Sunday, February 19, 2012

Patch Set Updates for Oracle Products [ID 854428.1] Patch Set Updates for Oracle Products [ID 854428.1]



Patch Set Updates for Oracle Products [ID 854428.1]
Modified 17-JAN-2012     Type REFERENCE     Status PUBLISHED

Purpose

Patch Set Updates (PSUs) are proactive cumulative patches containing recommended bug fixes that are released on a regular and predictable schedule. 

Patch Set Updates for Oracle Products

Patch Set Updates (PSUs) for Oracle Products



My Oracle Support Note: 854428.1
January 17, 2012
Patch Set Updates (PSUs) are proactive cumulative patches containing recommended bug fixes that are released on a regular and predictable schedule. PSUs are on the same quarterly schedule as the Critical Patch Updates (CPU), specifically the Tuesday closest to the 17th of January, April, July, and October.
The PSUs serve as a new baseline version for reporting issues to Oracle.
The following sections explain PSUs in greater detail:

1 What's New in Patch Set Update Releases

This section describes recent important changes for Patch Set Updates.

1.1 New Products with Patch Set Updates

As of April 2011, Oracle is providing Patch Set Updates for 10.3.4 WebLogic Server and for Exalogic. As of October 2011, Oracle is providing Patch Set Updates for 10.3.5 WebLogic Server. Refer to My Oracle Support Note 1306505.1, Announcing Oracle WebLogic Server PSUs (Patch Set Updates) and My Oracle Support Note 1314535.1, Announcing Exalogic PSUs (Patch Set Updates).

2 Patch Set Updates Overview

Patch Set Updates (PSUs) offer the following features and benefits:

2.1 Low-Risk, High-Value Content

PSU patches are intended to be low-risk. This is accomplished by controlling content and thorough testing. Bug fix inclusion criteria include the following:
  • Critical technical issues with fixes that may affect a large number of customers and that are already proven in the field
  • Critical Patch Update fixes
PSU patches do not include any of the following:
  • Changes that require re-certification (for example, Database fixes that cause optimizer plan changes)
  • Fixes that require configuration changes
Each PSU has limited new content, typically ranging from 25 to 100 new bug fixes. Content is selected from a review of patches with high customer downloads and critical issues that have been addressed by Development and Support. There is no direct request process for customers.
Database PSU patches are guaranteed to be rolling RAC installable.

2.2 One Integrated, Well Tested Patch

By including the recommended fixes in one patch, Oracle is able to ensure that the fixes work well together. The following testing is performed for the PSUs:
  • Database: Regression tests and stress tests
  • Enterprise Manager: Regression tests, stress tests, version compatibility tests, AutoUpdates Test, and bug verification tests
  • WebLogic Server: Regression tests, CTS tests, WLS interoperability tests, and bug verification tests
  • Exalogic: WLS Regression tests, System integration and life cycle tests

2.3 Baseline Version for Easier Tracking

Oracle associates a version number to the patch. The fifth number of the database version is incremented for each PSU. For example, the initial PSU is version 11.1.0.7.1, the second PSU for Release 11.1.0.7 is 11.1.0.7.2, and so on.
This enables customers and Oracle Support to refer to just one number, the version, rather than a list of one-off patches or sets of bundles that have been applied.
Any new one-off patches are requested on the five-number version number.

3 Patch Set Updates Lifecycle

A primary goal of the PSU program is to provide a series of proactive, stabilizing cumulative patches for a product version (release or patch set). The following are guidelines that Oracle follows for the PSU lifecycle for a product version. The specifics will vary depending on the content of individual PSUs.
  • Once a patch set or release is available, the first PSU may occur as early as the next PSU cycle, or more typically at the second PSU cycle after the release. The timing is a function of both the targeted content and when in the quarterly period the release was made available.
  • PSUs with security content will continue as long as the version is supported for CPU patches. The policies are outlined inNote 209768.1 Database, FMW, EM Grid Control, and OCS Software Error Correction Support Policy.
  • PSUs will reach a plateau of non-security content as the version stabilizes. Once this is reached, there will be a tapering off of non-security content. Oracle expects this plateau to be reached with the third or fourth PSU.
  • PSU content will be primarily security-related once the next patch set in the series is released.

