Oracle DBA

Efficient lifecycle management on Exadata demands quick access to the correct Database (DB) and Grid Infrastructure (GI) Gold Image Clone patches. These images are essential for deploying and updating Oracle Database environments using tools such as OEDACLI or OEDA.

This guide outlines the most effective methods to locate and verify the latest Gold Image Clone files for Oracle Exadata, specifically for environments running Oracle AI Database 26ai and later.

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Reference MOS Notes

Oracle My Oracle Support (MOS) remains the authoritative source for patch information. The following notes list the required Gold Image patches:

• Doc ID 888828.1 – Oracle Database Gold Image Patches for Exadata
• Doc ID 888.1 – Oracle Grid Infrastructure (GI) Patches

Both notes provide patch numbers, descriptions, and platform-specific download links.

However, instead of manually searching for clone file names such as DB SOFTWARE CLONE or GI SOFTWARE CLONE on MOS, there is a faster and more automated method using OEDA and OEDACLI.

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Locating Gold Images Using the Oracle Exadata Deployment Assistant (OEDA)

1. Download the Latest OEDA Release

Obtain the current version of OEDA from Oracle’s official download site:
https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/oeda-downloads.html

Unzip the package into a convenient local directory.

2. Generate an Installation Report

Launch the OEDA Web UI, either by creating a new configuration or uploading an existing one.
Upon completing the configuration, refer to Appendix B of the generated Installation Report — this section lists the required download files and patches (including Gold Image Clone file names and patch numbers).

This method provides a structured and reliable reference directly aligned with the versions configured for deployment.

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Retrieving Gold Image Details with OEDACLI

OEDACLI, the command-line component of OEDA, provides a streamlined interface to list all relevant clone and patch information without needing a configuration file.

1. Start the OEDACLI Utility

./oedacli

2. List Required Database Clone Files

oedacli> LIST REQUIREDFILES DBVERSION=23.26.0.0.0

Sample Output:

VM_DB_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : p38455285_2326000DBRU_Linux-x86-64.zip : db-klone-Linux-x86-64-2300026000.zip
VM_DB_KVM_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : p38455285_2326000DBRU_Linux-x86-64.zip : db-klone-Linux-x86-64-2300026000.zip
BM_DB_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : V1043785-01.zip

3. List Required Grid Infrastructure Clone Files

oedacli> LIST REQUIREDFILES GIVERSION=23.26.0.0.0

Sample Output:

VM_GI_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : p38455288_2326000GIRU_Linux-x86-64.zip : grid-klone-Linux-x86-64-2300026000.zip
VM_GI_KVM_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : p38455288_2326000GIRU_Linux-x86-64.zip : grid-klone-Linux-x86-64-2300026000.zip
BM_GI_FILES_23.26.0.0.0 : V1043786-01.zip

From this output, it is clear that:

• Database patch → 38455285
• Grid Infrastructure patch → 38455288

These patch numbers correspond to the clone files used by OEDA and OEDACLI for deploying or updating Oracle Database and GI on Exadata.

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Checking Supported Versions per Exadata Generation

OEDACLI can also verify which software versions are certified for a specific Exadata generation.

oedacli> LIST SOFTWAREVERSIONS WHERE TYPE=X8M

Sample Output:

GI Versions for X8M
11.2.0.4.210119
12.1.0.2.220719
12.2.0.1.220118
18.14.0.0.210420
19.29.0.0.251021, 19.28.0.0.250715, 19.27.0.0.250415, 19.26.0.0.250121
23.26.0.0.0, 23.9.0.25.07, 23.8.0.25.04, 23.7.0.25.01
Recommended GI version: 23.26.0.0.0

DB Versions for X8M
11.2.0.4.210119
12.1.0.2.220719
12.2.0.1.220118
18.14.0.0.210420
19.29.0.0.251021, 19.28.0.0.250715, 19.27.0.0.250415, 19.26.0.0.250121
23.26.0.0.0, 23.9.0.25.07, 23.8.0.25.04, 23.7.0.25.01
Recommended DB version: 23.26.0.0.0

This provides a quick and authoritative list of supported Oracle Database and GI versions for a given Exadata hardware generation, along with Oracle’s current recommendations.

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Summary

The OEDACLI utility provides the most efficient and reliable method to identify Oracle Database and GI Gold Image Clone patch numbers required for Exadata deployments.

Key takeaways:

• Reference MOS Notes 888828.1 and 888.1 for formal patch documentation.
• Download the latest OEDA package to access both the Web UI and OEDACLI.
• Use the following commands to retrieve required patches directly:
  • LIST REQUIREDFILES DBVERSION=<version>
  • LIST REQUIREDFILES GIVERSION=<version>
• Validate supported versions with LIST SOFTWAREVERSIONS WHERE TYPE=<system> to ensure compatibility.

This approach eliminates manual searching in MOS, reduces potential for errors, and aligns with Oracle’s best practices for Exadata image-based patching and deployment.

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Best Practice Recommendation

Always ensure you are using the latest OEDA release and corresponding OEDACLI utility. Older versions may not display recent patch mappings for current Oracle Database or GI versions.

Additionally, confirm that required support coverage is in place for any Oracle versions earlier than 19c before applying updates.