8.5.4 Update Utility for Exadata Database Servers
Patchmgr is the update utility for updating Oracle Exadata database servers.
The patchmgr utility supports all supprted Exadata system hardware and software releases. In general, the utility also supports Exadata software updates that includes a major operating system upgrade. For example, from Oracle Linux 7 to Oracle Linux 8.
Note:
Starting with Oracle Exadata System Software release 25.1.0, current versions of the patchmgr utility no longer support upgrades from Oracle Linux 5 to Oracle Linux 6 and upgrades from Oracle Linux 6 to Oracle Linux 7. To perform an update that includes either of these Oracle Linux upgrades, you must use an earlier version of the patchmgr utility. See My Oracle Support document 1553103.1.
The utility takes care of the orchestration. You can perform the update in a rolling or non-rolling fashion across one or multiple Exadata database servers.
The update utility performs the following tasks:
- Automates all preparation, update, and validation steps, including:
- Stopping the databases, Grid Infrastructure stack or guest virtual machines (VMs).
- Stopping Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control agents.
- Un-mounting remote network mounts (when required).
- Performs a backup of the file system hosting the operating system before updating the Exadata database server.
- Applies Oracle best practices and fixes for the latest known issues.
- Verifies that the update was successful, relinks the Oracle binaries, and starts the Oracle stack and guest VMs.
Related Topics
- Obtaining Patchmgr
- Backing up Exadata Database Servers Before Planned Maintenance
- Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions (Doc ID 888828.1)
- dbnodeupdate.sh and dbserver.patch.zip: Updating Exadata Database Server Software using the DBNodeUpdate Utility and patchmgr (Doc ID 1553103.1)
Parent topic: Updating Oracle Exadata Database Servers