Re: Online Upgrade

Oracle implemented the new 11.2 Feature "Edition-Based Redefinition" for exactly that purpose.
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E14072_01/appdev.112/e10471/adfns_editions.htm Of course the application must be prepared for such an upgrade. There is also criticism around:
http://www.pythian.com/news/29893/r12-2-online-patching-%E2%80%93-what-are-the-hidden-costs/

Of course, similar techniques can be implemented just by hand, in any case a zero-downtime-application is even more complex and expensive than an application with is designed with downtimes for maintenance tasks.

 Martin

On Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 07:36, Purav Chovatia <puravc_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> We have a requirement to apply application patches online i.e. without
> downtime. Our apps run in active-active mode and hence the app layer is
> taken care of i.e. while instance-1 of app is being upgraded, the live
> traffic is handled by instance-2. And once that is done, live traffic is
> handled by instance-2 and instance-1 is upgraded. However the challenge is
> to modify the DB objects i.e. SPs, tables, indices, etc.
>
> When I was given this requirement, initially I resisted. But later I
> thought, may be this looks like a common problem with increasing demand of
> high availability. So can you pls give me some guidance on how is this
> requirement handled across the industry? What do you all do?
> For e.g. if I have to modify a SP, I know that cannot be done while the
> apps are accessing it. Is there some workaround? May be writing wrappers,
> etc.?
> Similarly for other changes like adding or dropping a column.
>
> I think Edition based Redifinition is a step towards it but a first glance
> at it made me feel that its very complicated, still maturing, and does not
> cover all types of changes.
>
> If anybody has some best practices that are being followed can you please
> share?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
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