Oracle

CDB upgrades – explaining catctl_options

When you upgrade your entire CDB with AutoUpgrade, there is a parameter which allows you some tuning or tweaking. And I often see some misunderstanding here. Therefore, for CDB upgrades – explaining catctl_options is my focus today.

CDB upgrades - explaining catctl_options

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catctl_options – what it is meant for

This AutoUpgrade config file parameter allows you to set specific settings, mostly for tuning, but also to override some defaults. In the documentation you will find the whole list of options. You can set it in your AutoUpgrade config file, e.g.:

upg1.catctl_options=-T

catctl_options in CDB upgrades

Here, …

AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 4: Download Examples

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade Oracle AI Database 26ai Oracle Database 19c Patch Recommendation 7

Let me take off into the 4th part of this blog post series: AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 4: Download Examples. I’d like to show you some of the most common examples and use cases we came across. And of course, I will add some additional (and hopefully useful) information on top.

AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 4: Download Examples

The patch parameter

At first, in my previous blog post I used patch1.patch=RECOMMENDED (by the way, upper/lowercase does not matter). But I didn’t explain the whole extent and possibilities of the patch parameter to you.

Here’s a list of the most important parameter …

AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 2: MOS Credentials

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade Patch Recommendation 11

In this blog post series AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 2: MOS Credentials will be our topic for today. If you are tired of going through MOS notes over and over again to identify the most important fixes and fetch them, you need to automate it. But in order to automate the download, you need to infuse your MOS credentials into the AutoUpgrade keystore. Let’s do this together now.

AutoUpgrade Patching - From Zero to Hero - Part 2: MOS Credentials

Create directories

Before we really start, you should define a few directories at first. In my case, I copied the newest version of AutoUpgrade into /Users/mdietric/TEMP/AU. …

AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 1: Download AutoUpgrade

Posted on July 6, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade Patch Recommendation 9

I was traveling the past two weeks, and I met a lot of customers who still “enjoy” navigating through MOS and searching for the right patches to download. This blog post series will give you ultimate relief, and it will ease your life as DBAs and sysadmins. You must patch more frequently – and this is the key solution for everyone. Let’s get us started with AutoUpgrade Patching – From Zero to Hero – Part 1: Download AutoUpgrade today.

AutoUpgrade Patching - From Zero to Hero - Part 1

Download the newest version of AutoUpgrade

Our first task is simple. You will find autoupgrade.jar in your ?/rdbms/admin directory since Oracle …

Patch your databases against AI-enabled cybersecurity threats

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich Oracle AI Database 26ai Oracle Database 19c Patch Recommendation Security 35

I guess you all read the announcements and predictions over the past weeks. New AI models and improvements to existing models may allow to find security issues in existing software much quicker. While this sounds alarming on one side (yes, it does), it also enables software vendors to secure their software. But in order to benefit from it, you must patch your databases against AI-enabled cybersecurity threats.

Patch your databases against AI-enabled cybersecurity threats

Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

Read the official announcements

At first, please read the official announcements released here:

Accelerating Vulnerability Detection and Response at Oracle (3 min read – April 29,

April 2026 Release Updates (RUs) 19.31 and 23.26.2 are delayed

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation 69

Yesterday, I delivered a full-day workshop for ora2know in Düsseldorf. And we discussed the most recent RUs as well, especially since “Database Patching” consumed a significant part of the day content-wise. I learned that the RUs have now a target date of April 28 for Linux, and May 12 for other ports. Which means that the April 2026 Release Updates (RUs) 19.31 and 23.26.2 are delayed.

April 2026 Release Updates (RUs) 19.31 and 23.26.2 are delayed

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Why are the April 2026 Release Updates (RUs) 19.31 and 23.26.2 delayed?

I don’t know the reason, and there is (as far as I can see) no official …

Sign up for the next Virtual Classroom Seminar: Patch Smarter, Not Harder

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich Workshop 2

Some of you may have realized: We moved the Virtual Classroom Seminar #27 from its original date in February to March 12 this week. Usually we don’t do this – but we ended up with so much content. If you haven’t already, it is time for you to sign up for the next Virtual Classroom Seminar: Patch Smarter, Not Harder.

