Applying Oracle 9.2.0.8 patch set

[Sean Dale]

We will be applying the patch set 9.2.0.8 to our 9.2.0.4 environments. How long does it take to patch the Oracle installation? Also, how long does it take to do the steps on each of the database instances?

Any tips/suggestions/insight into the upgrade process would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Dennis Handly]

It might help everyone if you mention what hardware and OS version you have.

[Eric Antunes]

Hi Sean,

You must read Metalink Notes 405234.1 for HP-UX Itanium (didn't find it for HP-UX PA_RISC), 388281.1 and 358776.1

Best Regards,

Eric Antunes

[whiteknight]

Hi Sean,

Take note of this documents on the known issue in metalink.oracle.com. Please access the impact of the upgrade

Doc ID: Note:388281.1 Type: README
Last Revision Date: 17-SEP-2007 Status: PUBLISHED

Known Issues specific to the 9.2.0.8 Patch Set
See Note 189908.1 for Support Status and Alerts affecting 9.2.0 releases.
This note lists known install / alert issues specific to the 9.2.0.8 Patch Set.
It should be read in conjunction with the platform specific Patch Set release note (sometimes referred to as the README).
This note includes details of:

Generic comments not included in the Patch Set READMEs
Known install issues specific to 9.2.0.8, both generic and port specific
Bugs introduced in 9.2.0.8 (which do not affect 9.2.0.7)
Alerted issues which affect 9.2.0.8
Availability details for 9.2.0.8 by platform

WK
please assign points

[Sean Dale]

Our servers are rp7410s running 11.11.

[Sean Dale]

I've already downloaded the patch set. I also went through the 'read me' and printed all of the metalink articles mentioned in the 'read me'. At this point, we are trying to ascertain how long the process will take.

[Jonathan Fife]

There are two parts to the patch set -- one install for the Oracle home, and then separate SQL updates for each oracle instance. Depending on how many instances you have the time will vary.

*Just for reference*, on my rp7410 11.11 the home install took around 45 minutes, and the SQL update took around 30 minutes per instance. Again, YMMV, so I would suggest doing the upgrade on a test environment first, and extrapolating the times from there.

[spex]

Hello,

I have patched 9.2.0.1 to 9.2.0.6 on a 1.0 GHz rp4440 w/8 MB memory running 11.11. From what I recall, it took about 10 minutes for the script to complete. No upgrade scripts needed to be applied to the databases.

Not a perfect analogue of your scenario, but a good starting point. Of course, YMMV.

PCS

[Jonathan Fife]

Re: spex

There are definitely two parts to the upgrade, even with 9.2.0.6 -- the oracle home upgrade (using the OUI GUI), and the catpatch.sql run on each DB.

The steps for running catpatch.sql are under "required post-installation steps" in the readme.

[spex]

@Jonathan,

No databases existed at the time I applied the patch.

PCS

[Sean Dale]

@Jonathan

How large are the DBs you upgraded? Also, how many CPUs in your server? Thx

[Jonathan Fife]

Re: spex

Ah, ok :)

Re: Sean Dale

The DBs are around 120GB each. The server has 3 x 550mhz CPUs.

[Sean Dale]

Step 12 of the Patch Set Notes say to run RMAN and issue 'upgrade catalog' if using recovery catalog. We do use a recovery catalog. Do we need to run this step after each database instance update or just once?

Thx!

[Eric Antunes]

No, you only need to upgrade the catalog once.

Best Regards,

Eric Antunes

[Sean Dale]

Many thanks to all who responded. We will be doing our Oracle patch upgrade tomorrow evening.

Thanks again,
Sean

[Sean Dale]

Thread closed, all questions answered!