Upgrading Oracle Databases

By Ahmed Baraka

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Objectives
In this lecture, you will learn how to perform the following:
• Describe the upgrade possible methods
• Describe the Oracle database upgrade roadmap
• Prepare the database for upgrades
• List Oracle database upgrade tools
• Describe autoUpgrade features and benefits
• Describe autoUpgrade processing modes and stages
• Upgrade a single-instance database in the same machine
• Monitor autoUpgrade using its console
• Implement post-upgrade actions

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Database Before Upgrade

PDB1 PDB2 PDB3 PDB4

Oracle Database 12c R2 Home

/u01/app/oracle/product/12.2.0/db_1

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Database After Upgrade

PDB1 PDB2 PDB3 PDB4

Oracle Database 12c R2 Home

/u01/app/oracle/product/12.2.0/db_1

Oracle Database 19c Home

/u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/db_1

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Data Migration

Data migration tool like

Pump Export/Import

PDB1 PDB2 PDB3 PDB4 PDB1 PDB2 PDB3 PDB4

Oracle Database 12c R2 Home Oracle Database 19c Home

/u01/app/oracle/product/12.2.0/db_1 /u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/db_1

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Methods
• Database direct upgrade:
- Install Oracle new release in a separate home
- Upgrade the database to the new release home using any of the upgrade
supported tools
• Database migration:
- Install Oracle new release in a separate home and create a new database
- Move the data from the old database to the new database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process

Test Upgraded Test Database

Prepare and Preserve the Production Database

Upgrade the Production Database

Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Workflow
Prepare to Upgrade
• Become familiar with the new and obsolete features in the new release

Test the Upgrade Process

• Determine the upgrade path to the new release
• Select an upgrade method
Select an Oracle home directory for the new release
• Database
Test Upgraded Test
• Develop a testing plan
Prepare•andPrepare
Preservea the Production
backup Database
strategy
• Follow preupgrade recommendations
Upgrade the Production Database
• Run preupgrade fixups, or carry out manual preupgrade system updates

Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process • Conduct the test upgrade in an environment created for
testing that does not interfere with the production database.

Test Upgraded Test Database

Prepare and Preserve the Production Database

Upgrade the Production Database

Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process

Test Upgraded Test Database

• Test the testing database that you upgraded to
the new release: functional, performance,
Prepare and Preserve the Production volume
Databaseand load testing

Upgrade the Production Database

Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process

Test Upgraded Test Database

Prepare and Preserve the Production Database

• Prepare the production database: from what

Upgrade the Production Database
learnt from testing, schedule the upgrade, and
backup database.
Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process

Test Upgraded Test Database

Prepare and Preserve the Production Database

Upgrade the Production Database

UpgradeDatabase
Tune and Adjust the •Production the production database to the new
release of Oracle Database using the planned
tool.

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Roadmap
Prepare to Upgrade

Test the Upgrade Process

Test Upgraded Test Database

• Tune the database: make changes (if any)
based on the testing results, like migrating
Prepare and Preserve the Production Database
execution plans

Upgrade the Production Database

Tune and Adjust the Production Database

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Database Upgrade References
• Documentation: Oracle Database, Database Upgrade Guide
- Use the documentation of the Oracle database target release
• MOS Doc ID 2118136.2: Assistant: Download Reference for Oracle
Database/GI Update, Revision, PSU, SPU(CPU), Bundle Patches,
Patchsets and Base Releases
• MOS ID 207303.1: Client / Server Interoperability Support Matrix for
Different Oracle Versions
• MOS Doc ID 742060.1: Release Schedule of Current Database
Releases
• Mike Dietrich blog:
- https://mikedietrichde.com/

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Releases that Support Direct
Upgrade

11.2.0.4 19c 12.2.0.1 21c

12.1.0.2 18c

12.2.0.1 19c

18c

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Database Preparation Tasks to Complete Before
Starting Oracle Database Upgrades
• Release Updates and requirements for upgrading Oracle databases
• Create or migrate your password file
• Backup the database
• Install the new Oracle database home
• Configure a Listener from the new Oracle database home
• Refer to the Oracle Database Upgrade Guide documentation

