OracleNotes

Category: Database

  • Bundle Patch or PSU on Windows

    Well, honestly, have forgotten working on Windows platform administering Oracle databases. Recently, installed Oracle Database 12c on Windows and wanted to apply the latest PSU. Could not find the PSU, but found the BP (Bundled Patch) – hoped it the same and included more than a PSU!

    Had some challenges installing… did not remember to run the command window “Run as Administrator”. So, it is a must if the current user is not the Oracle software owner.

    Short Note on how to apply a BP:

    Download and copy the latest OPatch  (same as on Linux/Unix).

    Apply patch is little different from Linux. Set these variables, and then run “opatch apply”.

    set ORACLE_HOME=C:\app\oracledb\product\12.1.0\dbhome_1

set PATH=%ORACLE_HOME%\OPatch;%PATH%

set PATH=%ORACLE_HOME%\perl\bin;%PATH%

cd C:\Downloads\p21126814_121020_MSWIN-x86-64\21126814

opatch apply

    Verified “opatch lsinventory” and the patch did show as 12.1.0.2.7! Wait, the latest July 2015 PSU is 12.1.0.2.4…??!!

    Metalink Note”Oracle Database, CRS, ASM, Networking and EM Agent Patches for Microsoft Platforms (Doc ID 161549.1)” provided clarity to this.

    A paragraph out of this note: The bundle patches also include the fixes for the SPU/CPU (Critical Patch Update), DST (Daylight Saving Time), PSU (Patch Set Update) and Recommended Patch Bundles. Although DST may require additional patches which are referenced in the Bug Fix List notes below. The Windows bundled patches go through full regression testing because they include a large number of dependent fixes, SPU/CPU, DST and PSU. Oracle recommends all customers apply the latest bundle as soon as it is convenient irrespective of encountering a specific problem resolved by the bundle.

    All good. But I downloaded the BP released in July, looks like the BP release does not necessarily match quarterly PSU release. Found out that the latest BP is 12.1.0.2.8 – released on Aug 28 2015. Metalink Patch note: Patch 21454170: WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.8

    All part of learning!

  • Oracle Database 12c Upgrade Hands On Lab

    Recently I tweeted the download link for the Virtual Box OVA file for 12c upgrade Hands on Lab.

    Since 11g free extended support is ending in the next few months, this is the time DBAs are busily planning to upgrade their 11g databases to 12c.

    The HOL OVA available in OTN is a great learning tool for all DBAs planning to upgrade to 12c database. After you download the 8 zip files to your computer, use 7-zip or similar utility to uncompress the files. Then import the resulting .OVA file to your virtualbox.

    Once you start the VM and login as oracle, the screen background pretty much shows the architecture of what is available and what you will learn using the VM.

    HOL1

    The PDF file included in the zip shows you how to perform 4 lab exercises.

    HOL2

    In addition I would also recommend downloading and applying the latest PSU on 12.1.0.2 home 🙂

    With four databases and three software installations readily available, your learning opportunities are unlimited…

    oracle@localhost:~$ tail -5 /etc/oratab
#
FTEX:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0:N
CDB2:/u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0.2:N
CDB1:/u01/app/oracle/product/12.1.0.1:N
UPGR:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0:N
oracle@localhost:~$

    If you mess up something, don’t worry – just re-import the OVA file again… 🙂

    Don’t forget to check out the Oracle Database 12c Learning Libary.

    Good luck!

    And thanks to Mike Dietrich and Roy Swonger of Oracle for making these HOL available to the community.