Chapter 19 Intelligent Infrastructure Enhancements

Oracle Support Services - external interface, MetaLink (Customer Support Identifier, CSI)
Apply Patches

Use the Enterprise Manager Support Workbench
- graphical tool - packaging diagnostic info to MetaLink
- Database Control -Software Support Tab - Support Section - Support Workbench
- showing All Problems #, All Incidents #, All Active Problems #, All Active Incidents #
- view Problem Details - possible actions - create incident package, send SR to MetaLink

The Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR)
ADR_BASE: ORACLE_BASE/diag
ADR_HOME: ADR_BASE/rdbms/database_name/instance_name
alert, trace,cdump,incident,incpkg

Problems and Incidents
problem: critical error
incident: occurence of a problem
incident package: collection of data regarding one or more incidents and problems

ADRCI Command Line Utilities
SET HOME, SHOW PROBLEM
IPS CREATE PACKAGE problem #

Manage Patches
Types:
Interim Patches: fix one specific problem
CPU (Critical Patch Update) Patches: bundled often including security fixes, fully tested, safer
Patch sets: increment the release level of the product eg. 11.1.0.6 to 11.1.0.7, safer

Database Control includes a Patch Advisor.
Patch Advisor requires configuring connection (scheduled job) to MetaLink to make the check.

Prerequisites: MetaLink Account, Internet Connection

MetaLink Configuration:
Setup - Overview of Setup Section - Patching Setup
MetaLink & Patching Settings Tab - MetaLink username/password
Proxy & Connection Settings Tab - Internet Proxy Server

Schedule Job, the REFRESHFROMMETALINK
Home Tab - Related Links Section - Jobs Link
Create Job - Refresh From Metalink - Once run, the Patch Advisor should be available

Patch Advisor
Home - Software and Support Tab - Database Software Patching Section - Patch Advisor

Opatch Command Line Utilities
Applying Patches: Opatch or Database Control
Opatch: ORACLE_HOME, JRE1.4 or later
Opatch lsinventory
Opatch lsinventory -detail
Opatch apply path_to_patch (directory where patch expanded)

Database Control
Staging area is a location where the patch is staged - stored locally

Stage and Apply Patch
Home - Software and Support Tab - Database Software Patching Section - Stage Patch Link
Launch Six-Step Wizard:
Select Patch - Patch Number, Platform, Language
Select Destination - Destination Type: Database Instance Targets - Select Target
Set Credentials - OS or database username/password depending on the patch
Stage or Apply
Schedule
Summary