Photo by Moritz Mentges on Unsplash

What are we going to talk about?

Database Patching – with or without RAC or Data Guard. With demos, as usual.

The idea is that you may learn a lot. And of course, …

The February 2026 release of AutoUpgrade (26.2) is available

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade 15

This is a ground-breaking new release of AutoUpgrade, and the team worked hard to release it last weekend. This means for you that you should renew your AutoUpgrade tools as The February 2026 release of AutoUpgrade (26.2) is available now for download.

The February 2026 release of AutoUpgrade (26.2) is available

Photo by Anders Jildén on Unsplash

1..2..3..4..5..0 …

In case you wonder about this cryptic headline, no worries. a customer highlighted this well-chosen and easy-to-remember number to me the other day. And I was not aware, but it is true: KB123450 is the MOS note allowing you to download AutoUpgrade from MOS. Awesome … I already programmed this …

Your chance: Full-day Upgrade to 26ai Workshop in Sydney on Jan 20, 2026

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Mike.Dietrich Workshop 4

Happy New Year to all of you at first. And just at very short notice a quick announcement for next week in case you are in the Sydney area in Australia. This is Your chance: Full-day Upgrade to 26ai Workshop in Sydney on Jan 20, 2026 has still a few open seats, and you could join, I’d be happy to see and meet you there.

And of course, it will be 2026, and not 2025 … OMG … 🙂

Your chance: Full-day Upgrade to 26ai Workshop in Sydney on Jan 20, 2026

Photo by Arvin Wiyono on Unsplash

When, how and why?

Well, this is potentially the day (or a few hours …

A kill-switch terminates blocking sessions during patching

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Behavior Change Oracle AI Database 26ai Patch Recommendation 4

You will find a good number of datapatch posts on my blog. And with Oracle AI Database 26ai from RU 23.26.0.0.0 onward (the October 2025 RU), we introduce a new functionality when you run datapatch: A kill-switch terminates blocking sessions during patching.

A kill-switch terminates blocking sessions during patching

Photo by Yuko Tanaka on Unsplash

What is changing?

From Oracle AI Database 26ai onwards by default the invocation of datapatch will terminate any session currently holding a requested KGL X lock (Kernel Generic Library cache), an exclusive lock on an SQL or an PL/SQL procedure.

In reality this means:

You invoke

Oracle AI Database 26ai replaces Oracle Database 23ai

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Oracle AI Database 26ai 51

Larry Ellison announced Oracle AI Database 26ai today in his keynote at Oracle AI World conference in Las Vegas. And I am pretty certain you may want some clarification on what this means exactly. Therefore, let me clarify the details, and why Oracle AI Database 26ai replaces Oracle Database 23ai.

Oracle AI Database 26ai replaces Oracle Database 23ai

What did Larry Ellison announce?

Larry gave a spoiler already in the Q1 earnings call where he referred to Oracle AI Database instead of Oracle Database. He was clearly emphasizing the AI capabilities of our flagship product. From now on, it will be known as Oracle AI Database…

The August 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.4) is available

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade 10

This time the AutoUpgrade team did magic and included so many great new features and useful enhancements into the new version of AutoUpgrade. So, please note: The August 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.4) is available for download. You should refresh your current versions, especially when you use it for patching, and especially if you attempt to do in an RAC (Real Application Clusters) environment. But read more below.

The August 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.4) is available

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How to download it?

As usual, that’s very simple. You either download it via the well-known

MOS Note: 2485457.1 – AutoUpgrade Tool

or you fetch …

ora2know Hands-On Workshop: Upgrade to Oracle 19c and 23ai

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Oracle Database 23ai Workshop 2

Let’s kick it off. When the ora2know group started at DOAG conference in Nuernberg in November 2024, we committed ourselves to support them. And this is exactly the reason why I am going to invite you to this unique event in Munich on July 10, 2025. I will run an ora2know Hands-On Workshop: Upgrade to Oracle 19c and 23ai. And you are going to type 🙂 You need to sign up early since we have only a limited number of seats available.

Hands-On-What?

Yes, hands-on. Try it out. Learn from each other. Step left or right, do mistakes, play …

The May 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.3) is available

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade 11

Many of you know it and downloaded it already. But just in case you are not aware yet, let me give you a quick summary since the May 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.3) is available for download.

