When it comes to databases, the word upgrade means more than just fixing and fine tuning some nominal issues. Database upgrades are often mission critical because without them, you are not only missing optimal performance and inviting security concerns, but also refraining from latest innovations that deliver new business benefits.

One marvel of innovation in the field of databases is the Oracle Autonomous Database — made possible by commendable advancements in machine learning in the past few years. Available from Oracle Database 18c onwards, in the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) as well as on Cloud@Customer, Infolob foresees Autonomous Database to emerge as a product that delivers peace of mind and database administration cost savings. Please refer our Oracle Autonomous Services webpage for further details.

Why Upgrade to Oracle Database 19c?

• It is a long-term release for the Oracle Database 12c and 18c products family that is available on most on-premises platforms, Exadata, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. It offers high level of stability and elongated error correction window.
• With Oracle Database 19c, customers gain premier support and extended support through April 2024 and April 2027, respectively.
• Customers still continuing with 11gR2, 12cR1, 12cR2, and 18c can upgrade to 19c to protect from support expiration for no additional cost. This is possible only if their database is licensed.
• Leverage multitenant architecture of Oracle Database 19c that facilitates agility, containerization, and manage-many-databases-as-one feature.
• Develop reusable in-database machine learning algorithms for targeted marketing, selling, and more.
• Perform graph analytics to discover customer relationships and detect fraud through pattern identification.
• Geocode delivery addresses enabling logistics planners to compute optimum delivery routes and track shipments.

Major Bonus: It is possible to upgrade directly to Oracle Database 19c from 11gR2, 12cR1, 12cR2 and 18c releases. This is a significant cost and time saving proposition that is often underdiscussed.

Oracle Database 19c for Enterprise Application Stack

Oracle 19c is certified for enterprise applications such as Oracle E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, and Hyperion to enable all new features and enhancements of database innovation. Availability, scalability, and security are its key attributes.

Upgrade methods

• DBUA: Database Upgrade Assistant (GUI based)
• Parallel Upgrade Utility #dbupgrade
• Auto Upgrade Utility
• # java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config .cfg -mode deploy

Data Migration Approaches

• expdp /impdp: export import data
• Transportable tablespace: Plug

Multi Tenancy Adoption

• Migrate as pluggable database with 19c

Exploring Database Optimizer

• Back port optimizer to 19c during migration

In-Memory

• Avail Oracle Enterprise Edition – 16GB In-memory feature as experimental option

Oracle 19c Supported Database Features and Options

• Advanced Compression
• Database In-Memory
• Database Partitioning
• Native PL/SQL Compilation
• Oracle Application Express (APEX)
• Oracle Label Security (OLS)*
• Secure Files
• Virtual Private Database (VPD)*

What special do I get with Oracle Database 19c?

• Automatic Indexing based on common SQL tuning methods:
  • Oracle Database 19c will identify candidate indexes, verify their effectiveness, perform online validations, and then implement the indexes where appropriate.
• Automated testing of query plans:
  • With Oracle Database 19c, database administrators (DBAs) will no longer need to manually perform regression tests on new query execution plans prior to upgrading from earlier versions of the database management system.
• Active Data Guard DML redirection:
  • With the release of Oracle Database 19c, Data Active Guard will get data manipulation language (DML) redirection.
    • This new feature will make it possible to run DML statements against an active-standby database. Data Guard will redirect the statements to the primary database, where the data changes will be applied. The updated data will then be streamed back to the standby database to maintain redundancy.
• Easy Connect enhancements:
  • Oracle Database 19c includes several improvements to Oracle’s Easy Connect naming methodology.
  • The Easy Connect syntax was simplified in Oracle 19c. It can now include multiple hosts and ports in connection strings designed to make it easier to load-balance client connections. The Easy Connect adapter can also accept a list of name-value pairs.
• Free of charge:
  • Oracle now allows limited use of Multitenant, In-Memory and full use of Spatial at no cost to you.
  • The first three pluggable databases within each container database are now included with DBEE and DBSE2 licenses without having to purchase Multitenant option.
  • You also get to use up to 16 GB of in-memory column store cache architecture without having to purchase In-Memory option.

Oracle APEX with Oracle 19c

• Develop applications rapidly by gaining support for relational and non-relational data models, REST API for modern application development, and no-code/low-code app development via Oracle APEX.
• Create fast clones of the entire database or only the metadata to quickly initiate new projects.

 Why Upgrade to Oracle Database 21c?

• It is ideal for organizations driven by data or those who store and manage data in a converged database, which is a practice known for its efficiency, productivity, and data cocooning. Converged databases leveraging Oracle 21c databases support all data types such as relational, spatial, XML, JSON, graph, and OLAP while delivering swift scalability and unparalleled performance for operational, analytical, and other mixed workloads.
• Oracle Database 21c is a notable product for enterprises leveraging Blockchain, as it fosters the promising technology with the introduction of Blockchain Tables. Explore more here.[1] Along the similar lines, Oracle Database 21c also comes built in with in-database machine learning (ML) algorithms, enabling data scientists rapidly build predictive models.
• Oracle Database 21c includes support for PMEM file systems that can offer significant latency and bandwidth improvements over traditional file systems that use SSD or spinning disks.

Oracle Database 21c for Modern Cloud Applications

Enterprise Application Adoption of 19c and leap forward with data warehouses to 21c

Oracle 21c cloud release for data warehouses

• Upgrade methods
• Upgrade approaches
• Key Features
• Optimizer

Oracle Database 21c: The latest Innovation Release

• Blockchain Tables
• Native JSON Datatype
  • In Oracle Database 21c, JSON support is further enhanced by offering a Native data type, “JSON”. This means that instead of having to parse JSON on read or update operations.
• Executing JavaScript inside Oracle Database
• SQL Macros

So, How to Choose Between Oracle Database 19c and 21c?

Oracle Database 21c is an “innovation release,” which means a product with next-generation and enhanced functionalities, albeit limited support window. Therefore, Infolob recommends Oracle Database 19c explored above as the option for maintaining business continuity whereas 21c is for no-compromise breakthrough technology enterprises. Both 19c and 21c are available on premises as well as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Note that no upgrade is not an option as performance, security, and functionality of your database will diminish overtime.

Finally, Here’s How Infolob Can Help

Infolob started out primarily as a database services company and today, our capabilities and achievements in the field remain unparalleled, especially when it comes to Oracle database. Some of our popular DB services are:

• Database Assessment Services
• Infrastructure migration and DB migration services
• Application Migration
• Sustainment Services such as managed services, remote support, and patching.

Why Infolob?

• We are an award-winning Oracle Platinum Partner
• Cloud Product Lab for Oracle 21c Proof of Concepts (PoCs)
• Oracle Apex Advanced Development and Integration framework
• Automations for provisioning, patching, and upgrades.

References:

[1] https://blogs.oracle.com/database/introducing-oracle-database-21c