Lessons from my journey with databases

Oracle has recently announced the capability to Upgrade Oracle Base Database in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure from 19c to 23ai using console.

Let’s explore how we can do this.

We will do it two parts.

In part 1 , we will understand how to Upgrade the Grid Infrastructure to 23ai.

My Environment :

Platform : Oracle Base Database in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Database Version : 19.22

Grid Version : 19.22

OS : Oracle Linux (OL8)

Shape : AMD E4 (Flex Shape)

Goal : Upgrade Grid Infrastructure from 19c to 23ai

Prerequisites

Oracle Grid Infrastructure version should be 19c or 21c.

The DB system must use Oracle Linux 8 (OL8) to upgrade the Grid Infrastructure software version to 23ai. You can upgrade your DB system with OL7 to OL8 using console.

Oracle recommends having a complete standalone backup of the database before Upgrade.

Oracle recommends disabling the automatic backups before executing the upgrade.

Check for more details in the documentation.

Things to consider

GI Upgrade will be performed on the existing DB system , I haven’t seen any changes to IP address , hostname etc.

I have seen that custom services created are retained after the GI Upgrade. However if you have made any other changes to clusterware , it is better make a note of them and check them after the Upgrade.

I recommend not to initiate Precheck/Upgrade to 23.4 version since both ends in failure and you might lose your DB system. I haven’t explored the reason behind the failure , however noticed that the behaviour is consistent in my tests.

As always , test the procedure on a non-critical system before attempting on Production/Critical DB System.

Step 1 : Perform precheck for Grid Infrastructure Upgrade

Navigate to the DB System console and go to the version section as shown below.

Click on the View against Upgrades Available to bring up the available patches/Upgrade for GI.

Click on three dot against the 23ai version to which we would like to Upgrade and select Run precheck to initiate the work request for precheck.

Below is the screenshot of a successful precheck work request.

Step 2 : Perform Grid Infrastructure Upgrade

Grid Infrastructure Upgrades requires complete downtime of application for standalone DB Systems.

Bring down the application in case of standalone DB System.

Navigate to the same section as earlier step for available GI Upgrades and initiate the GI Upgrade by selecting Apply for the same GI version for which we have done precheck in earlier step as shown below.

It will initiate a work request , we will a screen similar to below at the end of successful Upgrade.

Yes , it is that simple process Upgrade your GI from 19c to 23ai.

How to rollback ?

If there are failures in GI Upgrade process , we will get an option to initiate rollback in the console.

Post Upgrade

Check that automatic backup is enabled for the database if you disabled them before upgrading.

Check for any customizations done to GI stack to ensure they are not lost.