How to Upgrade the Oracle Database From 10.1 to 10.2

Upgrading database software can be frustrating if the server is not properly configured.

Oracle Database 10g database software allows server administrators to create databases for PHP, SQL and other online applications that need to store dynamic user data. As with many software titles, updates to Oracle Database 10g software have been released to improve software security and increase overall database function to provide a better user experience for website visitors. When upgrading Oracle Database 10g software from version 10.1 to 10.2, an administrator needs to make sure that the server's other software is compatible with the 10.2 upgrade before it is installed.

Things You'll Need

• Oracle Database 10.2 installation disc
• Oracle Pre-Upgrade Information Tool software
• Oracle Net Configuration Assistant software
• Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant software

Instructions

1. Examine your current database setup to determine how the 10.2 upgrade should proceed. If you have previously set up a cluster database, cluster nodes will need to be upgraded individually. If you do not use a cluster database setup, then all existing databases can be upgraded at one time.

2. Adjust the read/write permissions on any read-only files that you plan on using with other software in addition to Oracle Database 10g. This is not necessary if you will only use the files with the upgraded Oracle software as it can make any needed conversions during the upgrade process. If you have read-only files that will be copied to a non-Oracle database, however, the permissions in the header will need to be changed from "read-only" to "read/write" before the upgrade to prevent conversions that might cause problems with the other database software.

3. Upgrade your server operating system if necessary before beginning the Oracle Database 10g upgrade process. This is only required if you use an operating system released prior to Windows 2000 that is not compatible with Oracle Database software.

4. Install Oracle Clusterware from the Oracle Database installation disc if the database you are upgrading is a Real Application Clusters database. Clusterware is not necessary if you have not been using an RAC database. This is similar to the use of Oracle Cluster Ready Services during the upgrade of RAC databases in previous versions of Oracle Database software.

5. Launch the Oracle Pre-Upgrade Information Tool, and allow it to perform a system analysis on your server. The tool will inform you of any other upgrades or changes that must be made before the Oracle Database upgrade can proceed. Close the tool when the analysis is complete, making any recommended changes.

6. Launch the Oracle Net Configuration Assistant to set up the server's networking features for the upgrade. Once the networking features have been configured, launch the Database Upgrade Assistant to ensure proper configuration of the database software itself.

7. Launch the Oracle Universal Installer, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade process. The OUI allows you to select an installation location and choose the Oracle Database 10.2 features that should be installed as an upgrade to your current database. The most commonly used features are selected by default, though system administrators can customize the installation as needed to better suit the specific configuration of their current databases.

References

• Oracle Database Upgrade Guide: Upgrading to the New Oracle Database 10g Release
• Oracle Database Release Notes: 10g Release 2 (10.2) for Solaris Operating System (x86)
• Oracle Data Provider for .NET Developer's Guide: 10g Release 2 (10.2) System Requirements