4 Patch Set Update Availability

The latest available Patch Set Update patches are listed in a quarterly patch availability note.
You can search for the Patch Set Update availability documents by searching for the keywords "Patch Set Update Availability Document" (without the quotation marks) in the knowledge search field in My Oracle Support."
To find all currently recommended PSUs, one-off patches, and patch bundles, use the Patch Recommendations feature on thePatches & Updates tab in My Oracle Support.

5 Patch Set Updates and Patch Conflict Resolution

The PSU patches are packaged as one cumulative patch. The PSU can coexist with any one-off patch that does not conflict with it.
When a one-off patch conflicts with the PSU, patch conflict resolution is achieved by providing a one-off patch of that fix or set of fixes that coexists with the PSU patch. This is accomplished with a prerequisite/overlay patch. The new one-off patch requires that the PSU be present in the Oracle Home. It cannot be applied if the PSU is not first applied. That is, the PSU is a prerequisite of the one-off patch. At apply time, instead of rolling back the conflicting PSU patch, OPatch installs the one-off patch's files. That is, the one-off patch overlays the PSU. Prerequisite/overlay patches have the same 5-number version as the PSU.
The fastest and easiest way to determine whether you have one-off patches in the Oracle home that conflict with the PSU, and to get the necessary conflict resolution patches, is to use the Patch Recommendations and Patch Plans features on the Patches & Updates tab in My Oracle Support. These features work in conjunction with the My Oracle Support Configuration Manager. Recorded training sessions on these features can be found in Note 603505.1>>. Alternately, there are instructions in the PSU README for determining what patches are needed.
Oracle strives to provide quick turnaround and availability of Database conflict resolution patches by doing the following:
  • At release time, providing new PSU conflict resolution patches for any ones on the previous PSU that were downloaded by ten or more customers
  • Automating patch generation
  • Giving priority to new conflict resolution patch requests that are required to install the PSUs
Oracle Database 11.2.0.1.2 is used in the following examples; however, the fundamental information is also pertinent to the other Patch Set Update patches.
  • Example 1: Patches P1, P2, and P3 are installed in a Database 11.2.0.1.0 Oracle Home and patch P1 conflicts with PSU 11.2.0.1.2.
    1. Before the PSU is installed, the OPatch prereq command will indicate any existing patches that conflict with the PSU. With this example, OPatch reports P1 as conflicting with the PSU.
    2. Request a 11.2.0.1.2 one-off patch of P1.
    3. Apply PSU 11.2.0.1.2. Patches P2 and P3 will remain installed and Patch P1 will be rolled back.
    4. Apply the 11.2.0.1.2 prerequisite/overlay patch of P1.
  • Example 2: Patches P4 and P5 are installed in a Database 11.2.0.1.0 Oracle Home, and both Patch P4 and P5 conflict with PSU 11.2.0.1.2.
    1. Before the PSU is installed, the OPatch prereq command will indicate any existing patches that conflict with the PSU. With this example, OPatch reports P4 and P5 as conflicting with the PS.
    2. Request a 11.2.0.1.2 one-off patch of P4 and a 11.2.0.1.2 one-off patch of P5.
    3. Apply PSU 11.2.0.1.2. Patches P4 and P5 will be rolled back.
    4. Apply the 11.2.0.1.2 prerequisite/overlay patches of P4 and P5.
  • Example 3: Patches P4 and P5 from Example 2 are installed in a Database 11.2.0.1.1 Oracle Home, in preparation for installing PSU 11.2.0.1.2.
    1. Before the PSU is installed, the OPatch prereq command will indicate any existing patches that conflict with the PSU. With this example, OPatch reports P4 and P5 as conflicting with the PSU.
    2. Check if the 11.2.0.1.2 versions of P4 and P5 are available. If they are not available, request a 11.2.0.1.2 one-off patch of P4 and a 11.2.0.1.2 one-off patch of P5.
    3. Apply PSU 11.2.0.1.2. Patches P4 and P5 will be rolled back.
    4. Apply the 11.2.0.1.2 versions of patches P4 and P5.

