Let me show you how I patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c (GI) using Zero Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching (ZDOGIP).

My demo system:

• Is a 2-node RAC
• Runs Oracle Linux
• Is currently on 19.16.0, and I want to patch to 19.17.0
• Uses neither ACFS nor ASM Filter Driver

I patch only the GI home. If I want to patch the database as well, I must do it separately.

I suggest you read A Word about Zero Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching, especially if your system uses ACFS or ASM Filter Driver.

Preparation

I need to download:

1. Download the base release of Oracle Grid Infrastructure (LINUX.X64_193000_grid_home.zip) from oracle.com or Oracle Software Delivery Cloud.
2. Latest OPatch from My Oracle Support (6880880).
3. The 19.17.0 Release Update for Oracle Grid Infrastructure from My Oracle Support. I will use the combo patch (34449117).

I place the software in /u01/software.

How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c

1. Prepare a New Grid Home

I can do this in advance. It doesn’t affect my current environment and doesn’t cause any downtime.

1. I need to create a folder for the new Grid Home. I must do this as root on all nodes in my cluster (copenhagen1 and copenhagen 2):

   [root@copenhagen1]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/19.17.0/grid
   [root@copenhagen1]$ chown -R grid:oinstall /u01/app/19.17.0
   [root@copenhagen1]$ chmod -R 775 /u01/app/19.17.0
   
   [root@copenhagen2]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/19.17.0/grid
   [root@copenhagen2]$ chown -R grid:oinstall /u01/app/19.17.0
   [root@copenhagen2]$ chmod -R 775 /u01/app/19.17.0
   

2. I switch to the Grid Home owner, grid.

3. I ensure that there is passwordless SSH access between all the cluster nodes. It is a requirement for the installation, but sometimes it is disabled to strengthen security:

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ ssh copenhagen2 date
   
   [grid@copenhagen2]$ ssh copenhagen1 date
   

4. I extract the base release of Oracle Grid Infrastructure into the new Grid Home. I work on one node only:

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export NEWGRIDHOME=/u01/app/19.17.0/grid
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ cd $NEWGRIDHOME
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ unzip -oq /u01/software/LINUX.X64_193000_grid_home.zip
   

5. I update OPatch to the latest version:

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ cd $NEWGRIDHOME
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ rm -rf OPatch
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ unzip -oq /u01/software/p6880880_190000_Linux-x86-64.zip
   

6. Then, I check the Oracle Grid Infrastructure prerequisites. I am good to go, if the check doesn’t write any error messages to the console:

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export ORACLE_HOME=$NEWGRIDHOME
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ $ORACLE_HOME/gridSetup.sh -executePrereqs -silent
   

7. I want to apply the 19.17.0 Release Update while I install the Grid Home. To do that, I must extract the patch file:

    [grid@copenhagen1]$ cd /u01/software
    [grid@copenhagen1]$ mkdir 34449117
    [grid@copenhagen1]$ mv p34449117_190000_Linux-x86-64.zip 34449117
    [grid@copenhagen1]$ cd 34449117
    [grid@copenhagen1]$ unzip p34449117_190000_Linux-x86-64.zip
   

8. Finally, I can install the new Grid Home:

   • I need to update the environment variables.
   • CLUSTER_NODES is a comma-separated list of all the nodes in my cluster.
   • The parameter -applyRU must point to the directory holding the GI Release Update. Since I am using the combo patch, I need to specify the subdirectory containing the GI Release Update

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export ORACLE_BASE=/u01/app/grid
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export ORA_INVENTORY=/u01/app/oraInventory
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export CLUSTER_NAME=$(olsnodes -c)
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export CLUSTER_NODES=$(olsnodes | tr '\n' ','| sed 's/,\s*$//')
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ cd $ORACLE_HOME
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ ./gridSetup.sh -ignorePrereq -waitforcompletion -silent \
      -applyRU /u01/software/34449117/34449117/34416665 \
      -responseFile $ORACLE_HOME/install/response/gridsetup.rsp \
      INVENTORY_LOCATION=$ORA_INVENTORY \
      ORACLE_BASE=$ORACLE_BASE \
      SELECTED_LANGUAGES=en \
      oracle.install.option=CRS_SWONLY \
      oracle.install.asm.OSDBA=asmdba \
      oracle.install.asm.OSOPER=asmoper \
      oracle.install.asm.OSASM=asmadmin \
      oracle.install.crs.config.ClusterConfiguration=STANDALONE \
      oracle.install.crs.config.configureAsExtendedCluster=false \
      oracle.install.crs.config.clusterName=$CLUSTER_NAME \
      oracle.install.crs.config.gpnp.configureGNS=false \
      oracle.install.crs.config.autoConfigureClusterNodeVIP=false \
      oracle.install.crs.config.clusterNodes=$CLUSTER_NODES
   

   • Although the script says so, I don’t run root.sh yet.
   • I install it in silent mode, but I could use the wizard instead.
   • For inspiration, you can check the response file used in the previous Grid Home on setting the various parameters.
   • If I have one-off patches to install, I can use the -applyOneOffs parameter.

