Today my focus is on the content of some patchfiles.
As I'm basically a DBA, my patchfiles are regarding database binaries. Patchfiles for other software products might differ, but I hope their main structure is similar.
A very simple patch is p26007010_12102180417ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip
it contains these files:
. ├── 26007010 │ ├── etc │ │ └── config │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ └── inventory.xml │ ├── files │ │ └── lib │ │ └── libserver12.a │ │ ├── ktsla.o │ │ └── ktsld.o │ └── README.txt └── PatchSearch.xml
Let's start with PatchSearch.xml. This file is outside of the directory with patch number.
<!-- This file contain patch Metadata -->
<results md5_sum="911913c83e833a5b6cd893365066141c">
<generated_date in_epoch_ms="1538413221000">2018-10-01 17:00:21</generated_date>
<patch has_prereqs="n" has_postreqs="n" is_system_patch="n">
<bug>
<number>26007010</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[DATABASE GREW EVEN THOUGH RESOURCES DELETED]]></abstract>
</bug>
<name>26007010</name>
<type>Patch</type>
<status>Available</status>
<access id="m">Open access</access>
<url>
<patch_readme host="https://updates.oracle.com"><![CDATA[/Orion/Services/download?type=readme&aru=22425588]]></patch_readme>
<patch_details><![CDATA[/download/26007010.html]]></patch_details>
</url>
<request_id>22425588</request_id>
<product id="9480" bugdb_id="5"><![CDATA[Oracle Database Family]]></product>
<release id="6000000000093018041701" name="12.1.0.2.180417ProactiveBP" platform_patch_not_required="Y" psu="Y" cc="Y"><![CDATA[Oracle 12.1.0.2.180417 Proactive BP]]></release>
<platform id="226" bugdb_id="226"><![CDATA[Linux x86-64]]></platform>
<language id="0" iso_code="EN"><![CDATA[American English]]></language>
<translations_available>No</translations_available>
<classification id="174">General</classification>
<patch_classification id="174">General</patch_classification>
<support_level id="G">General Support</support_level>
<entitlements>
<entitlement code="SW"/>
</entitlements>
<patch_relationships>
<related_patch>
<bug>
<number>27338029</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[DATABASE BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180417]]></abstract>
</bug>
<relation_types>
<relation_type>Prereq</relation_type>
</relation_types>
<name>27338029</name>
<type>Patch</type>
<patch_details><![CDATA[/Orion/Services/search?bug=27338029&release=600000000009300]]></patch_details>
</related_patch>
</patch_relationships>
<fixes_bugs truncated="no">
<bug>
<number>26007010</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[DATABASE GREW EVEN THOUGH RESOURCES DELETED]]></abstract>
</bug>
</fixes_bugs>
<size>210076</size>
<files>
<file>
<name>p26007010_12102180417ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip</name>
<size>210076</size>
<download_url host="https://updates.oracle.com"><![CDATA[/Orion/Services/download/p26007010_12102180417ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip?aru=22425588&patch_file=p26007010_12102180417ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip]]></download_url>
<digest type="SHA-256">ED9AE319DD9A6B149BFA66842C8AF03F853908B16B694781F78D0BC1D0E8071E</digest>
<digest type="SHA-1">F91E6F7525A09E8AEAC93FED6DC39DDA4382648B</digest>
</file>
</files>
<downloads_count>0</downloads_count>
<updated_date in_epoch_ms="1538413182000">2018-10-01 16:59:42</updated_date>
<released_date in_epoch_ms="1521586681000">2018-03-20 22:58:01</released_date>
</patch>
</results>
At the beginning this xml shows some generic information about the patch like it's product, release, platform. It also contains the bug it fixes and download filename. With previous post most of it's content should be easily readable.
The README.txt (and sometimes README.html) is this particular file admins should read, understand and follow. It contains directives how to check, if the patch is applicable, and how to apply it.
The next part bottom up is a directory structure files - lib - libserver12.a - ktsl*.o
As a rule of thumb these files will be somehow merged into the respective directories in the binaries home directory (ORACLE_HOME in the case of RDBMS).
