On October 14, 2026, Oracle announced expanded software release update choices for Oracle Database cloud services. Supported lifecycle operations now offer additional flexibility to select older releases while continuing to default to the latest available release. See Flexible Software Release Selection for Exadata Database and Base Database Service.

This announcement updates the policy described in our June 2026 guidance for EBS customers. For Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) customers, it provides additional options when planning database provisioning, patching, migrations, and business continuity activities.

What Has Changed?

Where release selection is supported, the following choices generally apply:

  • Latest available release (N): Default and recommended.
  • Two preceding releases (N-1 and N-2): Available through self-service acknowledgment.
  • Earlier releases: Require an approved Service Request (SR), subject to release limits.

The announcement covers supported operations across:

  • Oracle Base Database Service
  • Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure
  • Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure
  • Oracle Exadata Database Service on Cloud@Customer

Why This Matters to EBS Customers

EBS environments often have coordinated testing, maintenance, and change management schedules. The expanded release options help EBS customers complete testing and move to production on their planned release, provided it remains available under the updated policy. This is especially helpful for longer projects.

Continue to verify the target release against the applicable EBS certification and procedural requirements. Consult Latest Certified Oracle Database Release Updates for Oracle E-Business Suite on Oracle Database Cloud Services (KA1147).

Note that KA1147 and other documents are in the process of being updated to reflect this latest policy change.

Need an Earlier Release?

Approved Oracle Database 19c exceptions are limited to 19.25 or later and enable creation of a custom database software image for provisioning or updates. GI releases earlier than N-2 are unavailable. Exadata System Software exceptions are limited to the six most recent monthly maintenance releases per active release. Older custom images are also subject to selection controls. See the policy’s exception requirements.

Cloud Manager Users

EBS Cloud Manager 25.3.3.2 supports provisioning with the latest certified DBRU. If you are a Cloud Manager user and require a release prior to the latest certified DBRU, you must log a service request against the OCI database service tea

Recommended Actions

EBS administrators should:

  • Review upcoming deployments, patching, migrations, and business continuity activities.
  • Confirm the target RU against EBS certification guidance and the procedure being followed.
  • Check release availability for the specific service and lifecycle operation.
  • Review automation that selects a release or software image. Supported API requests requiring acknowledgment use isOlderVersionAcknowledged=true; applicable responses expose isOlderVersionAcknowledgmentRequired. See API acknowledgment guidance.
  • Engage Oracle Support early when an exception is needed.

References

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