This question comes up very often: What is the minimum supported version for database upgrades? Or a question I received today: “I have an Oracle 10.2.0.4 database, can I upgrade directly to Oracle 11.2.0.4?”
Usually I have to dig into my old slides from the past to give a definite answer. And of course, the Database Upgrade Guide of each version has the same information somewhere as well. Therefore I’d like to summarize the releases supported for direct database upgrades since Oracle 11.2.0.4 below.
Upgrade?
When I speak about database upgrades, I mean you’ll use either the command line upgrade (i.e. catupgrd.sql or catctl.pl) or the GUI tool, the Database Upgrade Assistant (DBUA). Other techniques such as Data Pump or Transportable Tablespaces are usually version independent. But the upgrade process is supported in an exact defined scope.
Oracle Database 18c
Versions for direct database upgrades to Oracle 18c:
- Oracle 11.2.0.3
- Oracle 11.2.0.4
- Oracle 12.1.0.1
- Oracle 12.1.0.2
- Oracle 12.2.0.1
See: Oracle Database Upgrade Guide 18c
Oracle Database 12.2.0.1
Versions for direct database upgrades to Oracle 12.2.0.1:
- Oracle 11.2.0.3
- Oracle 11.2.0.4
- Oracle 12.1.0.1
- Oracle 12.1.0.2
See: Oracle Database Upgrade Guide 12.2.0.1
Oracle Database 12.1.0.2
Versions for direct database upgrades to Oracle 12.1.0.2:
- Oracle 10.2.0.5
- Oracle 11.1.0.7
- Oracle 11.2.0.2
- Oracle 11.2.0.3
- Oracle 11.2.0.4
- Oracle 12.1.0.1
See: Oracle Database Upgrade Guide 12.1.0.2
Oracle Database 11.2.0.4
Database upgrades to Oracle 11.2.0.4 were supported from:
- Oracle 9.2.0.8
- Oracle 10.1.0.5
- Oracle 10.2.0.2
- Oracle 10.2.0.3
- Oracle 10.2.0.4
- Oracle 10.2.0.5
- Oracle 11.1.0.6
- Oracle 11.1.0.7
- Oracle 11.2.0.1
- Oracle 11.2.0.2
- Oracle 11.2.0.3
See: Oracle Database Upgrade Guide 11.2.0.4
Further Information
In case you are seeking for a solution for a non-directly supported version upgrade please have a look at:
–Mike
[Update Feb 18, 2018 – Added Oracle Database 18c information]
Hi Mike,
we have a 2-node-RAC on 12.1.0.2 (Grid and RDBMS) with six different databases sharing the same Oracle home. We plan for an upgrade to 12.2.0.1 but – no surprise – not all applications using these databases do not already have a certification for 12.2. So in order to start right now is it possible to upgrade first grid infrastructure to 12.2, then install a new Oracle home 12.2 in parallel to 12.1 and afterward migrate these DBs which already have a certification for 12.2? Finally when we get the GO from the remaining databases for 12.2 also upgrade them and then deinstall the 12.1 home?
Thx & regards
Axel D.
Alex,
of course this is possible – and very common in fact.
What you could also do as an alternative: Upgrade all databases to 12.2.0.1 but let those who are not certified yet for 12.2 run with COMPATIBLE=12.1.0 as this ensure that no 12.2 features are enabled. The benefit of this solution would be a much more stable and predictable optimizer code with most things which caused trouble in 12.1 fixed in 12.2. The downside of this solution is usually that it is harder to sell to the application folks (and 12.2 network security may need to be lowered – check for:
https://mikedietrichde.com/2017/04/24/having-some-fun-with-sec_case_sensitive_logon-and-ora-1017/
Mike
Hi Mike,
Does 18c GI/Cluster support 12.1.0.2 DB
what should be the compatible.asm and compatible.rdbms to create 12.1.0.2 DB on 18c GI/Cluster?
Curious to know this……….:)
Thanks
satya
Satya,
the clusterware+database certification is similar to the database upgrade certification. Everything including 11.2.0.4 and above is support in an 18c cluster.
Cheers,
Mike
Hi Mike,
is it possible to upgrade a 2-node-RAC on 11.2.0.3 (Grid and RDBMS) to 18.3 GI/Cluster (Grid and RDBMS) ? Or do I need to upgrade the GI/Cluster to 12.2 (Grid and RDBMS) then upgrade to 18.3 (Grid and RDBMS) ?
Thanks,
Vinicius
Hi Vincius,
you should upgrade Grid Infrastructure to 19c directly instead of 18c. In both cases, whether you choose 18c or 19c as GI version, you can go directly from 11.2.0.3 GI.
For the database, you are correct – a direct upgrade from 11.2.0.3 brings you maximum to 18c. An upgrade to Oracle Database 19c would require that your source is already 11.2.0.4.
Just keep in mind that 18c will have no Extended Support. The bug fixing support will end most likely sometime in October 2021. This sounds “far away” but actually it’s just two years from now on – whereas 19c gives you until March 2023 with the option to have extended support.
Cheers,
Mike