More details can be found in etc - config directory:
the inventory.xml again contains some additional details about the patch:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<oneoff_inventory>
<opack_version version="14.1.0.1.9"/>
<patch_id number="26007010"/>
<minimum_opatch_version>12.1.0.1.4</minimum_opatch_version>
<unique_patch_id>22425588</unique_patch_id>
<cannot_autorollback>false</cannot_autorollback>
<date_of_patch day="1" month="Oct" time="09:59:37 hrs" year="2018" zone="PST8PDT"/>
<base_bugs>
<bug description="DATABASE GREW EVEN THOUGH RESOURCES DELETED" number="26007010"/>
</base_bugs>
<required_components>
<component internal_name="oracle.rdbms" opt_req="O" version="12.1.0.2.0"/>
</required_components>
<os_platforms>
<platform id="226" name="Linux x86-64"/>
</os_platforms>
<executables>
<executable path="%ORACLE_HOME%/bin/oracle"/>
</executables>
<instance_shutdown>true</instance_shutdown>
<instance_shutdown_message/>
<online_rac_installable>true</online_rac_installable>
<run_as_root>false</run_as_root>
<sql_migrate>false</sql_migrate>
<wls_prereq_oneoffs/>
<prereq_oneoffs>
<prereq oneoff_id="27338029"/>
</prereq_oneoffs>
<overlay_oneoffs>
<overlay oneoff_id="27338029"/>
</overlay_oneoffs>
<patch_type sub_type="update" value="singleton"/>
<patch_language value="en"/>
<product_family value="db"/>
<patching_model value="one-off"/>
<auto>false</auto>
<translatable>false</translatable>
<application_dirs/>
<patch_characteristics>
<content_type value="generic"/>
</patch_characteristics>
</oneoff_inventory>
whereas actions.xml describes what to do with the content of the patch:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<oneoff_actions>
<oracle.rdbms opt_req="O" version="12.1.0.2.0">
<archive backup_in_zip="false" name="libserver12.a" object_name="lib/libserver12.a/ktsla.o" path="%ORACLE_HOME%/lib" shaolue="6D6BA5355DB887694E210E53856F2CE8F779BB9E"/>
<archive backup_in_zip="false" name="libserver12.a" object_name="lib/libserver12.a/ktsld.o" path="%ORACLE_HOME%/lib" shaolue="842C83B27C0517C0D938865C819F2090163A926F"/>
<make change_dir="%ORACLE_HOME%/rdbms/lib" make_file="ins_rdbms.mk" make_target="ioracle"/>
</oracle.rdbms>
</oneoff_actions>
In this case the 2 files in lib/libserver12.a are copied to %ORACLE_HOME%/lib and a new libserver12.a (and the oracle binary) is newly generated by make -f ins_rdbms.mk ioracle.
Of course other patches can contain other actions. Their basic meaning should be guessable with some common sense.
When comparing previous patch to p26439748_12102180116ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip , we can see some important details:
. ├── 26439748 │ ├── etc │ │ └── config │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ └── inventory.xml │ ├── files │ │ └── lib │ │ └── libserver12.a │ │ └── ktsla.o │ └── README.txt └── PatchSearch.xml
actions.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<oneoff_actions>
<oracle.rdbms opt_req="O" version="12.1.0.2.0">
<archive name="libserver12.a" object_name="lib/libserver12.a/ktsla.o" path="%ORACLE_HOME%/lib"/>
<make change_dir="%ORACLE_HOME%/rdbms/lib" make_file="ins_rdbms.mk" make_target="ioracle"/>
</oracle.rdbms>
</oneoff_actions>
We can easily see both patches touch ktsla.o. That's where they conflict and
opatch prereq CheckConflictAgainstOHWithDetail -ph ./
shows
Following patches have conflicts. Please contact Oracle Support and get the merged patch of the patches :
...
To fix this conflict, let's have a look at p27860850_12102180417ProactiveBP_Linux-x86-64.zip:
. ├── 27860850 │ ├── etc │ │ └── config │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ └── inventory.xml │ ├── files │ │ └── lib │ │ └── libserver12.a │ │ ├── ktsla.o │ │ └── ktsld.o │ └── README.txt └── PatchSearch.xml
PatchSearch.xml now contains
...
<bug>
<number>27860850</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[MERGE REQUEST ON TOP OF DATABASE BP 12.1.0.2.180417 FOR BUGS 26007010 26439748]]></abstract>
</bug>
<name>27860850</name>
<type>Patch</type>
...
<fixes_bugs truncated="no">
<bug>
<number>26007010</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[DATABASE GREW EVEN THOUGH RESOURCES DELETED]]></abstract>
</bug>
<bug>
<number>26439748</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[ENQ: TX - CONTENTION AND GC BUFFER BUSY ACQUIRE WAITS ON SECUREFILES IN 12.1]]></abstract>
</bug>
<bug>
<number>26513067</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[ASSIGNMENT OF INSTANCE AFFINITY FLAWED IN KTSLA_HBB_UPDATE_CACHE()]]></abstract>
</bug>
<bug>
<number>27255377</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[ORA-00600: INTERNAL ERROR CODE, ARGUMENTS: [KTEUPROPAGATETIME:CLSVIOL_KCBGCUR_9]]]></abstract>
</bug>
</fixes_bugs>
...
This particular merge patch contains fixes for 26007010 and 26439748 (and some others).
