DataCenter Automation and Configuration Management

Download the latest one-off patch introducing fixes on Patch Automation feature from Enterprise Manager 10.2.0.5(Patch Number: 8653501)

Download the patch and apply it on one/all of the OMS server. Make sure you complete the additional steps in the readme.

Patch Summary

This one-off patch is applicable on top of 10.2.0.5 Enterprise manager, the patch introduces:

1. Enhanced Pre-requisites checks to standard deployment procedures,which can be invoked in Analyze mode to verify the applicability of the patch on the database environment.

Run the Deployment Procedures in Analyze Mode to do complete patchability check before the actual patching cycle. The below two modes are seen in the Review page during the Deployment procedure execution.

On submitting in ‘Analyze’ mode, the pre-req checks are run and you could check for the results with recommendations under RESULTS tab

2. Two new reports, accessible under Reports tab:
  a. EM Target Patchability Report: Provides a comprehensive report on the automated patchability of the database environment managed by Grid control.
  b. Patching Deployment Procedure Execution Summary Report: Provides a summary  view of the deployment procedure's execution status across the given time period.

Deployment Procedures that are modified by the patch,
1. 'Patch Oracle Database'
2. 'Patch Oracle RAC - Rolling'
3. 'Patch Oracle RAC - All Nodes'
These procedures are accessible under 'Patching through Deployment Procedures'
in 'Deployments' page and with version 5.1.

Related Metalink Note: 427577.1 : OMS and Agent Patches required for setting up Provisioning,Patching and Cloning in 10.2.0.3 to 10.2.0.5 GC

The Critical Patch Update (CPU) for July 2009 was released on July 14th, 2009. Oracle strongly recommends applying the patches as soon as possible.

More Info:  Supported Products and Components Affected

Includes Patch Advisory also for  Oracle BEA – WebLogic server, JRockit, Oracle Complex Event Processing and WebLogic Event Server

Related links:

• Identify Vulnerability and Patch in Automated way through Enterprise Manager
• Automation of CPU application from EM for Oracle Databases and Oracle Application Servers (FAQ style Doc)
• Application Change Management Pack of Enterprise Manager supports Ebiz patching (Metalink Note 812315.1)
• Critical Patch Update Implementation Best Practices (Generic Whitepaper)

First of the PSU (more like a beta) was released on Jul 17th for Oracle DB 10.2.0.4 across specific platforms of Unix. Oracle will release PSUs every quarter (starting with July 2009) along with quarterly CPUs across Databases and Middleware. PSUs will be a superset of CPUs and will have additional recommended patches from Oracle. These set of patches are tested in cohesion.

First patch in the series is patch number : 8576156 applicable on 10.2.0.4 Database. The application of this patch can be identified from the inventory by running - opatch lsinventory.

PSU provides all high value, recommended patches for the Oracle Software. Based on the Patch Management cycle, factor in PSU for the future cycles of patch management. Suggest once you take up the PSU track,stay on the course. Without which, resolving conflicts, getting specific MLRs will require significant efforts.
As the readme of the PSU note reads.. "Once a PSU has been installed, the recommended way to get future security content is to apply subsequent PSUs. Reverting from PSU back to CPU, while possible, would require significant effort, and so is not advised"

Application of PSU can be automated through Deployment procedures. Refer to My Oracle Support note: 864316.1

Related Links:
854428.1 - Intro to Patch Set Updates (PSU)