In this blog post, we will discuss the release of Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features on 16th August 2019 & its upgrade steps. Here are a few useful things for Apps DBAs:
- If you haven’t watched Oracle ACE & Cloud Expert Atul Kumar’s video on Installation of Oracle Apps DBA R12.2.0 yet, then I would suggest you take a look at [Video] Oracle Apps DBA (R12.2) Installation.
- You can check our blog for the steps to download Oracle E-Business Suite R12 Software.
Things Good To Know
- Oracle E-Business Suite R12.2.9 is currently available on My Oracle Support as Patch 28840850.
- Document for the patch is available on My Oracle Support Note 2495027.1
- It is cumulative i.e. it includes the new updates as well as the updates made available in one-off patches on 11.5.10, 12.0, 12.1.3 and prior 12.2 releases.
- The 12.2.9 patch must be applied on top of Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2.x.
What Has Changed?
While the earlier update R12.2.8 concentrated more on stability, Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features are more focused on the product and the feature enhancement.
- No new AD-TXK versions have been released along with this Release Update Packs (RUP) which basically means that the AD-TXK 11 patches released on May are still the latest available.
- Like all RUPs, the R12.2.9 RUP is cumulative in nature which means we can directly apply it on top of R12.2.0 and still get all the fixes provided with the earlier RUPs.
- For more details regarding the EBS 2019 innovations, check the Announcing Oracle E-Business Suite 2019 Innovations (PDF), click here.
- From the Apps DBAs’ point of view, this R12.2.9 brings automation to move Oracle EBS R12 to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
- If you are new to Cloud, then check the 15 Things you must know for running EBS R12 on Cloud.
Software To Download
- Log in to My Oracle Support, click here.
- Download the Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2.9 as Patch 28840850, click here.
- Download all the 10 files of size 5.1 GB.
- Instructions for downloading and applying the patch are in the Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2.9 Readme, Doc ID 2495027.1
Also read: ADOP ( R12.2 Online Patching ) in Oracle EBS (R12) FAQ
How can you apply this patch?
Let’s discuss this step-by-step to its logical conclusion:
Step 1 – Database Patches:
The most common mistake an Apps DBA would make is to miss running the ETCC utility (Patch 17537119) on the database and not applying the missing patches prior to upgrading to Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features. While this miss is not that costly with R12.1.x and the earlier versions, it will have an adverse impact with R12.2.x because Edition Based Redefinition feature of the database is the base of the Application DBA Online Patching (ADOP) utility and this database feature is constantly being enhanced/bug fixed through these database patches. If you want to read more about ETCC utility, then check HERE.
Step 2 – Database Parameters:
- We do have a few critical database initialization parameters which have a direct bearing on the stability and performance of your E-Business application and it is more important that these parameters are cross-checked before an upgrade of your application.
- The first parameter is around disabling a critical optimizer feature called “Optimizer Adaptive Feature” of database 12c as this is known to have a performance impact. However, this parameter can be skipped as per the readme on a few conditions. I have always seen better performance when it is disabled. We can disable this by simply setting the value of initialization parameter optimizer_adaptive_features to FALSE.
- The second parameter is very critical as this resolves a known bug with R12.2 wherein a large number of objects get invalid after the execution of grants. Now, this can be fixed by setting the undocumented parameter “_disable_actualization_for_grant” to a value of TRUE. If you want to read more about this bug, read the Oracle Support Article ID 2412556.1
Step 3 – Apply Consolidated Upgrade Patch
This step is conditional for the customers who are doing a fresh implementation of R12.2.0 or for the customers upgrading from R12.2.2 to Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features. Even in case of an upgraded environment, this patch is not required if the customer has used any Consolidated Upgrade Patch (CUP4 to CUP10) as part of their upgrade.
As this patch needs to be applied on the RUN filesystem, it will require a complete application outage, so plan accordingly.
- Source your RUN filesystem.
$ . <INSTALL_BASE>/EBSapps.env run - Stop your Services.
$ adstpall.sh -mode=allnodes - Start the Admin Server on the Run filesystem.
$ adadminsrvctl.sh start - Apply the consolidated seed table upgrade patch 26787701 on your run filesystem.
adop phase=apply patches=26787701 hotpatch=yes - Start the Application Services.
$ adstrtal.sh -mode=allnodes
Step 4 – Apply AD-TXK 11 Patches
The application of AD-TXK 11 patches is an important prerequisite for the R12.2.9 upgrade. Refer to the Oracle Support Article ID 1617461.1 for the steps to apply these patches.
Also Read: Our blog post on ADOP Oracle. Click here
Step 5 – Perform Pre-Update Steps (Conditional)
If you are using any of the following products, then refer to the Oracle Support Article ID 2495027.1 for steps to carry out the respective pre tasks.
- Oracle Mobile Field Service
- Oracle Mobile Maintenance for Oracle E-Business Suite
- Oracle Mobile Service Manager for Oracle E-Business Suite
- Oracle Flow Manufacturing
- Oracle Install Base
- Oracle Landed Cost Management
- Oracle Mobile Application Server
- Oracle Warehouse Management
- Oracle Work in Process
Step 6 – Upgrade to R12.2.9
The path you choose to upgrade to R12.2.9 boils down to what is your current state.
- PATH A – Upgrade and New Installation of R12.2.x
- PATH B – Existing installation already on R12.2.3 and above.
PATH A Approach
This approach is for a customer who is on R12.2.0 either through the upgrade or the implementation route.
