Changes in this Release for Oracle Database

Changes in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Oracle Database 18c.

• Changes in Oracle Database Release 18c
  New features, deprecated features, and desupported features in this release.

Changes in Oracle Database Release 18c

New features, deprecated features, and desupported features in this release.

The following are changes in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Oracle Database 18c:

• New Features
  New features for Oracle Database Release 18c.

New Features

New features for Oracle Database Release 18c.

Simplified Image-based Oracle Database Installation

Starting with Oracle Database 18c, the Oracle Database software is available as an image file for download and installation. You must extract the image software into the directory where you want your Oracle home to be located, and then run the runInstaller script to start the Oracle Database installation.

For more information, see About Image-Based Oracle Database Installation

RPM-Based Oracle Database Installation

RPM-based Database Installation (RDI) enables an RPM-based installation of the Oracle Database software. Using the rpm-ivh command, an RPM-based database installation performs the preinstallation validations, extracts the packaged software, reassigns the ownership of the extracted software to the preconfigured user and groups, maintains the Oracle inventory, and executes all the root operations required to complete the Oracle Database software installation.

RPM-based Database Installation enables you to leverage an RPM framework to easily deploy Oracle Database.

For more information, see Installing Oracle Database Using RPM Packages

Read-Only Oracle Home

Starting with Oracle Database 18c, if you choose a read-only Oracle home, then the database tools and processes write under the ORACLE_BASE path instead of under the Oracle home directory.

A read-only Oracle home separates the software from the database configuration information and log files. This separation enables you to easily share the software across different deployments. A read-only Oracle home also simplifies version control and standardization.

For more information, see Configuring Read-Only Oracle Homes

Local Switch Home Command for Patching Databases

Starting with Oracle Database 18c, the Oracle Database home includes a built-in tool, rhpctl, that enables you to switch from the current Oracle Database home to a patched Oracle Database home. Thus, you can provision the new home as a gold image, rather than cloning the existing home.

This single rhpctl command also enables you to switch from the new home to the previous home if you decide to rollback the operation. rhpctl performs all of the steps for switching the home and the command also provides options for rolling or non-rolling of individual nodes or set of nodes in a cluster using session management.

For more information, see Oracle Clusterware Administration and Deployment Guide