The May 2025 version of AutoUpgrade (25.3) is available

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash

How to download it?

That’s very simple. You either download it via the well-known

MOS Note: 2485457.1 – AutoUpgrade Tool

or you fetch it directly from oracle.com with curl, wget or by just clicking on the big button.

What’s new?

Well, 25.3 is a one-fix-only release, the real change was in 25.2 released a week …

Small Pages not allowed for SGA from 19.27 and newer on Exadata

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Behavior Change Exadata / ODA Flaws and Pitfalls 12

Having good friends in Oracle is key. And honestly one of the best things in my role. Philippe Fierens, product manager for Oracle’s Fleet Patching and Provisioning mailed me yesterday night sharing that there is an interesting change coming with Database Release Update 19.27: Small Pages not allowed for SGA from 19.27 and newer on Exadata.

Small Pages not allowed for SGA from 19.27 and newer on Exadata

Photo by George Bonev on Unsplash

What does this mean?

As you can read in MOS Note: 3081878.1 – Starting DBRU 19.27 Small Pages Are Not Allowed for RDBMS SGA In Exadata, from Release Update 19.27 onward (this is the April 2025 …

DST Time Zone Patches missing in 23ai Release Updates

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation Time Zone - DST 8

We work right now with a number of customers going live or being live on Oracle Database 23ai already. And tomorrow will be the release date for the quarterly Release Update, in this case for Oracle Database 23.8.0. But you should be aware of one thing: DST Time Zone Patches missing in 23ai Release Updates.

DST Time Zone Patches missing in 23ai Release Updates

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Time Zone patches and RUs?

In January 2023 I blogged about the inclusion of DST Time Zone patches in Release Updates. But later I learned that this applied only to Oracle Database 19c, and not to 21c. I …

How do find new features in Oracle Release Updates (RUs)?

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Mike.Dietrich Behavior Change Oracle Database 19c Oracle Database 21c Oracle Database 23ai 4

I know, not everybody is a huge fan of new features in RUs. But how do find new features in Oracle Release Updates (RUs)? Are the listed anywhere? They are, no worries. At least since Oracle Database 19c.

Photo by Jake Weirick on Unsplash

New Features in RUs?

I can already sense that some of you will be tempted to comment and tell me that you don’t like any new features in Oracle Database Release Updates, in short: RUs. But on the other hand there is also something good with it. Rather than waiting for the next full database release …

How long can I request a backport for Oracle Database RUs?

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich Patch Recommendation Release Schedule 0

I’ve had this topic on my “to write about” list for a long time. But somehow it felt through the cracks. Especially in relation to the recently announced extension of the Oracle Database 19c Premier and Extended Support periods it may be useful if you are aware of this policy since you may ask yourself: How long can I request a backport for Oracle Database RUs?

How long can I request a backport for Oracle Database RUs?

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What is a backport?

As we explain in Virtual Classroom Seminar – Episode 17: From SR to Patch – Insights into the Oracle Database Development process we fix …

AutoUpgrade 24.8 has been released adding MS Windows patching support

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade 8

Our developers are amazing. And you may have felt this the past months. In September for OCW2024 we released AutoUpgrade 24.6 with the new patching ability, in October we then released 24.7 improving it significantly and fixing issues based on the first tests, and now in November 2024 AutoUpgrade 24.8 has been released adding MS Windows patching support. Of course, there’s more in AutoUpgrade.

AutoUpgrade 24.8 has been released adding MS Windows patching support

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How to download AutoUpgrade 24.8

Not only can you download the newest AutoUpgrade and its previous versions from MOS Note:2485457.1 – Download AutoUpgrade but as I wrote a …

Important Update to Oracle Database 19c Support Timelines

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich Release Schedule 22

Long silence doesn’t mean that I am hiding. It just means that it’s very busy right now. And hopefully with less travel I will have more time to blog and reply also to your comments. Still, let me tell you about a very Important Update to Oracle Database 19c Support Timelines.

Important Update to Oracle Database 19c Support Timelines

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What has been updated?

