Patch Oracle databases

Oracle Database Patch Fixlets are specific to OS, Oracle version, and specific patch level such as "OracleDB 19c on Linux - 2023-10 Patch". (There are also Patch Fixlet variants specific to ASM and RAC.) When a Patch Fixlet is deployed to a database server, it attempts to patch all the targeted databases on that server; for example, "OracleDB 19c on Linux - 2023-10 Patch" will patch all 19c databases listed in the server's oratab file to 2023-10.

Each patch Fixlet performs the following activities:
  1. Downloads the PSU and OJVM combination patch file and the current OPatch file from the BigFix server, if you haven't downloaded them already during a precheck action or a previous failed patch action.
  2. Reruns all the same prechecks as the corresponding precheck Fixlet.
  3. Applies the PSU and OJVM binary patches and verifies that they were successfully applied.
  4. Applies the PSU and OJVM database patches and verifies that they were successfully applied for grid/ASM/RAC patches. This action runs during the binary patch phase by the Oracle autopatch tool.
  5. Runs some basic post-patch database consistency checks, such as verifying that the run didn't result in invalid dba_objects or dba_registry rows.
  6. Removes the patch downloads if the patch was successful.

A successful patch action reports a Completed status. If any of the preceding activities fails, the patch action reports a Failed status. If you activated the Oracle patching results analysis, the Oracle Patching Failed property reports a summary of the patching activities that failed.

The /var/opt/BESClient/ORACLE folder contains files that can help you troubleshoot an unsuccessful patch, including the PATCH-<OracleVersion>.log (e.g. PATCH-19.0.0.0.log) file, which is a detailed log of the latest patch action.

The corresponding rollback Fixlet becomes applicable after the patch Fixlet deployment.

Important: The patch Fixlets will only patch the databases that they know about. They only know about the databases listed in the oratab file. Only the databases explicitly mentioned in the oratab file will be patched.