Open and check port in linux for Oracle installation

Hi all,

    I use RHEL 5.8 64 bit and want to open ports for Oracle installation from executing shell script. I wrote:

    iptables –I INPUT –p tcp –dport 49896 –j ACCEPT

    Unfortunately, I did not have the administrative privileges to execute it. I were confused should I add one more command with OUTPUT, ex to open port 49896, I used:

    iptables –I INPUT –p tcp –dport 49896 –j ACCEPT

    iptables –I OUPUT –p tcp –dport 49896 –j ACCEPT

    Please help to correct me if I wrong. And how I can check port 49896 opened ?

Thanks so much.

Regards.