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Virtual Classroom Seminar #15: Data Pump Best Practices on April 5, 2023

We are quite busy these days. And I am lagging behind in answering your comments on the blog. So please be patient, nothing will be lost. Meanwhile, we work hard on the slides for our next Virtual Classroom Seminar #15: Data Pump Best Practices on April 5, 2023.

Virtual Classroom Seminar #15: Data Pump Best Practices on April 5, 2023

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What will be the topic?

Data Pump Best Practices and Real World Scenarios tells you already what we are planning to do. After we had a “Data Pump Deep Dive with Development” seminar last year (time flies so quickly), we decided that we should tackle …

A patch (RU, OJVM, 32-bit) is not available yet – where will I find information?

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation Release Schedule 0

A longer while ago I wrote a blog post about the topic that a patch (RU, OJVM, 32-bit) is not available yet – where will I find information? But I wrote it too specific. And it is even hard for me to find my older blog post. Since several of you mailed me the past weeks with a variety of questions regarding patch availability I decided to write down my thoughts – but this time in a more generic way. And I hope it is helpful.

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Why are patches missing?

At first, I …

March 2023 release of AutoUpgrade is available

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade 0

It’s download time again. So please refresh the AutoUpgrade release you are using with the new one since the March 2023 release of AutoUpgrade is available now for download.

March 2023 release of AutoUpgrade is available

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Where to download?

As usual, please download the newest version of AutoUpgrade via MOS Note:2485457.1 – Download AutoUpgrade.

What does this version improve?

A lot.

Really, a lot of things got improved.

You’ll find the change.log for tracking purposes at the bottom of the note. I’d wish everybody would do such a transparent change tracking as the AutoUpgrade team does. This makes …

Oracle Optimizer Statistics Advisor in Oracle 19c

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Optimizer Patch Recommendation 11

Christian Pfundtner pointed me to the fact that my old blog post about the Statistics Advisor from 2017 may not be up to date anymore. And he further pointed out that some of his clients still suffer from issues with the tool. Hence, let me refresh the topic with Oracle Optimizer Statistics Advisor in Oracle 19c. And thanks to Christian for the pointers.

Oracle Optimizer Statistics Advisor in Oracle 19c

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Overview

At first, I won’t rewrite the entire blog post but instead focus on recent findings. Therefore, you may please want to read my previous blog post about the …

ORA-13516 “CATPROC not valid” during datapatch or autoupgrade to 19.18.0

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Patch Recommendation 13

I thought I could relax this week using my leftover vacation days from 2022. But this issue is triggering me since some of you mailed me already. Maybe this blog post can prevent others from being trapped by this issue: ORA-13516 “CATPROC not valid” during datapatch or autoupgrade to 19.18.0. And as a prolog, you will NOT see the below issue when you started your database in NORMAL mode for the execution of datapatch.

ORA-13516 "CATPROC not valid" during datapatch or autoupgrade to 19.18.0

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What is the symptom?

Regardless of whether you patch to Oracle Database RU 19.18.0 manually or with …

Hide and Seek with RU 19.18.0

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Patch Recommendation 36

One and a half weeks ago we released the Database and Grid Infrastructure Release Updates (RU) 19.18.0. You could read on the blog how to apply it, and you could read also about an alert. So far, all was more or less transparent but apparently sort of an Hide and Seek with RU 19.18.0 has happened. So let me shed some light.

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Heads Up!

I am just the messenger trying to bring some light into the topic. Neither is our team responsible nor do we have any sort of control on this process. I …

Suppress nasty error messages and traces during datapatch

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Patch Recommendation 0

A few days ago I published my quarterly blog post in the series of Patching all my environments … And I mentioned that datapatch took a bit longer for 19.18.0 than usual. In the alert I’ve had nasty error messages or warnings. And Walter (thanks!) commented immediately with some advice.

Suppress nasty error messages and traces during datapatch

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What are these messages?

Actually, I saw them before already. Since I always create CUSTOM databases with a template I spotted those warnings the first time when I was wondering why DB creation took so abnormally long with Multitenant. I discovered KGL Heap …

MRP3 for Oracle 19.17.0 adds an interesting surprise

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Patch Recommendation 2

You may have read my previous blog posts about MRPs (Monthly Recommended Patches). And today I did a quick check with Rodrigo. We both were a bit surprised to have the MRP3 for 19.17.0 add a lot of fixes to a standard RDBMS installation. So we were investigating a bit further. As a teaser, read on to see that MRP3 for Oracle 19.17.0 adds an interesting surprise.

MRP3 for Oracle 19.17.0 adds an interesting surprise

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How did we find out?

The MRP3 for Oracle Database 19.17.0 got released just a week ago. You can navigate to it via MOS …

Patching my environments with the January 2023 Bundle Patches

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation 12

Mid-of January. It’s patching time again. So let me show you the quarterly exercise of Patching my environments with the January 2023 Bundle Patches. Let’s see this time if I will have to remove my Data Pump Bundle Patch and the 19.17.0 MRP2 at first when I patch in-place.