There are also bigger patches like p27486326_121020_Linux-x86-64.zip:
. ├── 27486326 │ ├── 26983807 │ │ ├── README.txt │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ ├── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── xml │ │ │ ├── GenericActions.xml │ │ │ └── ShiphomeDirectoryStructure.xml │ │ └── files │ │ ├── oc4j │ │ │ └── ... │ │ └── wlm │ │ └── ... │ ├── 27338013 │ │ ├── README.html │ │ ├── README.txt │ │ ├── automation │ │ │ ├── ... │ │ ├── custom │ │ │ └── scripts │ │ │ ├── post.txt │ │ │ ├── pre.txt │ │ │ └── prepatchverify.sh │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ ├── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── xml │ │ │ ├── GenericActions.xml │ │ │ └── ShiphomeDirectoryStructure.xml │ │ └── files │ │ ├── ... │ ├── 27338020 │ │ ├── README.html │ │ ├── README.txt │ │ ├── automation │ │ │ ├── bp1-auto-inplace-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-auto-inplace-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-auto-rollback-inplace-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-auto-rollback-inplace-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-inplace-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-inplace-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-out-of-place-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-out-of-place-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-out-of-place-non-rolling-switchback.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-out-of-place-switchback.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-rollback-inplace-automation.xml │ │ │ ├── bp1-rollback-inplace-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ │ └── messages.properties │ │ ├── custom │ │ │ └── scripts │ │ │ ├── postpatch.sh │ │ │ └── prepatch.sh │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ ├── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── xml │ │ │ ├── GenericActions.xml │ │ │ └── ShiphomeDirectoryStructure.xml │ │ └── files │ │ ├── ... │ ├── 27338029 │ │ ├── 20243804 │ │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ │ └── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── files │ │ │ ├── ... │ │ ├── 20415006 │ │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ │ └── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── files │ │ ├── ... │ ├── 20594149 │ │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ │ └── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── files │ │ │ ├── ... │ │ ├── README.html │ │ └── README.txt │ │ ├── 27338029 │ │ │ ├── etc │ │ │ │ └── config │ │ │ │ ├── actions.xml │ │ │ │ ├── composite.xml │ │ │ │ └── inventory.xml │ │ │ └── files │ │ │ ├── ... │ ├── README.html │ ├── README.txt │ ├── automation │ │ ├── bp1-auto-inplace-non-rolling-automation.xml │ │ ├── ... │ │ └── messages.properties │ └── bundle.xml └── PatchSearch.xml 979 directories, 7578 files
The first obvious diference are the patch numbers inside of 27486326, and these patch number contain their own well known directory structure. And 27338029 again has it's sub patches.
But let's start with known PatchSearch.xml:
<!-- This file contain patch Metadata -->
<results md5_sum="0e8f74b3cdd19ff9af42650d53fbfafd">
<generated_date in_epoch_ms="1523969284000">2018-04-17 12:48:04</generated_date>
<patch has_prereqs="n" has_postreqs="n" is_system_patch="y">
<bug>
<number>27486326</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[DATABASE PROACTIVE BUNDLE PATCH 12.1.0.2.180417]]></abstract>
</bug>
<name>27486326</name>
<type>Patch</type>
<status>Available</status>
<access id="m">Open access</access>
<url>
<patch_readme host="https://updates.oracle.com"><![CDATA[/Orion/Services/download?type=readme&aru=22118389]]></patch_readme>
<patch_details><![CDATA[/download/27486326.html]]></patch_details>
</url>
<request_id>22118389</request_id>
<product id="9480" bugdb_id="5"><![CDATA[Oracle Database Family]]></product>
<release id="600000000009300" name="12.1.0.2.0" platform_patch_not_required="Y" cc="Y"><![CDATA[Oracle 12.1.0.2.0]]></release>
<platform id="226" bugdb_id="226"><![CDATA[Linux x86-64]]></platform>
<language id="0" iso_code="EN"><![CDATA[American English]]></language>
<translations_available>No</translations_available>
<classification id="174">General</classification>
<patch_classification id="174">General</patch_classification>
<support_level id="G">General Support</support_level>
<entitlements>
<entitlement code="SW"/>
</entitlements>
<fixes_bugs truncated="no">
<bug>
<number>13498243</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[CALCULATE AVAILABLE SCN HEADROOM]]></abstract>
</bug>
<bug>
<number>13542050</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[USE OF KGL MUTEXES MIGHT BLOCK ON BOGUS MUTEX HOLDER]]></abstract>
</bug>
<bug>
<number>13640676</number>
<abstract><![CDATA[CANNOT EXCHANGE TABLE PARTITION WITH TEXT INDEX CREATED BEFORE 11.2.0.2 UPGRADE]]></abstract>
</bug>
...
