The other day I received a question on Twitter regarding my experience with Oracle 12.1.0.2 on Linux 8. I first thought this may be an error. Why should Oracle 12.1.0.2 been certified on Linux 8. And I didn’t see anything internally about Oracle Database 12.1.0.2 certified on Oracle Linux 8 and RHEL8.
But it is true …
Thanks to Marian Bednar (Thanks a lot!!) who couldn’t find any information on my blog, now I know. Marian pointed me to the Release Notes Oracle Database 12.1.0.2. They’ve got updated in July 2020 already with this chapter:
- 2 – Certification Information for Oracle Linux 8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 on Linux x86-64
Oracle® Database Release Notes 12c Release 1 (12.1) for Linux – E51263-19 – July 2020
Now I was really puzzled. The release notes contain installation instructions. You will need to set the environment variable CV_ASSUME_DISTID to OL7. And you will need to apply at least the April 2020 PSU. No idea honestly if the BP would do it as well as I hope you are not on the PSU track for 12.1.0.2. But I silently assume that the necessary fixes are included in the BPs as well as the BP is a superset of the PSU.
Anyhow, check the list of Known Issues in the Release Notes as well, and keep in mind that Oracle Database 12.1.0.2 is already under Paid Extended Support.
For specific Kernel information, see also 2 – Certification Information for Oracle Linux 8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 on Linux x86-64 – and note, that this certification does not apply to RAC/GI.
How about Oracle 12.2.0.1 and Oracle 18c?
Of course, I needed to verify also whether Oracle Database 12.2.0.1 and 18c got certified as well.
But CERTIFY on MOS didn’t give any results for OL8 and/or RHEL8 for 12.2.0.1 or 18c.
MyOracle Support Certify Information
As you can see, there is no Linux 8 to check with – the same result as for Oracle 12.2.0.1. And for completeness, I did check for Oracle 11.2.0.4 as well with the same result (no hit).
Further Information and Links
- Release Notes Oracle Database 12.1.0.2
- 2 – Certification Information for Oracle Linux 8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 on Linux x86-64
- Oracle Database 19c is certified on Linux 8
- Of course, Oracle Clusterware/GI is certified on Linux 8
–Mike
It makes sense that 12.2 and 18c aren’t certified, as they are the 12.2 branch and 19c is the terminal release of the 12.2 branch.
Well, I haven’t looked at it from this perspective 🙂
Thanks – still I wonder as 12.1.0.2 is already under Extended Support – and this hasn’t happened before as far as I remember.
Cheers,
Mike
But it would IMHO help people to upgrade their Database from 12.2.0.1 to 19c via transient logical standby or opening a physical standby and upgrade on RHEL8 Machines to have both Upgrade of Database and OS in a switchover scenario. Mike, you might remember my mail on that topic 😉
By the way – you will even need to set CV_ASSUME_DISTID=OL7 when installing 19c on RHEL8 / OL8 – just tested it yesterday 🙂
True – and I think this has been mentioned in one of the MOS notes and/or the release notes as well.
But you are certainly absolutely right.
Thanks for this addition!
Cheers,
Mike
Thanks for putting this up. But yes, quite unusual!
I migrated 12.1 databases (about 30) to the new HW with OL8 and after week operation I haven’t seen any problem with it (it is just DEV and UAT, I am planning to migrate PROD next week).
But I have to mention that I have problem with UEK kernel on OL8 on this hw (HPE), system during high IO hanged, so, I have switched to RHEL compatible kernel and from that time no problem occurred.
Marian
Hi Mike,
is there any update on this regarding certification of 12.2 on RHEL8? That would really help me to migrate and upgrade my 12.2 database to 19c.
Thanks
Hi Ricarodo,
not yet – but there are discussions.
Cheers,
Mike
Just for information, 11.2.0.4 (only RDBMS, not GI) is also certified on Linux 8
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/relnotes.112/e23558/toc.htm#CHDHIFDE
Thanks!
Cheers
Mike