Different versions of Oracle

Oracle Database 10g New Features

NID utility has been introduced to change the database name and id.

Automated Storage Management (ASM). ASMB, RBAL, ARBx are the new background processes related to ASM.

New memory structure in SGA i.e. Streams pool (streams_pool_size parameter), useful for datapump activities & streams replication.

From Oracle 10g, the spool command can append to an existing one.

SQL> spool result.log append

Ability to rename tablespaces (except SYSTEM and SYSAUX), whether permanent or temporary, using the following command:

SQL> ALTER TABLESPACE oldname RENAME TO newname;

Oracle Database 11g New Features

Ability to mark a table as read only.

SQL> alter table table-name read only;

Temporary tablespace or it's tempfile can be shrinked, up to specified size.

SQL> alter tablespace temp-tbs shrink space;

SQL> alter tablespace temp-tbs shrink space keep n{K|M|G|T|P|E};

Introduction of ADR, single location of all error and trace data in the database, diagnostic_dump parameter

A new parameter is added in 11g, called MEMORY_TARGET, automatic memory management for both the SGA and PGA.

A system privelege is introduced in 11g called SYSASM, and this is granted to users who need to perform ASM related tasks.

Oracle Database 12c New Features

Moving and Renaming datafile is now ONLINE, no need to put datafile in offline.

SQL> alter database move datafile 'path' to 'new_path';

No need to shutdown database for changing archive log mode.

Like sysdba, sysoper & sysasm, we have new privileges, in Oracle 12.1.0.

sysbackup for backup operations

sysdg for Data Guard operations

syskm for key management

Patching:

Centralised patching.

We can retrieve OPatch information using sqlplus query, using DBMS_QOPATCH package

SQL> select dbms_qopatch.get_opatch_lsinventory() from dual;

We can test patches on database copies, rolling patches out centrally once testing is complete.

New Commands

create pluggable database ...

alter pluggable database ...

drop pluggable database ...

New background processes - LREG (Listener Registration), SA (SGA Allocator), RM.

Oracle Database 12c Data Pump will allow turning off redo for the import operation (only).

$ impdp ... transform=disable_archive_logging:y

New features of Oracle Apps EBS 12.2

Use of Oracle WebLogic Server instead of Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J).
Integration between Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g Fusion Middleware Control and Oracle Applications Manager to monitor EBS environments with Oracle WebLogic Server technology.
Enhanced Workflow Worklist notification and management features.
Enhanced internationalization features, including new languages and calendars, and improved diagnostics.
Direct upgrade from EBS 11i (11.5.10.2), 12.0.4, 12.0.6, 12.1.1.12.1.2 & 12.1.3 to 12.2 is possible.
Oracle Single Sign-On is  replaced by Oracle Access Manager.
Oracle Portal replaced by Oracle WebCenter Portal.
Online patching mechanism introduced, that allows to apply patches while the system is up and running, and the users are working as normal.

The AD Online Patching (adop) command-line utility is used to manage the Online Patching cycle.

Difference Between Oracle apps 11i & R12

Summary of Changes :

Component	Release 11i	Release 12
Database	9.2	10.2
Developer	6i	10i
Application Server	1.0	10.1
Client Plug-in	Jinitiator	SUN JRE
Java Containers	Jserv	OC4J

Changes in Detail :

APPMGR
	OLD	NEW
APPL_TOP	$HOME/<SID>appl	$HOME/apps/apps_st/appl
COMMON_TOP	$HOME/<SID>comn	$HOME/apps/apps_st/comn
ORACLE_HOME	$HOME/<SID>ora/8.0.6	$HOME/apps/tech_st/10.1.2
IAS_ORACLE_HOME	$HOME/<SID>ora/iAS	$HOME/apps/tech_st/10.1.3
ORACLE
	OLD	NEW
ORACLE_HOME	$HOME/<SID>db/10.2.0	$HOME/db/tech_st/10.2.0
ORADATA	$HOME/<SID>data	$HOME/db/apps_st/data
INST_TOP (New Addition)
	OLD	NEW
INST_TOP	NA	$HOME/inst/apps/<context_name>

What’s new in Oracle Apps R12

Key points to Note:

Oracle Applications Release 12 is the latest release in the chain of E-Business Suite Releases by Oracle.

This release came up with the new file system model

Autoconfig will not write anything in APPL_TOP, COMMON_TOP area in R12.

All instance specific configurations, log files are written in INST_TOP area. This home provides the ability to share Applications and technology stack.

R12 new features

Applications Server 9i is replaced by 10g (10.1.3.X)

Forms & Reports Version 6i (8.0.6) are replaced by Forms & Reports Version 10g i.e. 10.1.2.X

mod_jserv is replaced by oc4j

Java/ JDK version 1.3.X or 1.4.X will be replaced by JDK 1.5.X

Techstack Components Changes

Database (RDBMS_ORACLE_HOME) - 10.2.0.2

FORMS ORACLE_HOME (8.0.6 ORACLE HOME equivalence) - 10.1.2

OC4J_ORACLE_HOME (iAS ORACLE_HOME equivalence) - 10.1.3

File system level changes

A new top INSTANCE_TOP is introduced in Release 12 for configuration and log files along with the other TOP's in existing in 11i.

All instance specific configurations, log files are written in INST_TOP area. 

This home provides the ability to share Applications and technology stack.

What is INSTANCE TOP

Instance home is the top-level directory for an applications instance which is known as Instance Home and is denoted the environment variable $INST_TOP. 

This contains all the config files, log files, SSL certificates etc.

Advantages of new INSTANCE HOME

The additional Instance Home makes the middle tier easier to manage and organized since the data is kept separate from the config files.

The Instance Home also has the ability to share the Applications and Technology stack code across multiple instances.

Another advantage of the Instance Home is that the autoconfig writes only in INST_TOP so APPL_TOP and ORACLE_HOME can also be made read only file system if required.