Starting with Oracle AI Database 26ai, Oracle delivers fully updated gold images in addition to just the Release Update.

This is very convenient because:

• It significantly shortens the installation time of a new Oracle home because the Release Update has already been applied.
• It includes an updated OPatch.
• It includes an updated OCW component.
• It includes an updated JDK and Perl installation.

AutoUpgrade downloads the gold image automatically and you get to enjoy the much shorter installation time.

But sometimes you want just the Release Update.

Download Release Update Patch File

• Here’s my AutoUpgrade config file:

  global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/logs
  global.keystore=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/keystore
  global.folder=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/patches
  
  patch1.platform=LINUX.X64
  patch1.target_version=26
  patch1.patch=RU
  patch1.gold_image=no
  

  • I set gold_image=no to tell AutoUpgrade to download the Release Update patch instead of the gold image.

• I start AutoUpgrade in download mode:

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

• AutoUpgrade locates the latest Release Update and starts the download.

  AutoUpgrade Patching 26.4.260701 launched with default internal options
  Processing config file ...
  Loading AutoUpgrade Patching keystore
  AutoUpgrade Patching keystore is loaded
  
  ------------------------------------------------------
  Downloading files to /home/oracle/autoupgrade/patches
  ------------------------------------------------------
  DATABASE RELEASE UPDATE 23.26.3.0.0
      File: p39578879_230000_Linux-x86-64.zip - VALIDATED
  ------------------------------------------------------
  

• You can distinguish between the Release Update patch and the gold image by their descriptions:

  • Gold image: DATABASE RELEASE UPDATE 23.26.3.0.0(GOLD IMAGE)
  • Patch file: DATABASE RELEASE UPDATE 23.26.3.0.0

That’s It

Gold images are the fastest way to provision a new Oracle home. But when you need the Release Update patch instead, AutoUpgrade lets you choose.

Happy patching!