Is it possible to use Guaranteed Restore Points with Oracle 12c upgrades?

[Former Member]

When upgrading from e.g. Oracle 10g to 11c I often used Oracle Flashback technology for a fast fallback to the old Oracle release in case tests were negative and the upgrade had to be reverted. Now I thought that upgrading from Oracle 11c to 12c could be also safeguarded by setting an Oracle guaranteed restore point (GRP). Looks like this is no longer possible. Applying the SAP Bundle Patch requires raising the COMPATIBLE parameter, which breaks the GRP:

$ env ORACLE_HOME=$OHRDBMS /oracle/SID/121/sapbundle/SBP_12102160119_201602/catsbp

catsbp - Post-process Installation of SBP 12.1.0.2.160119 201602.

Copyright (c) 2015, 2016, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Log file: $ORACLE_BASE/cfgtoollogs/sqlpatch/SAP201602_APPLY_SID_2016_04_06-10-14-19.log

Connecting to database...

Connecting to database...done.

Executing Datapatch...

Executing Datapatch...failed.

Reason: Failure during prerequisite checks

Loading style sheets...

Loading style sheets...skipped.

Reason: Style sheets already loaded

Recompiling objects with utlrp...

Recompiling objects with utlrp...skipped.

Reason: Objects already compiled

Post-installation of this SAP Bundle Patch is incomplete:

Cause: Datapatch has encountered an error during its prerequisite checks.

        No post-installation steps have been executed.

Action: Refer to the log file for more information and resolve the error

        cause.

Database error:

ORA-00406: COMPATIBLE parameter needs to be 12.0.0.0.0 or greater ORA-00722: Feature "Editions" [for Statement " create or replace noneditionable view dba_registry_history ( action_time, acion, namespace, version, id, bundle_series, comments ) as select action_time, action, namespace, version, id, bundle_series, comments from registry$history "] at catsbp line 1813

catsbp completed with errors, post-installation of this SAP Bundle

Patch is INCOMPLETE. Refer to the log file

$ORACLE_BASE/cfgtoollogs/sqlpatch/SAP201602_APPLY_SID_2016_04_06-10-14-19.log

for more information.

Overall Status: INCOMPLETE

Is there any trick by which I can avoid changing the COMPATIBLE parameter? Or is it only possible have a GRP during the Oracle 12c upgrade if I skip the SAP Bundle Patch?

Regards,

Mark

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Mark,

could you please explain how are you trying to upgrade to 12c, why are you using
catspb during 12c patch installation ? It is strange to me.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Sergo,

you are right, running catsbp isn't necessary. I found my error and now the upgrade works with a GRP enabled.

Regards,

Mark

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

There are some steps required regarding SBP, as you can find in upgrade guide.

This is the useful link also, about when catspb should be executed -->

Some light on GRP and compatibility you can find in this note -->
1915315 - Database Upgrade Scripts for 12.1.0.2

Section "Creating Guaranteed Restore Point"

Best Regards. Sergo.