If you don’t deal with databases upgrades every day but just want to see a short and good overview about how to do a successful database upgrade, then this is for you. A few days ago we’ve made the Oracle Database Upgrade – Quick Start Guide available for download.

Photo by Daniel Leone on Unsplash
Why a Quick Start Guide?
If database upgrades are your daily topic, you won’t need our quick start guide. But if you need a short overview about the right steps to approach an upgrade, this guide is for you. Thanks to my PM colleague, Daniel Overby Hansen for crafting it together.
A quick reference to a successful Oracle Database upgrade – enjoy reading!
And if you need more information about the only recommended way to upgrade your databases with, AutoUpgrade, then you will find more guidance on this blog and in the Database Upgrade Guide.
More Information and Links
- Oracle Database Upgrade – Quick Start Guide
- Using AutoUpgrade – Oracle 19c Database Upgrade Guide
- AutoUpgrade – New version with RAC support now available
- Oracle Database Upgrade on oracle.com
- Oracle Database 19c – Upgrade Guide
–Mike
Perfect timing with this post. However I cant seem to find some autoupg_messages.properties? Any ideas?
[oracle@hostname:portiprd]$ $ORACLE_HOME/jdk/bin/java -version
java version “1.8.0_231”
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_231-b11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.231-b11, mixed mode)
[oracle@hostname:portiprd]$ $ORACLE_HOME/jdk/bin/java -jar $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/autoupgrade.jar -version
Exception in thread “main” oracle.upgrade.utils.AutoUpgException: ERROR – Cannot find Auto Upgrade messages file oracle/upgrade/autoupg_messages.properties oracle/upgrade/autoupg_messages.properties (No such file or directory)
at oracle.upgrade.utils.AutoUpgLogger.(Unknown Source)
at oracle.upgrade.boot.AutoUpgMain.main(Unknown Source)
Hi Chris,
1. Did you download the newest file from MOS?
2. Did you copy it into the Oracle Home you are upgrading to?
3. How is your environment set when you issue the command? Oracle Home set to source or to target home?
4. Goto to the $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin you have set – type in “java -jar autoupgrade.jar -version” – do you get the same error?
Hello Mike,
These posts have been most helpful to me. I am doing a Oracle 12.2 to 19.3 (will patch up to current release after) on Windows on a test machine. I have ran into many issues and I have an open SR# SR 3-32337730041 submitted my zip; the assigned tech is now on leave; unfortunately the person had no input prior to gone on leave. I am to upload another set of zip files.
I continued on using the troubleshooting I found here and in Oracle documentation. The upgrade finally said it finished successfully. But I think I wore it out and maybe it didn’t really finish.
At this time I am attempting to startup the database, I have used Oardim and created the service and got past the ORA-12650 error. Now I am getting cannot open control file (Ora-00202,Ora-27041, OSD-04002) Access is denied.
I am thinking perhaps it is best to start over.
Can you offer any input?
Hi Angela,
I see your SR now (I was on vacation or on a business trip). So this is Windows.
On Windows, I think you still need to do the extra step with the service.
I will ask somebody from the team to have a look at the issue and (if needed) contact you directly.
Cheers, and sorry for the inconvenience
Mike
Hi Angela,
can you please do the following and try again from scratch:
1. Use the newest AutoUpgrade – the one you used is 2 years old. Please download the newest version from:
https://support.oracle.com/epmos/faces/DocumentDisplay?id=2485457.1
2. Can you please make sure you apply the most recent Windows Bundle Patch 19.18.0 (or a previous one depending on your internal standards) to your 19c home? Don’t try this with 19.3.0 since you will miss 9500 fixes.
If the issue persists then, please give me a ping either via the blog or directly via email (mike.dietrich …….at……((… oracle.com )
Cheers,
Mike
I did download the latest autoupgrade, however it said it could not take for a upgrade job in an earlier version.
I will attempt another go after building a new os clone and applying the 19.18 RU I pulled down.
Thanks – and let me know the exact error please.
Then I may be able to help.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike,
I have moved passed this point and this attempt at updating that database. I still have the test server and may try it again as time allows.