Tag: gold image

AutoUpgrade New Features: Create and Use Your Own Gold Images

There are several advantages to using gold images to install new Oracle homes:

  • You know all servers get the exact same Oracle home.
  • You can install faster because you don’t need to apply all the patches.
  • They fit very well with automation.
  • They’re easier to test and work well with configuration management.

When you install an Oracle home using AutoUpgrade, you can also create your own gold images. Later, you can deploy the gold image to new servers.

Create Gold Image

I will use AutoUpgrade to install a new Oracle home with the desired patches and create a gold image.

  1. I’ve already downloaded the patches.
  2. Here’s my config file:
    global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
install1.download_folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
install1.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19
install1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19_32
install1.create_gold_image=db_home_%RELEASE%_%UPDATE%_%TIMESTAMP%.zip
install1.patch=recommended
    • I’ve already downloaded the patches to download_folder.
    • I want to create a new Oracle home in the target_home location.
    • AutoUpgrade copies the settings from the source_home.
    • After installing the new Oracle home, AutoUpgrade creates a gold image in download_folder. Instead of specifying the name of the gold image, I can also set create_gold_image=yes and let AutoUpgrade generate a name.
    • I set patch=recommended to get the recommended patches: latest Release Update, OPatch, MRP, OJVM, and Data Pump bundle patches.
  3. I start AutoUpgrade to install the new Oracle home:
    java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config install-home.cfg -patch -mode create_home
    • In 19c, the installation takes longer because AutoUpgrade must apply the Release Update.
    • In 26ai, this process is much faster because Oracle delivers gold images with the latest Release Update already applied.
  4. When AutoUpgrade completes, I can find the gold image in my download_folder.
  5. It took 15 minutes to install the Oracle home and apply all the patches, plus five minutes to generate the gold image.

Install From Gold Image

Now I move to a different server. I need a new Oracle home and I’ll use the gold image.

  1. Here’s my AutoUpgrade config file:
    global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
install1.download_folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
install1.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19
install1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19_32
install1.patch=GOLDIMAGE:db_home_19_32_20260819113026.zip
    • Notice the patch parameter. I specify the gold image instead of individual patches.
  2. I start AutoUpgrade to install the new Oracle home:
    java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config install-home.cfg -patch -mode create_home
    • AutoUpgrade extracts the gold image and performs the installation.
    • There are no patches to apply. The gold image is already up to date.
  3. That’s it! I now have an Oracle home with exactly the same patches.
  4. It took just two minutes to install the gold image. That’s much faster than the 15 minutes it took for a regular installation.

That’s It

If you’re not already using gold images, you should get started. AutoUpgrade makes them easy to create and deploy.

Happy patching!

AutoUpgrade New Features: Download 26ai Release Update Rather Than Gold Image

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!