Patching my environments with the January 2023 Bundle Patches

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As usual, an important annotation upfront: I patch in-place due to space issues. But in reality, you please patch always out-of-place with a separate home. Please see this blog post about how to apply the RU directly when you provision a new home with OUI…

Important alert for Oracle Database and GI RU 19.18.0 on Linux

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Patch Recommendation 52

Some of you may have seen the alert already released yesterday. And thanks to Peter Lehmann again for alerting me. When you logon to MyOracle Support, you will find it simply in the alert section to the left. On Jan 25, 2023, this Important alert for Oracle Database and GI RU 19.18.0 on Linux has been released.

Important alert for Oracle Database and GI RU 19.18.0 on Linux

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What is the situation?

Due to an issue described in MOS Note: 2923428.1 – LMON trace file with repeated entries of “Submitting asynchronized dump request” the Release Updates (RU) 19.18.0 for the Oracle Database and …

Rolling back or removing all patch SQL changes

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Flaws and Pitfalls Microsoft Windows Single-/Multitenant 2

This is quite an interesting case I’ve had to scratch my head at first as well. Magnus mailed me the other day asking for a client since the PDB compatibility check errored out with a patch conflict. We discussed the topic but the most easiest workaround to me was Rolling back or removing all patch SQL changes from the PDB before unplug. And since I had to look up the command I’d rather put it on the blog in case you or I need it again one day.

Rolling back or removing all patch SQL changes

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What is the case?

I …

RUs contain now all available DST patches

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation Time Zone - DST 8

At first, Happy New Year everybody. There was silence on the blog for some weeks but I took an extended longer time off. Well, and once you return, there are some emails in your inbox which need some work. You’ll see several new blog posts getting published in the coming days. Back to normal, yesterday night RU 19.18.0 among other patch bundles has been released. And there’s a huge fantastic surprise in it: RUs contain now all available DST patches.

RUs contain now all available DST patches

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What’s the story?

There are some good news. We discussed this internally …

Applying the MRP from December 2022 to Oracle 19c

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation 16

Well, couldn’t there be a nicer pre-Christmas present than the December 2022 Monthly Recommended Patches (MRP)? You know, I’m just kidding. But since I received the first questions from customers – and before I send an email internally – I wanted to try out Applying the MRP from December 2022 to Oracle 19c.

Applying the MRP from December 2022 to Oracle 19c

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Download the December MRP

Actually you need to access MOS Note: 888.1 -Primary Note for Database Proactive Patch Program since the link is not in MOS Note: 555.1 – Oracle Database 19c Important Recommended One-Off Patches even though it …

Apply the Data Pump Bundle Patch – non-rolling but online?

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Data Pump Patch Recommendation 19

Yesterday I have blogged about an issue with the highly recommended Data Pump Bundle Patches. And today I would like to shed some light on how to Apply the Data Pump Bundle Patch – non-rolling but online?

Apply the Data Pump Bundle Patch - non-rolling but online?

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Download the Data Pump Bundle Patch

You can download the correct Data Pump Bundle Patch from MOS Note: 2819284.1 – Data Pump Recommended Proactive Patches For 19.10 and Above. It’s just a few MB, and it is a generic patch with a separate download for the Windows platform. So far so good.

…

Data Pump Bundle Patches: You may need to download and apply again

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Data Pump Oracle Database 19c Patch Recommendation 20

The Data Pump Bundle Patches get released on top of every RU since over a year now. But a real issue with missing files got detected recently. So in case you had applied Data Pump Bundle Patches: You may need to download and apply again.

Data Pump Bundle Patches: You may need to download and apply again

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What is in the Data Pump Bundle Patch?

The Data Pump Bundle Patch is a convenient and very useful vehicle to apply Data Pump patches which are usually not included in a Release Update (RU). While RUs are per definitionem RAC-rolling and Standby-First, the Data Pump Bundle …

A change in Oracle 12.2 and 19c with MV Refresh Stats Collection

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Best Practice Upgrade / Migration 6

It’s not easy for me to put the topic into a searchable title for this blog post. The feature or change I will write about today came in actually with Oracle Database 12.2.0.1. But since many of you will move directly from Oracle 11.2.0.4 or 12.1.0.2 to 19c, the Long Term Support release, it may affect you as well. So let me explain a change in Oracle 12.2 and 19c with MV Refresh Stats Collection.

A change in Oracle 12.2 and 19c with MV Refresh Stats Collection

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A customer story

The local Support team asked me a few weeks ago whether I have heard …

Applying the first MRP for Oracle 19.17.0

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation 27

A few weeks ago I blogged about the fact that we retired the RURs, and instead release the MRPs (Monthly Recommended Patches). In my previous blog post about this topic you’ll find also an FAQ hopefully answering all the questions you may have (had). And now it is mid of November, so I can show you the process of applying the first MRP for Oracle 19.17.0.

Applying the first MRP for Oracle 19.17.0

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How do you get access to the MRPs?

At the moment while I write this, you can find the MRPs only in MOS Note: 888.1 -Primary …

Patching all my environments with the October 2022 Bundle Patches

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation 53

Oh yes, it is patching time (again). And this time I somehow missed the slot since the quarterly critical patch updates got released right during Oracle Cloud World. Since I didn’t want to stretch the hotel WiFi too much – and since I wouldn’t have had enough time to install and write-up this blog post, I do it now with a week of delay. So as usual every quarter, follow me for patching all my environments with the October 2022 Bundle Patches.