2. Switch to the new Grid Home

Now, I can complete the patching process by switching to the new Grid Home. I do this one node at a time. Since I am using ZDOGIP there is no downtime.

1. First, on copenhagen1, I switch to the new Grid Home:

   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/19.17.0/grid
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ export CURRENT_NODE=$(hostname)
   [grid@copenhagen1]$ $ORACLE_HOME/gridSetup.sh \
      -silent -switchGridHome \
      oracle.install.option=CRS_SWONLY \
      ORACLE_HOME=$ORACLE_HOME \
      oracle.install.crs.config.clusterNodes=$CURRENT_NODE \
      oracle.install.crs.rootconfig.executeRootScript=false
   

2. Then, I run the root.sh script as root:
   • I must use the -transparent and -nodriverupdate parameters.
   • This step restarts the entire GI stack, but the resources it manages (databases, listener, etc.) stay up.
   • This step also restarts the ASM instance. Database instances on this node will switch to a remote ASM instance (Flex ASM). The database instances do not switch back to the local ASM instance after the GI restart.
   • In that period, the services stay ONLINE on this node.
   • The database instance on this node stays up all the time.
   • If my database listener runs out of the Grid Home, GI will move it to the new Grid Home, including copying listener.ora.

   [root@copenhagen1]$ /u01/app/19.17.0/grid/root.sh \
      -transparent \
      -nodriverupdate
   

3. I update any profiles (e.g., .bashrc) and other scripts referring to the Grid Home.
4. I connect to the other node, copenhagen2, and repeat steps 1-3. I double-check that the CURRENT_NODE environment variable gets updated to copenhagen2.
   • You must proceed as quickly as possible.

That’s it! I have now patched my Grid Infrastructure deployment.

Later on, I can patch my databases as well.

A Word about the Directory for the New Grid Home

Be careful when choosing a location for the new Grid Home. The documentation lists some requirements you should be aware of.

In my demo environment, the existing Grid Home is:

/u01/app/19.0.0.0/grid

Since I am patching to 19.17.0, I think it makes sense to use:

/u01/app/19.17.0/grid

If your organization has a different naming standard, that’s fine. Just ensure you comply with the requirements specified in the documentation.

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Room

At a future point, I need to remove the old Grid Home. I use the deinstall tool in the Grid Home. I execute the command on all nodes in my cluster:

$ export OLD_GRID_HOME=/u01/app/19.0.0.0/grid
$ export ORACLE_HOME=OLD_GRID_HOME
$ $ORACLE_HOME/deinstall/deinstall -local

I will wait until:

• I have seen the new Grid Home run without problems for a week or two.
• I have patched my Oracle Databases managed by GI.
• I have seen my Oracle Databases run without GI-related problems for a week or two.

Happy Patching!

Appendix

Further Reading

• MOS note: Zero-Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching (ZDOGIP). (Doc ID 2635015.1)
• MOS note: Step by Step Zero Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching in Silent Mode (Doc ID 2865083.1)
• Documentation: Applying Patches Using Zero-Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching, Grid Infrastructure Installation and Upgrade Guide for Linux 19c

Other Blog Posts in This Series

• Introduction
• How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Using In-Place OPatchAuto
• How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Using Out-Of-Place OPatchAuto
• How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Using Out-Of-Place SwitchGridHome
• How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c and Oracle Data Guard Using Standby-First
• How to Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Using Zero Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching
• Which Method Should I Choose When Patching Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c
• How to Avoid Interruptions When You Patch Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c
• Patching Oracle Grid Infrastructure And Oracle Data Guard
• How to Clone Oracle Grid Infrastructure Home Using Golden Images
• How to Roll Back Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Using SwitchGridHome
• How to Remove an Old Oracle Grid Infrastructure 19c Home
• Use Cluster Verification Utility (cluvfy) and Avoid Surprises
• A Word about Zero Downtime Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patching
• Why You Need to Use Oracle Fleet Patching and Provisioning
• My Best Advice on Patching Oracle Grid Infrastructure
• Pro Tips