Each quarter, Oracle releases new Critical Patch Updates and Patch Set Updates.
This article will
discuss how to apply these patches to Oracle E-Business Suite along with the Oracle MOS ID
references.
Contents
• Database Tier
• Middle Tier
• References
Overview
In Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) R12.2 we have various tech stack components. It's important to
apply the critical patch update (CPU) to all of these components. These components include:
1. Forms and Reports
2. Fusion Middleware - Web Tier
3. Fusion Middleware - oracle_common Home
4. WebLogic
5. Database (Don’t get confused here; Database is also a component of the Oracle EBS
application. This must also be considered while applying the patches to the EBS environment)
First, it is better to apply the latest Quarterly patches to DB tier and then to the Apps/Middle Tier. For
the DB tier, we strongly advise applying the Patch Set Update (PSU) instead of the Critical Patch
Update (CPU). PSU contains many proactive and stabilization fixes for issues that you may have
already encountered or will encounter in the near future. These fixes will have the information
learned from issues that have been encountered by Oracle customers. PSU also includes Critical Patch
Update (CPU) along with proactive stabilization fixes.
Database Tier
1 — Always try to apply the latest PSU patch available along with OJVM patch. Always latest.
2 — Run the EBS Technology Code Level Checker (ETCC). The ETCC script can be downloaded
from Patch 17537119. Always run the latest one while running ETCC.
ETCC has two scripts:
1. sh: This script needs to be run in the DB tier.
2. sh: This script needs to be run in the Apps tier.
Run the [Link] script against the database and identify the patches that need to be
applied.
3 — If you are on Oracle Exadata or Superclusters, you need to apply the Proactive Bundle Patch(BP).
You need to select the right release when downloading the patch. Consider the newly applied PSU
patch release.
4 — Apply the overlay patches. Overlay patches are answers for conflict patches. Some patches don't
co-exist with the latest PSU patches. In such scenarios, you need to consider patches which can co-
exist with the latest PSU patch).
5 — Afterwards, apply the Standard patches. The standard patches are primarily one-off patches.
6 — Finally, run the DB tier ETCC script, check the missing patches, and act on the missing patches.
Middle Tier
For EBS, Oracle is only releasing Critical Patch Update (CPU) and not PSU (unlike Database). This is
important for every Apps DBA to remember if they try to apply quarterly release patches to EBS
components.
Please refer to the MOS ID for the Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 Critical Patch Update
Knowledge Document (April 2018) (Doc ID 2369524.1).
It is important to apply the patches to all of the above tech stack components in EBS. During this
phase, there are certain prerequisites that we need to apply in case the prerequisites do not exist in
the system.
Apart from CPU patches to Oracle E-Business Suite, there are also certain proactive Stabilization fixes
for all components. Apps DBAs should remember to apply all of these proactive fixes if they are
considering applying the Critical Patch Update (CPU) to their environment. The above Oracle Note
references this, but not in detail.
The MOS ID (below) outlines the steps for checking all proactive fixes for EBS components: Oracle E-
Business Suite Release 12.2: Consolidated List of Patches and Technology Bug Fixes (Doc ID
1594274.1)
While checking the patches for each component, there is potential for some conflict patches.
Sometimes, both can’t co-exist. If this occurs, try to get the combination patch. If you weren't able to
resolve this from the Oracle support site, it is always better to raise an SR with Oracle to get the new
patches. Most of the time, Oracle has already encountered this scenario with other customers and
the solution might be available to you immediately.
One more thing, it's always better to run the EBS Technology Code Level Checker (ETCC) before and
after the above exercise.
After applying the patches, if you find any suggestions from [Link], please consider
applying those missing patches as well. This is a type of checker for you to identify if you have missed
any patches. This ETCC script primarily covers all of the proactive fixes but not the Critical Patch
Update.
Both CPU and PSU are cumulative, so you don't have to worry if you're skipping one release and
applying the latest one.
References
• Patch 17537119
• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 Critical Patch Update Knowledge Document (April 2018)
(Doc ID 2369524.1)
• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2: Consolidated List of Patches and Technology Bug Fixes
(Doc ID 1594274.1)