Update Oracle RAC Database Using Fleet Maintenance #JoelKallmanDay

Step 4 - Patchin' Alive. (Oracle RAC Database Patching using Fleet Maintenance)

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 I will patch all my database servers database software from 19.16 to 19.20. As there are more than 20 servers to patch, we will use fleet patching. First, I have patched a 2-node cluster database homes by using out of place (OOP) patching methodology through runInstaller in silent mode in Step 2 - Patch My Breath Away(DB OOP Patching).

Now I will use patched an Oracle RAC database home to create a gold image for fleet patching of all Oracle RAC database homes.

Some useful references:

    * Primay Note for Database Patching Using Enterprise Manager 13c Cloud Control Fleet Maintenance (Doc Id 2435251.1) 

    * Prerequisite Checks For Setting Up Fleet Environment (Doc ID 2434264.1)

    * Enterprise Manager Fleet Maintenance FAQ (Doc ID 2272569.1)

    * How to Patch Or Upgrade RAC Database Using Fleet Maintenance (Doc ID 2448341.1)

First create a location on Software Library in EMCC. We will use it as a destination for storing gold image. 

      * Provisioning and Patching > Sofware Library 

* Name : Gold Image Profiles

* Description : Gold Image Profiles for Database and Grid Infrastructure

* Name : 19c

* Description : Version 19c Images

We will create a response file, but at first we need the manual oop (out of place) patched Oracle RAC database home (target name) to refer in response file.

    Here is the content of the response file.

    It is time to create the database gold image.

    Now we will subscribe to this gold image for sundb. (This is the database we want to patch with fleet maintenance). (This step can also be done from GUI/BUI, EMCC 13.5 RU16).

    We will deploy gold image to target database. (This step can also be done from GUI/BUI, EMCC 13.5).

     New Oracle database homes are deployed. There is only one step left. That is the migration of the RAC database and its instances targets running from the old Oracle Home to the newly patched Oracle Home. If you are using Unified Auditing, just make sure that it is relinked with on option. As we created a gold database image from a relinked with on option one. No additional steps required this time.

     All Oracle RAC database patching has been completed as easy as taking candy from a baby. tnsnames.ora, sqlnet.ora, and glogin.sql files are copied to the new database home, datapatch is also executed by fleet patching process. We will just update all our shell scripts, .bashrc etc files to refer to the new database home. Also, after patching completed, in EMCC - under Add targets menu, rediscover your updated hosts and promote newly discovered targets associated with the new database home.

 After database patching completed, you may see "PL/SQL package SYS.DBMS_BACKUP_RESTORE version is not current" messages in the alert.log file. If you are using RMAN catalog, connect recovery catalog schema through RMAN and run "UPGRADE CATALOG" command twice to send various SQL DDL statements to update the recovery catalog schema with new tables, views, columns, and so on. If you are not using an RMAN catalog then run below commands to recompile the RMAN packages and procedures.

    Hope it helps.

    See you on Step 5 - Another one Patches the dust (Cleaning old oracle homes)