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Understanding the New Oracle Database Release and Patching Model

If you have been paying attention to Oracle database releases in the past few years, you will recognize the release numbering has changed. In the past, Oracle had release one and two but now they have changed to yearly release numbers and full releases each year. These changes started in 2018 that's why we have release 18c,  19c coming out this year and then next year will be release 20 afterwards 21 and so on. The good news here for us DBAs is that the is No "FIRST" and "SECOND" releases anymore! since it is a yearly and full release there is no patchset anymore to apply, which will definitely save us the headache about which release to go live on (first or second).


Release Families

  • The 18c and 19c releases are part of the Database 12.2 "Family" for Lifetime Support as if they were the 12.2.0.2 and 12.2.0.3 patch sets.
  • Patching end date for Oracle Database 12.2.0.1 will be determined once Oracle 18c is available on premises.

Support for Annual Releases

  • Annual releases get a minimum of 2 years patching after the succeeding release is available on all enterprise (non-Engineered Systems) platforms.
  • Similar to what patch sets received under the previous release model

Long-Term Support Release

  • The final release in a family will get long term support.
  • Please check MOS Note 742060.1 for details


Release Numbering and Patching

Oracle has changed to a 3 Number Format { Year.Update.Revision } i.e 18.1.0 is year -> 2018, update -> 1 and revision -> 0. Annual release is like a patchset.

Let's take a look at patching before Oracle Database 12.2:

Oracle provided two types of patches: Patch Set Updates(PSUs) and Bundle Patches (BPs).


Now take a look at patching since Oracle Database 12.2:

Oracle has now changed to Updates (RU) and Revisions (RUR)


NB!!

  • No PSUs anymore.
  • Version number now reflects patch level.
  • A Release Update or Revision is only a patch, not a database upgrade.



Upgrading Directly to Oracle 18c:



Important Notes



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