STEPS - OPATCH Utility

OPATCH Utility (Oracle RDBMS Patching)

1. Download the required Patch from Metalink based on OS Bit Version and DB Version.
2. Need to down the database before applying patch.
3. Unzip and Apply the Patch using ”opatch apply” command.On successfully applied of patch you will see successful message “OPatch succeeded.“, Crosscheck your patch is applied by using “opatch lsinventory” command .
4. Each patch has a unique ID, the command to rollback a patch is “opatch rollback -id  <patch no.>” command.On successfully applied of patch you will see successful message “OPatch succeeded.“, Crosscheck your patch is applied by using “opatch lsinventory” command .
5. Patch file format will be like, “p<patch no.>_<db version>_<os>.zip”
6. We can check the opatch version using “opatch -version” command.
7. Generally, takes 2 minutes to apply a patch.
8. To get latest Opatch version download “patch 6880880 - latest opatch tool”, it contains OPatch directory.
9. Contents of downloaded patches will be like “etc,files directories and a README file”
10. Log file for Opatch utility can be found at $ORACLE_HOME/cfgtoollogs/opatch
11. OPatch also maintains an index of the commands executed with OPatch and the log files associated with it in the history.txt file located in the <ORACLE_HOME>/cfgtoollogs/opatch directory.
12. Starting with the 11.2.0.2 patch set, Oracle Database patch sets are full installations of the Oracle Database software. This means that you do not need to install Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.1) before installing Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.2).
13. Direct upgrade to Oracle 10g is only supported if your database is running one of the following releases: 8.0.6, 8.1.7, 9.0.1, or 9.2.0. If not, you will have to upgrade the database to one of these releases or use a different upgrade option (like export/ import).
14.Direct upgrades to 11g are possible from existing databases with versions 9.2.0.4+, 10.1.0.2+ or 10.2.0.1+. Upgrades from other versions are supported only via intermediate upgrades to a supported upgrade version.

REFERENCES:
OPATCH Utility (Oracle RDBMS Patching)
http://avdeo.com/2008/08/19/opatch-utility-oracle-rdbms-patching/

How to apply Database Patches
http://rafioracledba.blogspot.in/search/label/Database%20Patches

Critical Patch Updates, Security Alerts and Third Party Bulletin
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alerts-086861.html

Oracle: Quick Guide to Opatch - (Oracle Database Patching utility)
http://www.dbalifeline.com/content/oracle-quick-guide-opatch-oracle-database-patching-utility

How to Design an Effective Patch Management Process
http://www.computing.net/howtos/show/how-to-design-an-effective-patch-management-process/744.html

Oracle Database 11.2.0.2 Patch Set (English)
http://www.dbacomp.com.br/blog/?p=69

Apply Oracle CPUApr2010 – 9352191 for Oracle10.2.0.4 in Aix5L
http://hendrydasan.com/2010/05/21/apply-oracle-cpuapr2010-9352191-for-oracle10-2-0-4-in-aix5l/