Re: Upgrade Plans

2003-09-25 Thread KENNETH JANUSZ
Dennis:

Thanks for the information.  I pretty much have these items in mind, what
I'm looking for are some things that I may have missed.  I'm interviewing
for an Oracle DBA position and they have a big project starting after the
first of the year to move / upgrade their Oracle application / DB to new
servers.  So, when I go in for a hopeful interview next week I can speak
with some intelligence.


Ken


- Original Message -
To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 11:44 AM


> Ken
> Having gone through this numerous times, I don't think there is such a
> thing as a detailed plan that has any use beyond the immediate task. I
would
> concentrate first of all on your philosophical approach, the principles on
> which you work. Here are some ideas:
> -  Create a staging/QA server for each production server that is identical
> as possible to production. I like to create the Oracle database from
backups
> so I get a chance to verify my backups at the same time.
> -  Have a complete set of data for the staging database. I've seen several
> problems that were not replicated with only a portion of the data.
> -  Perform the exact steps in staging that you will be performing in
> production and take careful notes. Repeat if any problems are encountered.
> -  Always have a backout plan for any production action. I find a lot of
> comfort in a cold backup of the entire system.
> -  As much as possible, change only one component at a time. That is, only
> upgrade the O.S., give the system a few weeks to shake out, then upgrade
the
> DB, and so on. Then when a strange problem arises you know which vendor to
> go to first.
> -  Stick to versions certified by the vendors. Only use an Oracle version
> certified for that version of the O.S. and application.
> -  Decide your approach to applying patches. Typically patches are tested
> much less thoroughly than overall releases. So some sites only apply
patches
> if they are experiencing problems the patch will fix. Other sites believe
in
> applying all patches as soon as they are released.
> -  Then there will be a bunch of steps related to your specific situation.
> All I know is to get as many people involved as possible to minimize the
> chance that something is overlooked. And if something does get overlooked,
> people won't get nearly as upset if you kept them in the loop so they had
a
> chance to raise issues as if you left them out.
> -  Promise the users that the downtime will be more than you expect.
Better
> to underpromise and overperform.
>
> -Original Message-
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:25 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
> Would like to know where I can find some detailed plans on upgrading
server,
> O/S, DB and applications to their new releases.  Something like a TO DO
list
> would be helpful.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks much,
> Ken Janusz, CPIM
>
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
> --
> Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
>   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Fat City Network Services-- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
> San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web hosting services
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> also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).


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-- 
Author: KENNETH JANUSZ
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RE: Upgrade Plans

2003-09-24 Thread DENNIS WILLIAMS
Ken
Having gone through this numerous times, I don't think there is such a
thing as a detailed plan that has any use beyond the immediate task. I would
concentrate first of all on your philosophical approach, the principles on
which you work. Here are some ideas:
-  Create a staging/QA server for each production server that is identical
as possible to production. I like to create the Oracle database from backups
so I get a chance to verify my backups at the same time.
-  Have a complete set of data for the staging database. I've seen several
problems that were not replicated with only a portion of the data.
-  Perform the exact steps in staging that you will be performing in
production and take careful notes. Repeat if any problems are encountered.
-  Always have a backout plan for any production action. I find a lot of
comfort in a cold backup of the entire system. 
-  As much as possible, change only one component at a time. That is, only
upgrade the O.S., give the system a few weeks to shake out, then upgrade the
DB, and so on. Then when a strange problem arises you know which vendor to
go to first.
-  Stick to versions certified by the vendors. Only use an Oracle version
certified for that version of the O.S. and application.
-  Decide your approach to applying patches. Typically patches are tested
much less thoroughly than overall releases. So some sites only apply patches
if they are experiencing problems the patch will fix. Other sites believe in
applying all patches as soon as they are released. 
-  Then there will be a bunch of steps related to your specific situation.
All I know is to get as many people involved as possible to minimize the
chance that something is overlooked. And if something does get overlooked,
people won't get nearly as upset if you kept them in the loop so they had a
chance to raise issues as if you left them out.
-  Promise the users that the downtime will be more than you expect. Better
to underpromise and overperform.

