Experienced Apps DBAs know that they need to monitor database support windows for their E-Business Suite environments.  For an in-depth discussion about how database support policies affect E-Business Suite users, see: An important deadline is approaching if you’re still running any E-Business Suite release on the 10gR2 10.2.0.4 database.  New 10gR2 patches produced after April 30, 2011 will require 10.2.0.5.  No new patches will be produced for 10.2.0.4 after that date.  This is covered, along with other useful topics, in the following 10gR2 Support FAQ from my colleagues in the Server Technologies division:
 
Another important point from that FAQ:
8. Will I get more time to install 10.2.0.5 if it is released on my platform close to April 30, 2011? Yes.  We will always support the previous patch set for at least 3 months, even if it is released after the one year to install the new patch set is up.  For example, patching for 10.2.0.4 generally expires on April 30, 2011.  If you are running 10.2.0.4 on the Commodore 64 platform and Oracle releases it after April 30, 2011, we will still patch 10.2.0.4 for you for 3 months following the 10.2.0.5 release on your platform.
Advice for EBS sysadmins If you’re still running your EBS environment on the 10.2.0.4 database, here are your options (in order of greatest bang-for-your-upgrade-buck):
  1. Upgrade to 11.2.0.2.  It’s the latest 11gR2 database version certified with the E-Business Suite. Upgrading to this level will buy you the longest period before you’re forced to do another database upgrade.
  2. Upgrade to 11.1.0.7.  It’s the latest 11gR1 database version certified with the E-Business Suite.  Looking at this pragmatically, though, I don’t see much value in upgrading to 11gR1.  If you’re going to go to the trouble of upgrading from 10gR2 10.2.0.4 to a newer major database release, you might as well do it right and upgrade to 11.2.0.2.
  3. Upgrade to 10.2.0.5.  If you’re planning on staying on 10gR2 for a while, you should be on a release for which you can get new patches and security fixes.
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