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Exadata System Software Updates - September 2020

Gavin Parish
To give you a single place to keep up with Exadata technical news, we'll post Exadata System Software releases here on blogs.oracle.com/exadata as soon as they are available. This post details the September 2020 releases.

Exadata System Software Update 20.1.2.0.0

Exadata System Software 20.1.2.0.0 Update is now generally available. 20.1.2.0.0 is a maintenance release that adds critical bug fixes and security fixes on top of 20.1.X releases. It contains the following:

  • Exadata Software updates for important bugs discovered after 20.1.1.0.0 was released in August 2020
  • Updated ILOM 5.0 firmware on X8-2 servers with the latest important fixes and security updates
  • Updated Disk Controller Firmware on X7-2 and X8-2 servers
  • Latest Jetty version update
  • Latest Ksplice Uptrack Updates for OL7 and OVS with critical and security updates

Note: Starting 20.1.x.0.0 release, the Storage and Database Server ISO/PXE image files are available only on edelivery/OSDC :

  1. Part V1002939-01 - Storage cell ISO/PXE image (20.1.2.0.0.200905)
  2. Part V1002940-01 - Database server ISO/PXE image (20.1.2.0.0.200905)

For further information, see:

  • Exadata 20.1.2.0.0 release and patch (31824452) (Doc ID 2695412.1)
  • Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions (Doc ID 888828.1)

Exadata System Software Update 19.3.12.0.0

Exadata System Software 19.3.12.0.0 Update is now generally available. 19.3.12.0.0 is a maintenance release that adds critical bug fixes and security fixes on top of 19.3.X releases. It contains the following:

  • Exadata Software updates for important bugs discovered after 19.3.11.0.0 was released in August 2020
  • Updated ILOM 5.0 firmware on X8-2 servers with the latest important fixes and security updates
  • Updated Disk Controller Firmware on X7-2 and X8-2 servers
  • Latest Ksplice Uptrack Updates for OL7 and OVS with critical and security updates

Customers using Exadata X8M should update to Exadata System Software 20.1.x.0.0.

For further information, see:

  • Exadata 19.3.12.0.0 release and patch (31824413) (Doc ID 2695411.1)
  • Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions (Doc ID 888828.1)

Exadata System Software Update 19.2.18.0.0

Exadata System Software 19.2.18.0.0 Update is now generally available. 19.2.18.0.0 is a maintenance release that adds critical bug fixes and security fixes on top of 19.2.X releases. It contains the following:

  • Exadata Software updates for important bugs discovered after 19.2.17.0.0 was released in August 2020
  • Updated ILOM 5.0 firmware on X8-2 servers with the latest important fixes and security updates
  • Updated Disk Controller Firmware on X7-2 and X8-2 servers
  • Latest Ksplice Uptrack Updates for OL7 and OVS with critical and security updates

20.1.x.0.0 is the best upgrade target for customers who want to move to Oracle Linux 7. Customers upgrading to Oracle Database 19c will have to upgrade Exadata to 19.2.X.0.0 or newer.

For further information, see:

  • Exadata 19.2.18.0.0 release and patch (31824372) (Doc ID 2695390.1)
  • Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions (Doc ID 888828.1)

Exadata System Software Update 18.1.X.0.0

As discussed in the blog posting "Exadata Software Updates Explained", Exadata System Software 18.1 is moving to a quarterly release.

Exadata System Software 18.1.30.0.0 Update, released in July, is the latest 18.1.X release available. 18.1.30.0.0 is a maintenance release that adds critical bug fixes and security fixes on top of 18.1.X releases. It contains the following:

  • Exadata Software updates for important bugs discovered after 18.1.29.0.0 was released in June 2020
  • Latest Linux Kernel and Xen security updates
  • Latest Ksplice Uptrack Updates for OL6 and OVS with critical and security updates
  • CPU July 2020 WebLogic Server security updates (10.3.6)

18.1.30.0.0 is the best upgrade target for customers who want to continue to use Oracle Linux 6. Exadata Software 12.2.1.1.8 which was released in July 2018 is the last patch in the 12.2.x line, so customers should plan to update to 18.1.x.0.0 if continuing with Oracle Linux 6. Exadata Software 20.1.x.0.0 is the best upgrade target for customers who want to move to Oracle Linux 7. 19.2.x.0.0 is the best upgrade target for customers who are running Exadata X2 and want to move to Oracle Linux 7.

Important considerations before upgrading in 18.x

Please refer to MOS Document 888828.1 for important considerations before upgrading to the latest Exadata System Software release. As stated, before updating database servers (non-OVM and OVM domU) to Exadata 18.1.5 or higher, ensure ACFS drivers that support the most efficient CVE-2017-5715 (Spectre Variant 2) mitigation are installed. These updated ACFS drivers, required for Exadata versions >= 18.1.5.0.0 and >= 12.2.1.1.7, are included in the July 2018 quarterly database releases. Quarterly database releases from April 2018 and earlier still require a separate ACFS patch. See MOS Document 2356385.1 for details.

MOS Document 2357480.1 discusses the performance impact of mitigation measures against CVE-2017-5754, CVE-2017-5753, and CVE-2017-5715 on Oracle Database, Oracle Exadata and Oracle Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance.

Database servers that have been customized by installing third-party kernel drivers must contact the third-party vendor to obtain updated third-party drivers. See MOS Document 2356385.1 for details.

For further information, see: 

  • Exadata 18.1.30.0.0 release and patch (31568730) (Doc ID 2675702.1)
  • Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions (Doc ID 888828.1)

 

Huge thank you to our Exadata Sustaining Team, who provide these releases to protect and enhance the value of your Exadata investments. 

We are always interested in your feedback. You are welcome to engage with us via comments here.

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