Before the upgrade fun can begin, we need a new Oracle home. But that’s so easy using AutoUpgrade.

Download Software and Patches

In Oracle AI Database 26ai, Oracle delivers updated gold images, so there’s no need to manually download the base release.

• I create a new AutoUpgrade config file:

  global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
  global.keystore=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/keystore
  global.folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
  download1.target_version=23
  download1.patch=RECOMMENDED,JDK,37393792
  download1.platform=LINUX.X64
  

  • The patch parameter instructs AutoUpgrade to download
    • RECOMMENDED gives me the newest gold image, including an updated OPatch and OCW component. Further, it brings in the matching Data Pump bundle patch. The OJVM component is now fully embedded in the Release Update.
    • JDK adds a one-off patch that updates the JDK installation in the Oracle home to the very latest version.
    • I can add additional one-off patches by specifying the patch number.
    • In a later version of AutoUpgrade, you can set target_version to 26 as well. But until then, use 23.
• I’ve already stored my MOS credentials in the AutoUpgrade keystore.
• Now, I can download the patches:

  java -jar autoupgrade.jar -patch -config download-software.cfg -mode download
  

Install Oracle Home

Now that we have the software and patches, let’s install an Oracle home. You can use AutoUpgrade for that as well – even for Oracle RAC databases.

• I create a new config file:

  global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
  global.keystore=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/keystore
  global.folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
  install1.target_version=23
  install1.patch=RECOMMENDED,JDK,37393792
  install1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/dbhome_26
  install1.home_settings.oracle_base=/u01/app/oracle
  install1.home_settings.edition=EE
  install1.home_settings.inventory_location=/u01/app/oraInventory
  install1.download=no
  

  • I specify the location of my Oracle home using target_home.
  • The above-mentioned home_settings are mandatory. I can customize the Oracle home using additional parameters. Check the documentation for further details.
• Now, I can install the new Oracle home:

  java -jar autoupgrade.jar -patch -config install-oh.cfg -mode create_home
  

• If my oracle user has sudo privileges, AutoUpgrade runs the root scripts for me. Otherwise, it will print a message in the console.

  # Run the root.sh script as root for the following jobs:
  For create_home_1 -> /u01/app/oracle/product/dbhome_26/root.sh
  

• I now have a fully up-to-date Oracle home:

  $ OPatch/opatch lspatches
  37393792;ORA-12850 REPORTED AFTER APPLYING DBRU ON FIRST NODE
  38378853;JDK BUNDLE PATCH 23.26.0.0.0
  38504058;DATAPUMP BUNDLE PATCH 23.26.0.0.0
  38405123;OCW RELEASE UPDATE 23.26.0.0.0 (38405123) Gold Image
  38404116;Database Release Update : 23.26.0.0.0 (38404116) Gold Image
  
  OPatch succeeded.
  

• Consider creating a gold image to use on another server. In a future release, AutoUpgrade will be able to do that too.

Happy upgrading!

Further Reading

• Upgrade to Oracle AI Database 26ai
• AutoUpgrade New Features: Install Oracle Home on Brand-New, Empty Server