oracle software. It stores, among
other items, which Oracle home has been installed and where. Figure 6-8 shows the screen from which you define the
inventory location. The location should not be inside the ORACLE_BASE; you typically define the inventory location
to be one hierarchy above the ORACLE_BASE for the Oracle account.
Figure 6-8. Defining the Oracle inventory location