Today, I would like to publish only a short blog post with some hints to MyOracle Support (MOS) notes we find quite helpful. The idea of all these notes I will list below is to help you finding the right patches before you upgrade or patch to Oracle 19c. So see our collection of Some very important MOS Notes when you upgrade and patch below.

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Why do you need patch bundles?
At first, it is always our recommendation to upgrade to the most recent Release Update (RU). This is currently Oracle 19.11.0 while I’m writing. But in case you read this in a few months, it may be 19.12.0 or 19.13.0 or even newer.
And here comes our first MOS Note tip into play – the Download Assistant. With this note you quickly access the newest patch bundles for the Database and for Grid Infrastructure.
In addition, this MOS Note gives you an overview on the patching itself but lists also the dates and other information about patch availability:
Are there Known Issues with this RU or RUR?
In every Release Update’s (and Revision’s) README there is a link to Known Issues. Please don’t forget to check it. It is typically listed under %. Critical Issues. In the 19.11.0 RU case for example, find it here:
In addition, in the README itself under the same chapter 5, Critical Issues, you may find other issues happening during patch apply.
But why do you need extra patches?
Now the question you may ask yourself: When I already used the most recent Release Update, for instance at the moment 19.11.0, why do I need extra patches on top of it?
There is always a chance that an important fix (or more than one) are not present in this Release Update.
- The fix didn’t make it into the RU because of code freeze timelines
- The fix is not eligible for a patch bundle which has to be “RAC Rolling” – this is often the case for fixes changing the common API – Data Pump or Real Application Testing fixes are common examples
- The fix is scheduled for inclusion into a later Release Update
- The issue is simply too new or got introduced with this Release Update – we call this a regression
Therefore, you may consider some extra sources. And currently those are not linked together in all cases.
Let me start with the first one as it lists the most critical issues:
Applying fixes listed in this MOS note is almost a must before you patch or upgrade.
But there are more notes to take care on.
Performance, Wrong Results and SPM
Of course, everybody wants to learn about specific performance issues, wrong result topics and not to forget, SQL Plan Management.
- MOS Note: 2773012.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Database Performance Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2774029.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Plan Management (SPM) Related Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2773715.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Performance Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2606585.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Prominent Wrong Result Problems on 19C Proactively
Grid Infrastructure
In case you use Grid Infrastructure, this note is coming to my mind as something you may want to check as well:
Data Pump
In addition, Sven recommended this note for Data Pump:
- MOS Note: 453895.1 – Checklist For Slow Performance Of DataPump Export (expdp) And Import (impdp)
- MOS Note: 2819284.1 – Data Pump Recommended Proactive Patches For 19.10 and Above
GoldenGate
And another recommendation by Sven for those of you using Oracle GoldenGate:
You know other important notes?
Of course, we don’t claim that this is a complete collection. Nor do we dictate you’ll have to look at all of them. But if you have tips for other very important notes to check before you upgrade or patch, please let us know via the comments section.
And just on the side, there is a reason why I didn’t include MOS Note: 2539751.1 – Patches to apply before upgrading Oracle GI and DB to 19c or downgrading to previous release. In our opinion, this note is very misleading, especially regarding the database patches. And it hasn’t been updated for over a year.
Summary of all links listed in this blog post
- MOS Note: 2118136.2 – Assistant: Download Reference for Oracle DB/GI Release Update, Revision, PSU, SPU(CPU), etc.
- MOS Note: 888.1 – Master Note for Database Proactive Patch Program
- MOS Note: 19202194.9 – Oracle DB/GI/OJVM Update/Revision R19 Apr 2021 Known Issues (19.11.0)
- MOS Note: 555.1 – Oracle Database 19c Important Recommended One-off Patches
- MOS Note: 2773012.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Database Performance Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2774029.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Plan Management (SPM) Related Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2773715.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Performance Problems on 19c
- MOS Note: 2606585.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Prominent Wrong Result Problems on 19C Proactively
- MOS Note: 2669766.1 – How to Upgrade to/Downgrade from Grid Infrastructure 19c and Known Issues
- MOS Note: 453895.1 – Checklist For Slow Performance Of DataPump Export (expdp) And Import (impdp)
- MOS Note: 2819284.1 – Data Pump Recommended Proactive Patches For 19.10 and Above
- MOS Note: 2193391.1 – Latest GoldenGate/Database (OGG/RDBMS) Patch recommendations
–Mike
Hi Mike,
thank you for the important MOS notes.
I would like to add the notes for important Datapump and GoldenGate One-offs and Merge Patches to apply on the database home:
Checklist For Slow Performance Of DataPump Export (expdp) And Import (impdp) (Doc ID 453895.1)
Latest GoldenGate/Database (OGG/RDBMS) Patch recommendations (Doc ID 2193391.1)
We apply the patches in those notes since years and they saved us a lot of pain.
Regards
Sven
Thanks a lot, Sven – I added them 🙂
Kind regards,
Mike
thanks!
welcome 🙂
Mike,
are these docs classified as public and available to MOS users?
MOS Note: 2773012.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Database Performance Problems on 19c
MOS Note: 2774029.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Plan Management (SPM) Related Problems on 19c
MOS Note: 2773715.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid SQL Performance Problems on 19c
MOS Note: 2606585.1 – Things to Consider to Avoid Prominent Wrong Result Problems on 19C Proactively
I am not able to access them in MOS.
Please see my previous blog post:
https://mikedietrichde.com/2021/05/25/this-mos-note-is-not-available-anymore/
This explains when one of them is not accessible – all are PUBLIC but potentially waiting for “PUBLISH” after seeing either editing or an addition.
Cheers,
Mike
This is all great stuff. One thing I am digging for is, I am upgrading from 11.2.0.4 to 19. Can I download and install 19.3, apply the 19.11 patch, then upgrade directly to 19.11?
Hi Michael,
this is exactly what we recommend to do. Please see at least the slides of Virtual Classroom Seminar 2:
https://mikedietrichde.com/videos/
==> AutoUpgrade to Oracle Database 19c
It covers exactly what you are looking for.
Cheers,
Mike
Hi Mike,
Just raised an SR with Oracle today and they told me the Performance, Wrong Results and SPM notes are all INTERNAL. Would you happen to know if there are any other public notes available for us to review?
Thanks,
Lucian
Hi Lucian,
we are pushing the owners to publish them again.
There is some rework done – and the downside of MOS is that there is no intermediate version etc.
Thanks
Mike
Hey Mike,
Is there a note, where one can find availability schedule for RU, RUR for OCI DB systems?
July RU is released for download on 07/23, but still no signs of it on OCI. Not sure if that’s intentional.
Any inputs on this?
Hi Yogesh,
I think this is unpredictable – and I have no insights why there isn’t a schedule.
Thanks,
Mike
I’ve opened an Oracle SR about this and as per the support engineer, “OCI DB Systems needs more testing and it takes more time as compared to standalone patches”. There is a link in Oracle documentation “Currently Available Patches”, but doesn’t say when they will be released.
https://docs.oracle.com/en-us/iaas/Content/Database/Tasks/patchingDB.htm#patchingDB_topic-Currently_Available_Patches
FYI – Patches were released yesterday on OCI, about 10 days after standalone patches.
Thanks for the update, Yogesh – I’m happy when I learn from blog readers like you!
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
the Datapump Note got replaced:
Data Pump Recommended Proactive Patches For 19.10 and Above (Doc ID 2819284.1)
Best regards
Sven
Thanks a lot, Sven – I will update it right away!
Cheers,
Mike