Chris Warticki's Blog - Oracle Support

I've written about RDA before and I've presented it to customers hundreds of times.  We're just not getting it.  Therefore, it deserves a shove.

Just about all DBA's have used RDA.  Why?  Because Support has asked them to upload it.  Customers don't realize that RDA was created for them.  RDA is not a stall tactic to put the action plan into CUS status.  RDA was created so that you may not even need to log the SR in the first place.  The proactive use of RDA is untapped.  The features are unknown and not used.

Top 10 non-used RDA features/functions:

1. Open it, Read it, Review it.
   
• You can view the
  RDA report files using almost any web browser by opening the <rda_directory><output_directory>/<report_group>__start.htm
2. Security Filtering
• Everyone's so quick to throw the security flag these days, but they are uploading RDA's by the truckload without enabling this feature.
3. Software Configuration Manager and RDA bundle
• For your benefit, we created an RDA SCM bundle to simplify your ability to automate
  your configuration and diagnostics uploads to Oracle.
4. Tools - Run the following modules with the -T mode option
• diff       Compares Systems 
• em       Runs the Enterprise Manager Tool  
• hcve     Executes HCVE Tests   
• merge  Merges Alert Log and Trace Files
• na         Runs the Network Advisor
• ora600 Diagnoses ORA-600 Oracle Internal Errors
5. Tests - Run the following modules with the -T mode option
1. alert     Analyzes alert.log
2. core    Tests Stack Trace Extraction
3. db       Tests Local Database Access
4. dst      Daylight Saving Time Tool Box
5. env     Tests the Environment
6. event   Extracts Event Log Information
7. inv      Tests Oracle Home Inventory Content
   
8. ocm    Tests Configuration Manager Discovery Information  
   
9. odi      Displays the Current Oracle Data Integrator Module Setup
   
10. sql      Tests SQL Settings  
    
11. ssd     Analyzes System State Dumps 
    
12. ssh     Tests Remote Connectivity and Operations
    
13. vms    Verifies Current User Environment on VMS
6. Seeded RDA Profiles instead of answering Yes/No so many times.
7. Custom RDA Profiles
   
   
• List the modules you want it to collect instead of answering Yes/No so many times
  
  
• rda -v (OS STC SSO WKSP)=example of collecting 4 modules
  
  
8. User Defined Collection, will collect custom files
• rda -v XTRA
9. RAC Cluster Guide
10. 11 new features and dozens of improvements in version 4.10
    

Today's topic: the recently revised Database, FMW, and OCS Software Error Correction Support Policy Version 2.0 MetaLink Note:209768.1

I'll admit, this recent revision almost got by me.  It's been 4 years since it's been updated and it needed to be.  It's a
must read.  This clarifies why Support
often requests customers to apply the latest patchset, or why a certain fix
cannot be backported.

The HOT sections of this document
Which Patch Sets Will Oracle Create New Fixes On?

Patch Sets Only For Supported Releases

Not All Patch Sets Ported

Critical Patch Updates Only For Supported Patch Sets

Criteria For Considering Interim Patch Requests

Which Patch Sets Are Eligible For Interim Patches?

Typically, we don't review 'Policies' until there's some sort of emergency like DeSupport/Obsolescence, Patch problems, Product defects or whatever.  Who really reads this stuff before the contracts are signed anyway? Right?

Oracle's Lifetime Support Policy is a must read. Understand it and review frequently because it changes often.
Oracle Support's - Technical Support Policies provides the details of the whos-whats-wheres, and hows of Oracle Support delivery.

Don't get me wrong. These aren't short documents and they can seem confusing. Allow the Customer Support Management team help bring clarity or answer any questions.

For our EBusiness Applications customers:
Oracle Applications Patching FAQ for Release 11i  Doc ID:  Note:457566.1
Oracle Applications Patching FAQ for Release 12 Doc ID:  Note:459156.1

Submitted by Charles Freeman, Customer Support Manager
Search for Knowledge articles using the new Software Configuration Manager user interface. Get the answers you need from the Knowledge home page with enhanced search capability, along with easy-to-use regions and hierarchical menus that greatly simplify finding pertinent Metalink information quickly.

MetaLink is moving to a new user interface this year. You can test drive the new interface today and search the Knowledge Content by clicking on the Software Configuration Manager tab on MetaLink (https://csm.oracle.com/CSP/ui/index.html), Then, select the Knowledge tab. You are not required to provide configurations in order to take advantage of the interface, so today is a great time to experience the personalization and ease of use found in the new interface.

· The Knowledge tab within searches for news, notes, and articles relevant to the context specified by the user.
· You can find specific knowledge articles by using the search function or by using PowerViews.
· Search scans the entire Knowledge base and not just the content of the Knowledge region.
· You can use Recently Added topics as a way to find a category of documents and not have to search for it again.
· PowerViews allow the user to do global searches based up system or custom defined attributes. Providing focused results to find exactly what you are looking for.
· Once you have run a search, the intuitive display and drill-down functionality allows you to quickly view and assess the relevance of large numbers of articles.
· Once you choose an article to view, the list of articles is preserved helping you browse the other articles.
· From the Recent Activity region, you can rate articles and send your feedback to Oracle, improving the quality of Oracle articles and providing you with better recommendations in the future.

Try the Software Configuration Manager for a more comprehensive look at the wealth of Metalink information included in the Oracle Knowledge Base. It allows seamless access to all Metalink information by fully integrating the Knowledge tab.

The new user interface uses Adobe Flash 9. If you don't already have the Flash browser plug-in, you will be prompted to install it when you first visit the Software Configuration Manager tab.
For a quick peak, you can view the Recorded Demo of KM within Software Configuration Manager