How to Patch Oracle Restart 19c and Oracle Data Guard Using Out-Of-Place Switch Home

I strongly recommend that you always patch out-of-place. Here’s an example of how to do it on Oracle Restart and Oracle Data Guard.

This procedure is very similar to patching without Oracle Data Guard, so I’ll often refer to a previous blog post.

My demo system

  • Data Guard setup with two single instance databases in Oracle Restart configuration
  • GI and database home are currently on 19.24

I want to:

  • patch to 19.25
  • patch both the GI and database home in one operation

Preparation

  • I download the same patches are mentioned in the Preparations.

  • I place the software in /u01/software which is an NFS share accessible to both servers.

How to Patch Oracle Restart 19c and Oracle Database

1. Prepare a New GI Home

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

2. Prepare a New Database Home

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

3. Prepare Database

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

4. Standby Database: Switch to the New GI and Database Homes

Now, I can complete the patching process on the standby database by switching to the new Oracle homes.

  • I perform 4. Switch to the New GI and Database Homes on the standby host.

  • There is no downtime on the primary database. But the standby database will be shortly down which might mean something to you if you use Active Data Guard.

  • I make sure the standby database is brought back to the desired mode (mount or open). I check redo apply is running.

5. Primary Database: Switch to the New GI and Database Homes

Next, I can complete the patching process on the primary database by switching to the new Oracle homes.

6. Complete Patching

Now, both databases in my Data Guard configuration run out of the new Oracle Homes.

Only proceed with this step once all databases run out of the new Oracle Home.

That’s it! I have now patched my Oracle Restart and Data Guard deployment.

Happy Patching!

Appendix

Check the appendix in the related blog post for additional information and troubleshooting.

Further Reading

Other Blog Posts in This Series

2 thoughts on “How to Patch Oracle Restart 19c and Oracle Data Guard Using Out-Of-Place Switch Home

  1. Hi Daniel. Is it possible oracle provides a solution which in one conteiner we have 2 pdb with 2 different version ? Another question is, is there a solution which in a cdb container, by issuing a command a specific user with his schema objects and data move from one pdb to another pdb? It is so useful because the data files are in one place, and it does not need to move segments. But all data dictionaries, which are pretty small they can move from one pdb to another pdb. By these capability, we will be able to move data between 2 pdb without any latency.

    Best regards

    Oscar

    Like

    1. Hi Oscar,
      No, it is not possible to have two PDBs on different version/patch level in the same CDB. All PDBs in a CDB must use the same release/patch level as the CDB.

      If you need to move an entire schema, metadata and data, you should use Data Pump. It can go across database link which can be handy. If you want to share metadata, you can have a look at Application Containers.

      Regards,
      Daniel

      Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.