-Original Message-
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:25 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L


Would like to know where I can find some detailed plans on upgrading server,
O/S, DB and applications to their new releases.  Something like a TO DO list
would be helpful.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks much,
Ken Janusz, CPIM

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
  INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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RE: Upgrade Plans

2003-09-24 Thread Mladen Gogala
You want to start an extensive product like switching to the new version
and platform without support? Have you ever heard of the word "kamikaze"?

--
Mladen Gogala
Oracle DBA 



> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On 
> Behalf Of KENNETH JANUSZ
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 11:00 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: Re: Upgrade Plans
> 
> 
> Thanks Mike, but this won't work.  I'm not a member of Metalink.
> 
> Ken
> 
> 
> - Original Message -
> To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:44 AM
> 
> 
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_gui.startup
> >
> > metalink
> > "top tech docs"
> > "upgrade and migration"
> >
> >
> >
> >   "KENNETH JANUSZ"
> >   <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:   Multiple
> recipients of list ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >   Sent by: cc:
> >   [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject:  
> Upgrade Plans
> >   .com
> >
> >
> >   09/24/2003 10:24
> >   AM
> >   Please respond to
> >   ORACLE-L
> 
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Would like to know where I can find some detailed plans on upgrading
> server,
> > O/S, DB and applications to their new releases.  Something 
> like a TO 
> > DO
> list
> > would be helpful.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks much,
> > Ken Janusz, CPIM
> >
> >
> > --
> > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
> > --
> > Author: Michael Boligan
> >   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > Fat City Network Services-- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
> > San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web 
> hosting services
> > 
> -
> > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
> > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in 
> > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the 
> > name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may 
> also send 
> > the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
> 
> -- 
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
> -- 
> Author: KENNETH JANUSZ
>   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> Fat City Network Services-- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
> San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web hosting services
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> To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
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> from).  You may also send the HELP command for other 
> information (like subscribing).
> 




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-- 
Author: Mladen Gogala
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Re: Upgrade Plans

2003-09-24 Thread KENNETH JANUSZ
Thanks Mike, but this won't work.  I'm not a member of Metalink.

Ken


- Original Message -
To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:44 AM


>
>
>
>
> http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_gui.startup
>
> metalink
> "top tech docs"
> "upgrade and migration"
>
>
>
>   "KENNETH JANUSZ"
>   <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:   Multiple
recipients of list ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>   Sent by: cc:
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject:  Upgrade Plans
>   .com
>
>
>   09/24/2003 10:24
>   AM
>   Please respond to
>   ORACLE-L

>
>
>
>
>
>
> Would like to know where I can find some detailed plans on upgrading
server,
> O/S, DB and applications to their new releases.  Something like a TO DO
list
> would be helpful.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks much,
> Ken Janusz, CPIM
>
>
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
> --
> Author: Michael Boligan
>   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Fat City Network Services-- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
> San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web hosting services
> -
> To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
> to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
> the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
> (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
> also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: KENNETH JANUSZ
  INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web hosting services
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To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
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Re: Upgrade Plans

2003-09-24 Thread Michael Boligan




http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_gui.startup

metalink
"top tech docs"
"upgrade and migration"


   
  
  "KENNETH JANUSZ" 
  
  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:   Multiple recipients of list 
ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  Sent by: cc: 
  
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject:  Upgrade Plans 
  
  .com 
  
   
  
   
  
  09/24/2003 10:24 
  
  AM   
  
  Please respond to
  
  ORACLE-L 
  
   
  
   
  




Would like to know where I can find some detailed plans on upgrading server,
O/S, DB and applications to their new releases.  Something like a TO DO list
would be helpful.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much,
Ken Janusz, CPIM


-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: Michael Boligan
  INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Fat City Network Services-- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
San Diego, California-- Mailing list and web hosting services
-
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
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