6 Patch Set Updates and One-off Patches

There is no requirement to move to the latest PSU to get a one-off patch of a bug fix. Oracle provides one-off fixes on all PSU versions as long as the release or patch set version is supported for error correction.
Once a patch set update is applied, service requests for new problems and new one-off patch requests are filed on the current 5-number PSU version installed.
  • Example 1: PSU 11.2.0.1.2 is installed, and bug 123456 is encountered.
    If an 11.2.0.1.0 patch exists for bug 123456 and it does not conflict with the PSU or if there is an existing 11.2.0.1.2 patch, then apply it.
    Otherwise, do the following:
    1. Request a one-off patch for 123456 on top of 11.2.0.1.2.
    2. Apply the one-off patch after Oracle provides it.

7 Determining the Patch Set Update Version

Patch Set Updates are referenced by their 5-place version number. The following OPatch commands are a simple way to determine the latest PSU installed in the Oracle Home.
For Database PSUs, enter the following command:
opatch lsinventory -bugs_fixed | grep -i 'DATABASE PSU'
A list will be output, and the highest release version reported is the current PSU installed. In the following example output, 11.1.0.7.4 is the installed Database PSU:
8833297    9654987   Tue Oct 05 15:36:55 GMT 2010   DATABASE PSU 11.1.0.7.1 (INCLUDES CPUOCT2009)
9209238    9654987   Tue Oct 05 15:36:55 GMT 2010   DATABASE PSU 11.1.0.7.2 (INCLUDES CPUJAN2010)
9352179    9654987   Tue Oct 05 15:36:55 GMT 2010   DATABASE PSU 11.1.0.7.3 (INCLUDES CPUAPR2010)
9654987    9654987   Tue Oct 05 15:36:55 GMT 2010   DATABASE PSU 11.1.0.7.4 (INCLUDES CPUJUL2010)
For CRS (Cluster Ready Services) PSUs, enter the following command:
opatch lsinventory -bugs_fixed | grep -i 'TRACKING BUG' | grep -i 'PSU'
For GI (Grid Infrastructure) PSUs, enter the following command:
opatch lsinventory -bugs_fixed | grep -i 'GI PSU'

For Windows Users:
In the following commands for Enterprise Manager PSUs, use findstr /i instead of grep -i.
For Enterprise Manager Agent PSUs, enter the following command:
opatch lsinventory -bugs_fixed | grep -i 'ENTERPRISE MANAGER AGENT' | grep -i 'PSU'
For Enterprise Manager OMS PSUs, enter the following command:
opatch lsinventory -bugs_fixed | grep -i 'ENTERPRISE MANAGER OMS' | grep -i 'PSU'
For WebLogic Server PSUs, enter the following commands, where WL_HOME is the path of the WebLogic home:
$ . $WL_HOME/server/bin/SetWLSEnv.sh 
$ java weblogic.version
In the following example output, 10.3.4.0.1 is the installed WebLogic Server PSU.
WebLogic Server 10.3.4.0.1 PSU Patch for Bug11677325 Wed Feb 23 10:52:30 IST 2011
WebLogic Server 10.3.4.0  Fri Dec 17 20:47:33 PST 2010 1384255

8 Recommended Patches

Oracle continues to recommend one-off patches; and when these one-off patches meet the PSU inclusion criteria, they will be incorporated into a subsequent PSU.
For some product areas, Oracle may continue to provide recommended bundles that are independent of the PSU.

9 On Request Patch Set Updates

For platform-version combinations that have fewer than 10 downloads in the prior quarterly period, Oracle delivers Patch Set Updates for these historically inactive platform-version combinations only when requested.
To obtain a PSU for a platform-version combination that is available only by request, file a service request (SR) with Oracle Global Support. You may file an on-request PSU SR as long as the base release version is supported for error correction. Once the terminal PSU is released, you may file requests for two weeks after the terminal PSU is released.
You can make a request at any time, but you cannot request a specific PSU (such as 10.2.0.4.3). Either the current PSU or the next PSU will be provided, depending on when the request is received and processed. A planned availability date for the PSU will be provided in the service request.
There are currently no platform-version combinations on the PSU on-request program.

