Applying CPU Patch in a dataguard (Physical Standby) environment

Here is a brief explanation on how to apply CPU(Critical Patch Update) in a dataguard environment
In this demo, I am applying PSU 11.2.0.4.2 on the Primary and standby databases.

Standby  Database Name :ORCL_STBY
Primary  Database Name : ORCL


Primary Server:

[oracle@PRIM ~]$ sqlplus sys/oracle@srprim as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Tue Sep 18 10:43:50 2012

Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Connected to:

Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production

With the Partitioning, Automatic Storage Management, OLAP, DataMining and Real Application Testing options

SQL> select status,instance_name,database_role from v$database,v$instance;

STATUS INSTANCE_NAME DATABASE_ROLE

------ ------------- ---------------

OPEN               ORCL            PRIMARY

 Standby Server:

[oracle@STBY~]$ sqlplus /"as sysdba"

SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Tue Sep 18 10:46:35 2012

Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Connected to:

Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production

With the Partitioning, Automatic Storage Management, OLAP, DataMining and Real Application Testing options

SQL> select status,instance_name,database_role from v$database,v$instance;

STATUS   INSTANCE_NAME        DATABASE_ROLE

-------- --------------           ----------------------

MOUNTED      ORCL_STBY         PHYSICAL STANDBY

 

 Step 1:
As a first step we need to disable the log shipping from primary database to the standby database by setting the log_archive_dest_state_2 to “defer” on the primary database.

SQL> alter system set log_archive_dest_state_2=defer; System altered.

 Step 2:

Now Cancel the Managed Recovery Process on your standby database .

SQL> alter database recover managed standby database cancel; Database altered.

 Step 3:

CPU (Critical Patch Update)/ Patch Set patches  always needs to be applied first on the standby database and then on the primary database. In order to apply it on the standby database, shutdown the standby database and also the listener running on the standby server.

 SQL> shutdown immediate
ORA-01109: database not open

Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

[oracle@STBY ~]$ lsnrctl stop

[oracle@STBY ~]$ ps -ef | grep tns
oracle 6958 5107 0 10:52 pts/1 00:00:00 grep tns


[oracle@STBY ~]$


[oracle@STBY ~]$ ps -ef | grep pmon
oracle 6960 5107 0 10:52 pts/1 00:00:00 grep pmon

 

 Step 4:
Now apply the CPU on the standby database.

[oracle@STBY ~]$ export PATH=$PATH:$ORACLE_HOME/OPatch
[oracle@STBY ~]$ opatch version
OPatch Version: 11.2.0.3.0

OPatch succeeded.
 

Step 5: 

Unzip the downloaded patch file.

unzip p18031668_112040_<platform>.zip 

cd 18031668

Verify pre-reqs:

opatch prereq CheckConflictAgainstOHWithDetail -ph ./

Now Apply Patch:

opatch apply

Step 6: 

Once the patch has been applied on the standby database,

start the listener and the standby database. 

[oracle@uat ~]$ lsnrctl start

[oracle@uat ~]$ sqlplus /"As sysdba"




SQL> startup mount

Step 7:

On Primary Database server, Start the archiving.

SQL> alter system set log_archive_dest_state_2=enable;

 System altered.

Note: Do not run any patching scripts on the standby database (Example: catbundle.sql). 

We are done with the patching on the standby database. 

Click on this Link to read further on how to apply CPU Patch On Primary Production Database Server Environment.