The main difference between this approach and PATH B approach is that the R12.2.9 patch will be applied in the downtime mode directly on the RUN filesystem.
This is mainly because the base R12.2.0 doesn’t support the ADOP cycle for applying the patches in the patch filesystem yet.
In this approach, this step will be done before adding the secondary middle-tier nodes, so it will be done within the confines of the primary Middle tier only.
Also, as this is a new implementation, it is assumed that you are in the latest FMW technology stack 11.1.1.9 and have applied all the Middle Tier ETCC patches prior to this upgrade.
- Source your RUN filesystem.
$ . <INSTALL_BASE>/EBSapps.env run - Ensure all the Application services are shut down including the Admin Server and the Node Manager.
$ adstpall.sh - Apply the R12.2.9 patch.
$ adop phase=apply apply_mode=downtime patches=28840850 - Start the Application services on the RUN filesystem.
$ adstrtal.sh - Perform the ADOP Cleanup.
$ adop phase=cleanup - Synchronize the Run and Patch Filesystems.
$ adop phase=fs_clone
Check Out: Our blog post on Oracle EBS 12.2 Architecture. Click here
PATH B Approach
This will be the usual path taken by most of the customers to upgrade their existing R12.2.3+ environments. In this approach, you take advantage of the ADOP cycle to progress with the least possible downtime.
- Source your RUN filesystem.
$ . <INSTALL_BASE>/EBSapps.env run - Start the Patching Cycle.
$ adop phase=prepare - Upgrade the FMW Technology Stack (Conditional).
In case you are on FMW Technology Stack 11.1.1.7, then you should follow the Oracle Support Article ID 1590356.1 and upgrade to 11.1.1.9. - Apply the Middle Tier ETCC Patches.
Execute the ETCC Middle Tier code checker utility and apply the missing patches in your Technology Stack. - Apply the R12.2.9 patch.
$ adop phase=apply patches=28840850
$ adop phase=finalize
$ adop phase=cutover
$ . <INSTALL_BASE>/EBSapps.env run
$ adop phase=cleanup - Synchronize the Run and Patch Filesystems.
$ adop phase=fs_clone
Also Read: Our blog post on Oracle Database 19c. Click here
Step 7 – Apply Help Patch
Apply Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features Online Help patch 28840900. As help patches don’t require downtime, they can be applied ONLINE using the hotpatch mode.
- Source your RUN filesystem.
$ . <INSTALL_BASE>/EBSapps.env run - Apply the help patch.
$ adop phase=apply patches=28840900 hotpatch=yes
Step 8 – Apply Product Specific Post Steps (Conditional)
- Refer to the Oracle Support Article id 2495027.1 for the steps to carry out the functional post tasks.
Step 9 – Perform NLS Updates
- If you have installed any language apart from “American English”, then now is the time to update the system with the respective NLS patches in the hotpatch mode.
Also Check: Our blog post on Oracle Concurrent Manager. Click here
Step 10 – Patch Wizard
- Patch Wizard is mostly ignored by DBAs but without executing this step, you will not know if you are missing any of the critical bug fixes which have been identified after the release of R12.2.9. I would say this is a mandatory step which should never be skipped. Refer to the Oracle Support article ID 976188.1 for the further details.
I hope you find this blog useful in understanding the new release of Oracle EBS 12.2.9 new features and how to upgrade your previous version of Oracle E-Business to 12.2.9. If you have any doubts, please post them in the comments section.
Related/Further Readings
- Recommended Browsers for Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 [Doc ID 389422.1]
- Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2 Information Center (Doc ID 1581299.1)
- Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2.9 Readme (Doc ID 2495027.1), click here
- Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2.9 Now Available, click here
- [Troubleshooting] Forms Issue: FRM-92050 failed to connect to server:forms/servlet
- Oracle AppsDBA (R12.2) Training: Step by Step Activity Guides/Hands-On Lab Exercise
- Oracle AppsDBA (R12.2): Install | Patch | Clone | Maintain
Next Task For You
We cover Oracle E-Business R12.2 Architecture & concepts in our Oracle Apps DBA For Beginners Training along with the Installation, Patching, Cloning, and Troubleshooting and also, Database upgrade to 19c and much more including the hands-on labs you must perform to upgrade your skills and get a good job with a high package.
Begin your journey towards becoming an Apps DBA by joining our FREE Masterclass on How To Learn Oracle Apps DBA (R12) & It’s New Features.
Linda Stewart says
Excellent blog. Can we have the same for upgrade of 12.2.x to 12.2.10 please.
Rahul Dangayach says
Hi Linda,
We are Glad you liked our blog.
Please stay tuned for more informative blogs, like an upgrade of 12.2.x to 12.2.10.
But for now please refer to the below blog link for reference:
https://blogs.oracle.com/ebstech/oracle-e-business-suite-12210-now-available
Thanks and Regards
Rahul Dangayach
Team K21 Academy
Kiran Chand says
Can we directly upgrade from 12.1.3 to 12.2.9 ??
DB Version is 12.2.0.2
Rahul Dangayach says
Hi Kiran,
You need to upgrade then first you need to go for 12.2 only then you can upgrade to 12.2.9.
Please check the steps below for the upgrade from 12.1.3 to 12.2.9:
https://docs.oracle.com/en/industries/health-sciences/life-sciences-data-hub/3.1/install-guide/upgrade-e-business-suite-12.1.3-12.2.9.html\
Hope this helps.
Thanks and Regards
Rahul Dangayach
Team K21 Academy