10 Database Patch Set Updates

The following sections describe information that is only pertinent to Database Patch Set Updates:

10.1 Overlay Patch Set Updates

An overlay Patch Set Update is a patch that is installed on a base Patch Set Update patch. Oracle provides an overlay Patch Set Update when analysis of the contents shows that there are few conflicting one-off patches. This packaging eliminates the need for overlay one-off patches on the previous PSU to be replaced with new overlay one-off patches. When a customer has already installed the base Patch Set Update, then this results in a reduction in the time to apply the Patch Set Update and no wait for new overlay one-off patches.
The overlay Patch Set Update is cumulative from the time of the base Patch Set Update.
The conflict resolution for overlay Patch Set Updates is similar to the conflict resolution for two conflicting overlay patches. A merge overlay Patch Set Update is provided that contains the overlay PSU contents and the conflicting one-off patch fixes in one patch. The merge patch is installed instead of the overlay PSU.
If the base Patch Set Update is not yet installed, then it must be installed before you install the overlay Patch Set Update. The readme has instructions on how to install in this scenario.
Starting with PSU 10.2.0.4.5, all 10.2.0.4 PSUs are overlay PSUs with 10.2.0.4.4 as the base PSU. No other PSU versions will be released as overlay PSUs.

10.2 Patch Set Updates and Critical Patch Updates (CPUs)

The PSU and CPU released each quarter contain the same security content. However, the patches employ different patching mechanisms, so customers need to choose wisely which patch satisfies their needs better.
  • A PSU can be applied on the CPU released at the same time or on any earlier CPU for the base release version. A PSU can be applied on any earlier PSU or the base release version. CPUs are only created on the base release version.
  • Once a PSU has been installed, the recommended way to get future security content is to apply subsequent PSUs. Reverting from PSU back to CPU, while possible, would require significant effort, and so is not advised.

10.3 Grid Infrastructure (GI) Patch Set Update and Database Patch Set Update

For Oracle Database 11.2.0.1.0 and 11.2.0.2.0 releases, Oracle provides Grid Infrastructure (GI) PSU's that contain all the fixes necessary for the GI home.
The most recent GI PSU's are documented in the "Patch Set Update Availability Document" on My Oracle Support and include all previously released fixes.
GI PSU of a specific version always contains the Database PSU fixes of the same version. In such cases, the GI PSU patch should be applied to both the GI home and the Database home. For example, GI PSU 11.2.0.2.3 should be applied to both the GI home and the Database home.
If the highest available version for the GI PSU is less that available for the Database PSU, then apply the GI PSU to the GI home and apply the Database PSU with the higher version to the Database home for the same series. For Example, GI PSU 11.2.0.1.2 should be applied to the GI home and the Database PSU 11.2.0.1.6 to the Database home.

10.4 Cluster Ready Services (CRS) Patch Set Update and Database Patch Set Update

For the 11.1.0.7 and 10.2.0.4 Database releases, Oracle provides a Cluster Ready Services (CRS) PSU patch and a Database PSU patch. Both of these patches provide Oracle recommended bug fixes.
The CRS PSU can be applied to the CRS home, and the Database PSU can be applied to the ASM and Database homes.
Any combination of CRS PSU and Database PSU is supported.

11 Exalogic Patch Set Updates

The Exalogic Patch Set Update is a single download of component patches that have been tested together. As the patch packaging is unique for PSUs, there are some variations to the above information:
  • The Exalogic Patch Set Update does not have its own version number. Instead, it is referred to based on when it has been released. The first one is the Exalogic PSU for April 2011
  • If there are patch conflicts between a component patch included in the Exalogic PSU and other patches for the component product, then the resolution follows the component's usual processing for patch conflict resolution. For example, if there are patch conflicts with the WebLogic Server PSU component patch in the Exalogic PSU, then the conflict resolution is as done for the WebLogic Server PSU.

12 References

Note 756388.1 Introduction to Oracle Recommended Patches
Note 1306505.1 Announcing Oracle WebLogic Server PSUs (Patch Set Updates)
Note 1314535.1 Announcing Exalogic PSUs (Patch Set Updates)
Note 305.1 Patching & Maintenance Advisor: Oracle Fusion Middleware (FMW) 11g

13 Documentation Accessibility

For information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program website athttp://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/accessibility/index.html.

Access to Oracle Support
Oracle customers have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visithttp://www.oracle.com/support/contact.html or visithttp://www.oracle.com/accessibility/support.html if you are hearing impaired.

Patch Set Updates (PSUs) for Oracle Products
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