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Oracle Database Upgrade Tools (to 21c)
• AutoUpgrade Utility
• Manual upgrade using the Parallel Upgrade Utility (catctl.pl and
dbupgrade)
• Using Fleet Patching and Provisioning (FPP) (formerly known as Rapid
Home Provisioning)
• Using Oracle Enterprise Manager: Fleet Maintenance
• Database Upgrade Assistant DBUA

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 AutoUpgrade Features and Benefits
• Can identify issues before upgrade, provide fixups, and implement the
fixups
• Can execute the pre-upgrade and post-upgrade actions (not all)
• Easy to use and simplifies the upgrade
• Can upgrade multiple databases at a time
• Supports different architecture conversion ( non-CDB to PDB, PDB to
CDB) (not CDB to non-CDB)
• Provides multiple parameters and options to control and tune the
upgrade
• Can be upgraded separately

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 AutoUpgrade Processing Modes and Stages
Analyze Fixup Deploy Upgrade
Setup

GRP

Preupgrade

Prechecks

Prefixups

Drain

DBUpgrade

Postchecks

Postfixups

Postupgrade
Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka
 Using AutoUpgrade Utility on Upgrading Single-
instance Database in the Same Machine
1. Obtain the latest version of AutoUpgrade from MOS Doc ID 2485457.1
2. Download the new Oracle Database software and install it in a new
separate home directory
3. Create a configuration file for the AutoUpgrade utility
4. Run the AutoUpgrade utility in ANALYZE mode
5. Implement the fixups
6. Run the AutoUpgrade utility in DEPLOY mode
7. Implement post-upgrade actions

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Writing AutoUpgrade Configuration File
• Global parameters by default apply to all databases addressed by the
configuration file
global.<parameter-name>=<parameter-value>

• Local configuration parameters override global parameters:

<any-config-name>.<parameter-name>=<parameter-value>

• Example:
global.autoupg_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/
19c21c.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/db_1
19c21c.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/21.0.0/db_1
19c21c.sid=oradb

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Running AutoUpgrade in Analyze Mode
• To run AutoUpgrade in Analyze mode:
java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config yourconfig.txt -mode analyze

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Running AutoUpgrade in Fixup Mode
• AutoUpgrade performs the checks ( performed in Analyze mode) then
performs all automated fixups
• Caution: It may make changes on the database.
• Example:
java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config yourconfig.txt -mode fixup

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Running AutoUpgrade in Deploy Mode
• Executes all the AutoUpgrade stages
• Example:
java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config yourconfig.txt -mode DEPLOY

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Monitoring AutoUpgrade Using its Console
• Console is enabled by default
- Can be enabled/disabled using the parameters console and noconsole
• Console commands can be used to monitor AutoUpgrade operations
Command Description
lsj Lists the jobs and their status
tasks Displays the running tasks
status [-job number] Lists the status of a particular job
logs Displays all log file locations
abort -job number Aborts the job specified by the numeric value (number)
clear Clears the terminal display

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 About AutoUpgrade Messages
• Operation Messages:
Message Type Description
PREPARING An AutoUpgrade instance is being created, initialized, or called, in preparation for
completing an AutoUpgrade stage
EXECUTING AutoUpgrade is in the process of performing the main workflow of a stage

• State Messages:
Message Type Description
ABORTED AutoUpgrade stopped performing the stage workflow, in response to a user request
ERROR An error was encountered while the stage workflow was being performed.
FINISHED AutoUpgrade successfully completed the workflow for the stage
RUNNING AutoUpgrade is performing the stage workflow

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Required Tasks to Complete After Upgrading Oracle
Database
• Set environment variables
• Recompile invalid objects in the database
• Check the Oracle Database Inventory:
opatch lsinventory –patch

• Upgrade tables dependent on Oracle-Maintained Types

• Set the COMPATIBLE parameter after a few days of the upgrade
• Consider uninstalling old Oracle database home
• Refer to the Oracle Database Upgrade Guide documentation

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka

 Summary
In this lecture, you should have learnt how to perform the following:
• Describe the upgrade possible methods
• Describe the Oracle database upgrade roadmap
• Prepare the database for upgrades
• List Oracle database upgrade tools
• Describe autoUpgrade features and benefits
• Describe autoUpgrade processing modes and stages
• Upgrade a single-instance database in the same machine
• Monitor autoUpgrade using its console
• Implement post-upgrade actions

Oracle Database Administration from Zero to Hero- a course by Ahmed Baraka