As of November 19, 2024, the Support timelines for Oracle Database 19c have been adjusted. When you look at MOS Note: 742060.1 – Release Schedule of Current Database Releases you will see the new dates:

Premier Support until

AutoUpgrade’s Patching: The feature you waited for

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich AutoUpgrade Patch Recommendation 45

Over the almost past 6 years since we unleashed it, AutoUpgrade changed Oracle Database upgrades significantly. But we’ve been asked so many times about one missing feature. And now it is available. Still in V.1, not feature complete (yet). And we know that you have wishes and desires. Stay with us, it’s going to improve rapidly. So, let us kick off AutoUpgrade’s Patching: The feature you waited for.

AutoUpgrade's Patching: The feature you waited for

Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash

Wait a bit … AutoUpgrade Patching??

Yes, you are right. AutoUpgrade can patch your database from home A to home B for a longer …

Looking for support dates for Oracle Middleware, GoldenGate, JDK and more?

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich GoldenGate Release Schedule 0

Well, after a few wild travel days, this morning I received an email from my ex-VP in my presales days, Günther Stürner, asking whether I have a matrix for Oracle GoldenGate support time frames as we share them about the database in all our slide decks. And I confess, I had no such overview.

Later the day, Günther updated me – he found it and shared it with me, too (thank you!!).

And since the blog acts as sort of my brain dump, and since I never would have guessed that the OGG dates are kept in …

Upcoming in-person Oracle 23ai workshops in Berlin, Zürich and Oslo

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich Workshop 6

It’s fall (or autumn) already, and for us the time for user groups and full-day workshops starts. Please please please … be aware, those workshops are in-person only. No streaming, and no recording will be available. We try to offer them as often as possible, and we have already an impressive list of dates for 2025 between January and May. But we are still in 2024 – and it is your chance to sign up now to ourUpcoming in-person Oracle 23ai workshops in Berlin, Zürich and Oslo in October.

Upcoming in-person workshops in Berlin, Zürich and Oslo

Photo by Soroush Karimi on Unsplash

Sign-up quickly

In …

Why isn’t the newest JDK in this Oracle Release Update?

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich Best Practice 7

Quick blog post only since I received this question 3x this week in various ways from customers. Why isn’t the newest JDK in this Oracle Release Update? Let me try to answer and explain it.

Photo by Jan Kronies on Unsplash

JDK in the Oracle Home

Actually, when you look at your Oracle Home, you will find a subdirectory:

/u01/app/oracle/product/19/jdk
$ tree -L 1
.
├── bin
├── COPYRIGHT
├── include
├── javafx-src.zip
├── jmc.txt
├── jre
├── jvisualvm.txt
├── legal
├── lib
├── LICENSE
├── README.html
├── release
├── THIRDPARTYLICENSEREADME-JAVAFX.txt
└── THIRDPARTYLICENSEREADME.txt

And in the bin directory, there is …

Oracle Cloud World 2024 in London

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Mike.Dietrich OCW OOW Workshop 0

Next week it’s Oracle Cloud World 2024 in London. And I hope to see you there. It is a perfect spot to get the latest tech updates but also to meet and synch and discuss.

Not registered yet?

Registration to Oracle Cloud World 2024 in London on March 14, 2024

In addition, there is a DevLive event the day before with about 40 separate sessions.

Upgrade to Oracle Database 23c talk?

Would love to see you there. But certainly there are so many other great sessions. Check out the session catalog, and choose the ones you are the …

Oracle

catctl_options – what it is meant for

catctl_options in CDB upgrades

The patch parameter

Create directories

Download the newest version of AutoUpgrade

Read the official announcements

Why are the April 2026 Release Updates (RUs) 19.31 and 23.26.2 delayed?

What are we going to talk about?

1..2..3..4..5..0 …

When, how and why?

What is changing?

What did Larry Ellison announce?

How to download it?

Hands-On-What?

How to download it?

What’s new?

What does this mean?

Time Zone patches and RUs?

New Features in RUs?

What is a backport?

How to download AutoUpgrade 24.8

What has been updated?

Wait a bit … AutoUpgrade Patching??

Sign-up quickly

JDK in the Oracle Home

Not registered yet?

Upgrade to Oracle Database 23c talk?

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