Patching all of my environments with the October 2022 Bundle Patches

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As usual, an important annotation upfront: I patch in-place due to …

Silent ORA-918 behavior change in RU 19.17.0 and newer

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Behavior Change Patch Recommendation 18

I think we have the best customers out there. It is incredible what some people find. We would be lost without you, and this blog would contain only a fraction of the information we can share with you. In this case let me explain the silent ORA-918 behavior change in RU 19.17.0 and newer. And all credits go to Peter Lehmann from Deutsche Telekom who found this issue only a few days after we released 19.17.0.

Silent ORA-918 behavior change in RU 19.17.0 and newer

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What is happening?

Peter shared an awesome and simple test case with me. A query with ambiguously defined …

Patching News: RURs are gone – long live MRPs

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation Release Schedule 24

Sorry for the headline using TLAs (three letter acronyms). But I was tempted – and those of you being interested in Oracle Database patching my quickly realize that there are some Patching News: RURs are gone – long live MRPs.

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RURs are gone?

Andy Mendelsohn announced the MRPs (Monthly Recommended Patches) in October at DOAG Conference in Nuernberg already. Due to Oracle Cloud World bussiness, I’ve had no time to write about it yet. And the introduction of the MRPs means that we won’t produce RURs anymore after a transition grace period.…

Oracle Cloud World 2022 – Recap and Slides

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich OOW 4

This was a wonderful but very strenuous week, no doubt. Oracle Cloud World (OCW) 2022 happened in Las Vegas. New name, new city. And even though many agreed to prefer San Francisco with an Oracle Open World instead having such an event in Sin City, there were a lot of great things happening. So let me start my personal summary here, the Oracle Cloud World 2022 – Recap and Slides.

Oracle Cloud World 2022 - Recap and Slides

Our labs and talks

It was amazing to see you all in our 4 sessions, 4 labs and 2 lightning talks. Since the registration process was a bit …

OCW 2022 – Your Upgrade / Migration / Patching Track to Success

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Conference OOW 2

Will you come to Oracle Cloud World (tcfkaOOW = the conference formerly known as Oracle Open World) 2022 in Las Vegas in the week from October 17-20, 2022? Then we hope to see you there. And we certainly hope to meet you. So in case you are looking for our technical talks and sessions at OCW 2022 – Your Upgrade / Migration / Patching Track to Success.

OCW 2022 – Your Upgrade / Migration / Patching Track to Success

Your Upgrade / Migration / Patching Track at OCW2022

As usual our promise stands.

Zero marketing. Just pure tech.

And we our proud to have lots of real …

Oracle Cloud World 2022 – Database Upgrade and Patching Labs

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich OOW 2

Oh … it’s just a few weeks left until Oracle Cloud World 2022 will start on Oct 17, 2022 in Las Vegas. If you have some final doubts whether you should go or not, let me tell you that it’s like Oracle Open World just under a different name. And in a different place. But with the same cool people and many great talks. Take the chance to meet the developers, their managers and the product managers behind the features you daily use – or miss. We’ll be there – and this is YOUR chance now to sign up for …

Intel uses AutoUpgrade to upgrade from Oracle 11.2.0.4 to 19c

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Customer Success 12

Funny, I was traveling recently with RAC PM Anil Nair – but he forgot to tell me that this cool story has been published just a few days before we took of for YATRA 2022 to India: Intel uses AutoUpgrade to upgrade from Oracle 11.2.0.4 to 19c. I know that Anil is simply so busy – and my surprise was huge.

Intel uses AutoUpgrade to upgrade from Oracle 11.2.0.4 to 19c

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What’s the story?

Gagan Singh, Enterprise Architect at Intel, shared it with me last week. The goal was to upgrade from Oracle 11.2.0.4 to Oracle 19c with the least amount of downtime …

Why I love the German, Austrian and Swiss customers – a DOAG 2022 conference recap

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Mike.Dietrich Conference 0

Wow – this was a tough week in Nürnberg at DOAG 2022 Conference. It started with a lot of rain. And I mean RAIN. Luckily I packed my umbrella last minute before going to the train station. But before I tell you a bit about this week, and why it was so incredibly important to be at DOAG 2022, let me tell you at first why I love the German, Austrian and Swiss customers – a DOAG 2022 conference recap.

At first, a big THANK YOU

And before I write something about “my” week, let me give a …

What will be the topic?

Why are patches missing?

Where to download?

What does this version improve?

Overview

What is the symptom?

Heads Up!

What are these messages?

How did we find out?

What is the situation?

What is the case?

What’s the story?

Download the December MRP

Download the Data Pump Bundle Patch

What is in the Data Pump Bundle Patch?

A customer story

How do you get access to the MRPs?

What is happening?

RURs are gone?

Our labs and talks

Your Upgrade / Migration / Patching Track at OCW2022

What’s the story?

At first, a big THANK YOU

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