Introduction
In this blog post I will share how to use the Oracle AutoUpgrade utility to upgrade an Oracle 19c (19.30.0.0.0) Database to Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1.0.0).
If you have yet to configure Oracle AutoUpgrade or created an Oracle AI Database 26ai Oracle Home check-out How to create an Oracle AI Database 26ai environment with AutoUpgrade.
Pre-Upgrade Snapshot
Before any installation, upgrade or patching I always recommend performing a storage snapshot to provide a recovery point incase something goes very wrong. In my lab I am using a Pure Storage FlashArray, so I am covered, check with your storage administrator to see if your storage platform supports snapshots.
AutoUpgrade
In my lab, I have a many Oracle database servers, so to simplify the upgrade process I am using a Pure Storage FlashBlade NFS share mounted on each database server at /mnt/oracle.
If you are using a Pure Storage FlashArray you can also use the FlashArray to provide an NFS shared file system.
By using a shared NFS file system I can simply management by maintaining one set of scripts, configuration files and patch downloads.
Latest AutoUpgrade
Since my last blog post a new version of AutoUpgrade (26.2.260205) has been released, if required, download the latest AutoUpgrade from https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/autoupgrade.jar, for example.
wget -O /mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/autoupgrade.jar https://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/otn_software/autoupgrade.jar
And confirm AutoUpgrade jar file using autoupgrade -version, for example:
$ java -jar autoupgrade.jar -version
build.version 26.2.260205
build.date 2026/02/05 04:36:27 +0000
build.hash 226a8557b
build.hash_date 2026/02/04 13:52:42 +0000
build.supported_target_versions 12.2,18,19,21,23
build.type production
build.label (HEAD, tag: v26.2, origin/rdbms_19.31)
build.MOS_NOTE 2485457.1
build.MOS_LINK https://support.oracle.com/epmos/faces/DocumentDisplay?id=2485457.1
Below is my example Oracle AI Database 26ai upgrade configuration file.
global.global_log_dir=/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/logs
global.keystore=/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/keystore
upg1.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_1
upg1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0/dbhome_1
upg1.sid=cdb2
upg1.tune_setting=proactive_fixups=true
upg1.restoration=YES
upg1.start_time=NOW
Alternatively, you may want to consider using the AutoUpgrade Composer maintained by fellow Oracle ACE Director, Marcus Vinicius to help you get started.
Analyze Mode
Before we start the upgrade process, use AutoUpgrade to identify any issues using Analyze mode.
The Analyze mode only performs select statements, no insert, update, or delete operations so can be run safely on production / source databases.
As the AutoUpgrade Analyze mode only performs selects you can safely run AutoUpgrade on your source or Production Oracle Database before you clone / set up your target Oracle AI Database 26ai home.
$ java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config upgrade_26ai.cfg -mode analyze
AutoUpgrade 26.2.260205 launched with default internal options
Processing config file …
Loading AutoUpgrade keystore
AutoUpgrade keystore is loaded
+——————————–+
| Starting AutoUpgrade execution |
+——————————–+
1 CDB(s) plus 2 PDB(s) will be analyzed
Type ‘help’ to list console commands
upg> lsj -a
upg> +—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————-+
|Job#|DB_NAME| STAGE|OPERATION| STATUS|START_TIME|UPDATED| MESSAGE|
+—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————-+
| 100| cdb2|PRECHECKS|EXECUTING|RUNNING| 10:06:40| 0s ago|Executing Checks|
+—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————-+
Total jobs 1
…
The command lsj is running every 7 seconds. PRESS ENTER TO EXIT
Job 100 completed
——————- Final Summary ——————–
Number of databases [ 1 ]
Jobs finished [1]
Jobs failed [0]
Please check the summary report at:
/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/logs/cfgtoollogs/upgrade/auto/status/status.html
/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/logs/cfgtoollogs/upgrade/auto/status/status.log
Review the status.log or status.html output, for example:
On completion, check the status.log file and/or review the status.html file in your browser, for example:
Deploy Mode
Before you run Deploy, you must have a back-out plan in place, in addition to the backup plan run as part of the AutoUpgrade script, so if possible create a recovery point with a storage snapshot.
We can now launch Oracle AutoUpgrade to upgrade the Oracle 19c Database to Oracle AI Database 26ai.
AutoUpgrade starts and presents us with the console, from the upg> prompt type lsj -a (Lists Job by Status) to follow progress, once complete AutoUpgrade automatically exists.
$ java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config upgrade_26ai.cfg -mode deploy
AutoUpgrade 26.2.260205 launched with default internal options
Processing config file …
Loading AutoUpgrade keystore
AutoUpgrade keystore is loaded
+——————————–+
| Starting AutoUpgrade execution |
+——————————–+
1 CDB(s) plus 2 PDB(s) will be processed
Type ‘help’ to list console commands
upg> lsj -a
upg> +—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————————-+
|Job#|DB_NAME| STAGE|OPERATION| STATUS|START_TIME|UPDATED| MESSAGE|
+—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————————-+
| 101| cdb2|PRECHECKS|EXECUTING|RUNNING| 10:14:06|13s ago|Loading database information|
+—-+——-+———+———+——-+———-+——-+—————————-+
Total jobs 1
…
Job 101 completed
——————- Final Summary ——————–
Number of databases [ 1 ]
Jobs finished [1]
Jobs failed [0]
Jobs restored [0]
Jobs pending [0]
—- Drop GRP at your convenience once you consider it is no longer needed —-
Drop GRP from cdb2: drop restore point AUTOUPGRADE_9212_CDB21930000
Please check the summary report at:
/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/logs/cfgtoollogs/upgrade/auto/status/status.html
/mnt/oracle/software/autoupgrade/z-oracle2/logs/cfgtoollogs/upgrade/auto/status/status.log
Track the progress % for completion.
On completion, check the status.log file and/or review the status.html file in your browser, for example:
Update the environmental variables to reflect the new Oracle AI Database 26ai Oracle Home and confirm version using the v$version or v$instance views, for example:
Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition Release 23.26.1.0.0 – Production
Version 23.26.1.0.0
SQL> select BANNER_FULL from v$version;
BANNER_FULL
Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition Release 23.26.1.0.0 – Production
Version 23.26.1.0.0
SQL> select INSTANCE_NAME, HOST_NAME, VERSION_FULL, EDITION from v$instance;
INSTANCE_NAME HOST_NAME VERSION_FULL EDITION
————- ——— ———— ——-
cdb2 z-oracle2.uklab.purestorage.com 23.26.1.0.0 EE
Summary
In this Blog post I have shared how to use AutoUpgrade utility upgrade an Oracle Database 19c (19.30.0.0) to Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1.0.0).
If you are ready to start planning your Oracle Databases upgrades, now is a good time to follow the Oracle Database Upgrade Product management team’s blogs, to get the latest updates.
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