Beruflich Dokumente
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PSU
BUG
What is MOS?
MOS requires a paid software license support contract. It offers technical support
notes, bug access, request tracking and patches. Users with a valid support
contract can register on Oracle’s metalink.
Oracle Support
The CSI also used to identify a customer's account and track service requests.
Information contained within My Oracle Support is made accessible strictly to
registered MOS users, for reference purposes only.
If we have a MOS account, then we can download patches. We need a support contract
to obtain a MOS.
Patches
Patches are software programs for individual BUG FIXES. Oracle issues product
fixes software, usually it is called as Patches, and it is used to fix a
particular problem (Bugs, Security weakness, Improving Performance etc.).
Patches are associated with particular versions of Oracle products. When we apply
patch to Oracle Software, a small collection of files are replaced to fix certain
bugs and database Version number doesn’t change.
Patches are available as Single Interim Patches and Patchsets (Patch Releases).
Patch Releases have release numbers. If we installed oracle 10.2.0.0, the first
patch release will have a release number of 10.2.0.1.
Patches/Patch sets are fully tested and integrated product fixes. Patch release
affects the software residing in your Oracle home only. Patchsets allows our
database to get upgraded within base release. Patch releases are collections of
bug fixes that are applicable for all customers.
POINTS TO NOTE
Interim patch given to customers in critical need, the main purpose is business
customers who cannot wait until the next Patch Set or new product release to get a
fix.
When upgrading an oracle database from Version to Version, need to apply patch for
database. Ex: (From 10.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.4).
The First Digit (10) is Most General Identifier. Major Oracle database release
number, it contains significant new functionality.
The Second Digit (2) Database maintenance release no, some new features also
included or BUG fixes to existing release (10.1.0)
The Third Digit (0) Application Server release no, (OracleAS).
The Fourth Digit (4) is Component Specific/Patch Release no A Patch release
contains fixes for serious bugs. Different components have different numbers.
Ex: Component Patch Sets.
The Fifth Digit (0): Platform Specific Release No, Usually this is a Patchset.
It usually fixes or works around a particular, critical problem.
Keeping Oracle database software up to date is a critical and time consuming task
for DBAs. Let’s see difference between CPU and PSU and which one should apply?
CPU PATCHES ARE ALWAYS CUMULATIVE, that means fixes from previous Oracle security
alerts and critical patch updates are included in current patch. However each
advisory describes only the security fixes added since the previous Critical Patch
Update advisory. (Not required to have previous security patches applied before
applying the latest patches).
Critical Patch Updates and Security Alerts for information about Oracle Security
Advisories.
Overview of PSU
Advantages of PSU
If PSU patch is applied, we cannot apply CPU patch (until dB upgrade to new
version) - Any Specific reason?
So, the fifth no of the database version is incremented for each PSU. All PSUs
are denoted by the last digit - (10.2.0.4.1, 10.2.0.4.2). The initial PSU is
version 10.2.0.4.1, the next PSU for Release will be 10.2.0.4.2 and so on.
Once a PSU is applied, only PSU can be applied in future quarters until the
databases is upgraded to new base version.
PSUs are referenced by their 5th place in the Oracle version numbers which makes
it easier to track (e.g. 10.2.0.3.1) and will not change the version of oracle
binaries (like sqlplus, exp/imp etc.)
Best Suggestion
My Preference always goes with PSU, no need to apply CPU patch because (PSU
Contains CPU). In other words CPU is a subset of the PSU.
opatch lsinventory
opatch lsinventory - details
SQL> select * from sys.registry$history;
CPU CPU
PSU
Fig: Critical Patch Update (CPU) is a subset of the Patch Set Update (PSU)
SPU patches are the same as previous CPU patches, just a new name. Security Patch
Update (SPU) terminology is introduced in the Oct 2012. Critical Patch Update as
the term for the quarterly security patch.
Patch Set Updates (PSU) was added as cumulative patches that included priority
fixes as well as security fixes.
Patch Conflicts
If a patch has been applied, all the bugs fixed by that patch could reappear after
another patch is applied. This is called a conflict situation. OPatch detects such
situations and raises an error when it detects a conflict.
What is OPTACH?
One-off bug fixes, we can use opatch to apply them. Opatch assists to apply
interim patches to Oracle’s software and removes interim patches from Oracle
software. Opatch also able to Report already installed interim patch and can
detect conflicts (when already interim patch has been applied).
Opatch Supports
If Opatch version is not compatible, check the readme file and download the latest
version and decompress in $ORACLE_HOME.
For the latest information about the OPatch utility, to check for updates, and to
get the latest versions, from (MOS).
$ export PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/OPatch:$PATH
$ which opatch
$ cd $ORACLE_HOME/OPatch
$ opatch -help
$ cd $ORACLE_HOME/OPatch
$ opatch lsinventory
Copyright (c) 2005, Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved..
Interim patches that are installed with Oracle's OPatch Utility can be listed by
invoking the linux > opatch command with the lsinventory option.
We can verify whether the Opatch version for RDBMS release is correct or not using
metalink note [ID 357221.1.].
Opatch assists with the process of applying interim patches to Oracle's software.
OUI performs component-based installations as well as complex installations, such
as integrated bundle and suite installations.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
If we facing any regular errors which are not resolved by efforts and should go to
oracle support for those errors and if they recommend to upgrade then should do
the upgrade activity.
We can upgrade our Oracle database to 10.2.0.4 either using DBUA or Manual method.
DBUA – Database upgrade assistant is used to upgrade database to higher versions
just like DBCA. Database Upgradation steps are explained separately.