</fixes_bugs>
<size>2531696443</size>
<files>
<file>
<name>p27486326_121020_Linux-x86-64.zip</name>
<size>2531696443</size>
<download_url host="https://updates.oracle.com"><![CDATA[/Orion/Services/download/p27486326_121020_Linux-x86-64.zip?aru=22118389&patch_file=p27486326_121020_Linux-x86-64.zip]]></download_url>
<digest type="MD5">86424FF991F46750CBFA9DBBDC27E208</digest>
<digest type="SHA-256">F16D2BEF1B02E0132C75ADB3EF176D3DD30C32FBC8D40F35EA68457E918648B7</digest>
<digest type="SHA-1">7DD310BA943EED216E905D44FF49F5FD9C952DBF</digest>
</file>
</files>
<downloads_count>0</downloads_count>
<updated_date in_epoch_ms="1523969071000">2018-04-17 12:44:31</updated_date>
<released_date in_epoch_ms="1518611278000">2018-02-14 12:27:58</released_date>
</patch>
</results>
So it looks exactly the same and shows no evidence of the more complex structure inside of 27486326.
The next file is 27486326/bundle.xml:
<system_patch_bundle_xml type_version="2.0" bundle_type="ENGSYSTEM" patch_abstract="sample EsysPatch description" patch_id="27486326" unique_patch_id="22118389">
<system urm_id="9999" type="oracle_exadata_dbsys">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="18073" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</system>
<subpatches>
<subpatch patch_type="SINGLETON" patching_tool="OPATCH" location="26983807" platform="226" patch_id="26983807" unique_patch_id="21704746">
<target_types>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="has">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="18086" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="cluster">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="21227" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
</target_types>
</subpatch>
...
<subpatch patch_type="SINGLETON" patching_tool="OPATCH" location="27338020" platform="226" patch_id="27338020" unique_patch_id="21965858">
<target_types>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="has">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="18086" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="oracle_database">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="18073" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="rac_database">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="18083" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
<target_type version="12.1.0.2.0" type="cluster">
<product qpart_id="5" aru_id="9480">Oracle Database</product>
<release urm_id="21227" aru_id="600000000009300">Oracle 12.1.0.2.0</release>
</target_type>
</target_types>
</subpatch>
...
</subpatches>
<automation>
<hash>dd55bb3aef5c9dbe72052b3109725ebac5db922c</hash>
<oplan_version>11.2.0.2.5</oplan_version>
</automation>
<fvalue>
<min_opatch_version>12.1.0.1.4</min_opatch_version>
<value>a93be317becb06265c84897fa024a3481f9c3bd5</value>
<function>3</function>
</fvalue>
</system_patch_bundle_xml>
It explains the subpatches and their targets.
While 26983807 has only 2 targets has and cluster, 27338020 also has targets oracle_database and rac_database. In comparison the screenshot from corresponding README.html.
The directory 27486326/27338029 is slightly different from others: It contains additional patches, but the directory structure etc/config is missing.
Instead there is a sub-patch with the same name and this one has a little gem in 27338029.
composite.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<composite>
<sequence>
<patch id="20243804"/>
<patch id="20415006"/>
<patch id="20594149"/>
<patch id="20788771"/>
<patch id="20950328"/>
<patch id="21125181"/>
<patch id="21359749"/>
<patch id="21527488"/>
<patch id="21694919"/>
<patch id="21949015"/>
<patch id="22806133"/>
<patch id="23144544"/>
<patch id="24340679"/>
<patch id="24732088"/>
<patch id="25397136"/>
<patch id="25869760"/>
<patch id="26609798"/>
<patch id="26717470"/>
<patch id="26925263"/>
<patch id="27338029"/>
</sequence>
<replaces_upis>
<upi>18350083</upi>
<upi>18703022</upi>
<upi>18977826</upi>
<upi>19194568</upi>
<upi>19553095</upi>
<upi>19694308</upi>
<upi>20464632</upi>
<upi>20683584</upi>
<upi>20904347</upi>
<upi>21099266</upi>
<upi>21385018</upi>
<upi>21481899</upi>
<upi>21602269</upi>
<upi>21850549</upi>
<upi>22036385</upi>
</replaces_upis>
<bundle series="DBBP" id="180417"/>
<replaces_bundle series="PSU" id="180417"/>
</composite>
The Patch IDs mentioned here are all the other directories in 27486326/27338029, with their own well known structure. The upi (Unique Patch ID) is identical to aru from previous post and
by using one of this arus to get the corresponding readme ( https://updates.oracle.com/Orion/Services/download?type=readme&aru=18350083 ) this uip/aru leads to Patch 19769480 - Database Patch Set Update 12.1.0.2.2 (Includes CPUJan2015).
As so often, when the details are clear, most things are obvious: this Bundle Patch replaces all previous BPs.
That should be sufficient information for one post, for some additional information please read Frits Hooglands opatch investigations.
