Oracle Exadata System Software release 24.1.0 introduces Exadata Live Update, a suite of enhancements to the mechanisms that orchestrate Exadata software updates on Exadata database servers.

Exadata Live Update includes the following key capabilities:

• Exadata Live Update uses online update capabilities based on standard Linux technologies, such as RPM and ksplice. Depending on the specific contents of the update, the update operation might occur without interrupting databases or rebooting the server.

  Any update items that cannot be completed online are staged for completion during a later server reboot. You can schedule the outstanding items to be completed at a specific time or during the next graceful server reboot. You can also choose to defer the outstanding items indefinitely.

• Exadata Live Update enables partial updates to address security issues. When using Exadata Live Update, you must choose from the following options:

  • highcvss: Performs only critical security updates to address vulnerabilities with a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score of 7 or greater.

  • allcvss: Performs only security updates to address vulnerabilities with a CVSS score of 1 or greater.

  • full: Performs a full update, which includes all security-related updates and all other non-security updates.

• Exadata Live Update can be controlled using the Exadata patchmgr utility, which provides an easy and familiar experience for existing Exadata users.