Last night CET the most recent Patch Set Updates (PSU) and Critical Patch Updates (CPU aka SPU) got published on MOS. And there’s a significant and remarkable change for Oracle Database 12c onwards. MOS Note: 1571391.1 – Patch Set Update and Critical Patch
Update October 2013 Availability Document says:
2.1 Database Security Patching from 12.1.0.1 Onwards
Starting with Oracle Database version 12.1.0.1, Oracle only provides
Patch Set Updates (PSU) to meet the Critical Patch Update (CPU) program
requirements for security patching. Security Patch Updates (SPU) will no
longer be available. Oracle has moved to this simplified model due to
popular demand. The PSU is Oracle’s preferred proactive patching
mechanism since 2009.For more information, see My Oracle Support Note 1581950.1, Database Security Patching from 12.1.0.1 onwards.
That’s a real change. It’s not harmful at all as our recommendation for years now is to apply PSUs as they contain not only the security patches but also the important fixes for critical issues. And apply them asap – the day we publish the Security Patch Advisory with some details is the day when external security experts go public as well with their findings.
MOS Note: 756671.1 – Oracle Recommended Patches — Oracle
Database will guide you to the databases patches for your platform. If you miss the PSU for Oracle Database 10.2.0.5 (the Pre-Release Announcement stated that there will be a PSU for 10.2.0.5) my personal understanding is: as Oracle 10.2.0.5 went out of Extended Support in July 2013 there won’t be any October PSU released anymore.
And I’ll apply the new 12.1.0.1 Oct13 PSU now to my Oracle Database 12c Multitenant environment as well 🙂
Don’t forget:
MOS Note: 224346.1 – OPatch: Where Can I Find the Latest
Version of OPatch?
Find it via Patch Placeholder 6880880
–Mike
