I've converted a 12.1.0.2 database from Windows to Linux for a client
who decided that Windows Server is too expensive for them:
SQL> select * from v$version;
BANNER CON_ID
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0 - 64bit
Production 0
PL/SQL Release 12.1.0.2.0 - Production 0
CORE 12.1.0.2.0 Production 0
_*TNS for Linux: Version 12.1.0.2.0 -
Production 0*_
NLSRTL Version 12.1.0.2.0 - Production 0
SQL>
File names are definitely Linux, despite the funny uppercase letters:
SQL> select file_name from dba_data_files where file_id<4;
FILE_NAME
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/data/oradata/DNADEMO/UNDOTBS01.DBF
/data/oradata/DNADEMO/SYSAUX01.DBF
/data/oradata/DNADEMO/SYSTEM01.DBF
The installed patches in the DB dictionary are what's really funny in
the whole story:
SQL> select cast(action_time as date)
when_taken,bundle_series,description from dba_registry_sqlpatch order by
action_time
/ 2
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
07152017
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.170418
(64bit):25590993
07152017 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.170418(64bit):25632533
11172017
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.170418
(64bit):25590993
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11172017
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.171017 (64bit):
26792364
11172017 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.171017(64bit):26720785
02082018
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.171017 (64bit):
26792364
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02082018
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180116 (64bit):
27162998
02082018 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180116(64bit):27162953
05182018
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180116 (64bit):
27162998
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05182018
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180417 (64bit):
27650403
05182018 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180417(64bit):27440294
02192019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180417 (64bit):
27650403
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02192019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190115 (64bit):
28994063
02192019 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190115(64bit):28810679
05152019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190115 (64bit):
28994063
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05152019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190416: 29447962
05152019 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190416(64bit):29413116
08232019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190416: 29447962
WHEN_TAK BUNDLE_SERIES
-------- ------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08232019
WINDOWS ORACLE JAVAVM COMPONENT BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190716: 29837393
08232019 PSU
WINDOWS DB BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.190716(64bit):29831650
20 rows selected.
SQL>
Of course, Linux patches were installed too:
[oracle@middnademo ~]$ $ORACLE_HOME/OPatch/opatch lspatches
29774383;Database PSU 12.1.0.2.190716, Oracle JavaVM Component (JUL2019)
29494060;Database Patch Set Update : 12.1.0.2.190716 (29494060)
OPatch succeeded.
There aren't any negative consequences. July 2019 PSU was installed
while the database was on Windows and, of course, July 2019 PSU was
installed on Linux. October PSU is only available with an extended
support contract. The next step is an upgrade to 19c which is planned
for February 2020. The procedure was a bit more cumbersome because of
the database size (+2TB):
1. Shut the database down on Winduhs.
2. Snap the LUN on Winduhs
3. Mount the snapshot in R/O mode to the newly minted Linux VM. Linux
has to be equipped with NTFS fuse module and it has to be mounted as
"oracle", not "root". That's achieved by uid/gid mount options.
NTFS fuse module is available in the standard repository and
installed by yum.
4. Run rman convert to Linux directory.
5. Re-create the control file
6. Open the database without resetlogs. Resetlogs is not necessary
since the shutdown was normal. During the normal shutdown, there is
a checkpoint and file headers are all updated with the same SCN,
which means that the
Rman convert ran for around 3 hours but completed successfully and
reported no errors. Frankly, I hoped to be done with RMAN convert within
1 hour but no such luck. July 2019 PSU was installed on the Oracle home
before the conversion, in order to minimize downtime. I have done this
before but I have never bothered to check what's in DB registry before.
I had a pipe dream that RMAN convert should somehow convert the applied
Windows patches to their Linux counterparts. Now, we have fully patched
DB on Linux with all the patches having been applied on Winduhs. BTW,
the Linux is Oracle Linux 7.7. It didn't create even the slightest problem.
--
Mladen Gogala
Database Consultant
Tel: (347) 321-1217
