8.4.1 About the Exadata Patchmgr Update Utility

Patchmgr is designed to simplify the software update process.

Patchmgr has the following capabilities:

• With a single invocation, patchmgr can update all Oracle Exadata storage servers, database servers, or RDMA Network Fabric switches.

• On Oracle Exadata database servers, patchmgr can perform online updates using Exadata Live Update.

• When performing a rolling update, patchmgr orchestrates the software update across components one-at-a-time.

• When performing a non-rolling update, patchmgr parallelizes the software update to all components at the same time.

• Patchmgr updates all component software, as required, such as firmware, operating system, and Oracle Exadata System Software.

  • Database servers contain all software necessary to run Oracle Database and are configured to run Oracle Database optimally. However, it may be necessary to manually install additional, site-specific software, such as monitoring agents or backup agents. You can manually customize database servers, but note that customizing the operating system by adding or updating packages may require additional actions when applying a future Oracle Exadata System Software update with patchmgr.

  • Patchmgr is the only supported method for performing software updates and configuration changes on Exadata storage servers and RDMA Network Fabric switches, except as specified in Oracle Exadata documentation or as directed by Oracle Support Services.

• Patchmgr may be run from a driving system running Oracle Linux, as the root user or a non-root user.

• Multiple invocations of patchmgr may be run from the same software directory.