Oracle 23ai — Applying Grid Infrastructure Patches via GUI(Zero-Downtime)

In Oracle 23ai, it is possible to apply patches to the Grid software using the gridSetup.sh script through a wizard-based graphical interface. This process can also be performed with zero downtime. In this guide, we aim to apply Release Update 23.6 to Grid Infrastructure version 23.5.

Currently, Grid Infrastructure 23.5 is running:

[grid@OL810 ~]$ sqlplus "/as sysasm"
SQL*Plus: Release 23.0.0.0.0 – for Oracle Cloud and Engineered Systems on Wed Nov 27 12:57:14 2024
Version 23.5.0.24.07
Copyright © 1982, 2024, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 23ai Enterprise Edition Release 23.0.0.0.0 – for Oracle Cloud and Engineered Systems
Version 23.5.0.24.07
SQL>

To apply the patch, the Grid Infrastructure software version 23.6 must first be installed as software only.

[root@OL810 ~]# /grid/23.6/root.sh
Performing root user operation.
The following environment variables are set as:
    ORACLE_OWNER= grid
    ORACLE_HOME=  /grid/23.6
Enter the full pathname of the local bin directory: [/usr/local/bin]:
The contents of "dbhome" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
The contents of "oraenv" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
The contents of "coraenv" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
Entries will be added to the /etc/oratab file as needed by
Database Configuration Assistant when a database is created
Finished running generic part of root script.
Now product-specific root actions will be performed.
To configure Grid Infrastructure for a Cluster or Grid Infrastructure for a Stand-Alone Server execute the following command as grid user:
/grid/23.6/gridSetup.sh
This command launches the Grid Infrastructure Setup Wizard. The wizard also supports silent operation, and the parameters can be passed through the response file that is available in the 

The final step to apply the patch is to execute the root.sh script:

[root@OL810 ~]# /grid/23.6/root.sh
Performing root user operation.
The following environment variables are set as:
    ORACLE_OWNER= grid
    ORACLE_HOME=  /grid/23.6
Enter the full pathname of the local bin directory: [/usr/local/bin]:
The contents of "dbhome" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
The contents of "oraenv" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
The contents of "coraenv" have not changed. No need to overwrite.
Entries will be added to the /etc/oratab file as needed by
Database Configuration Assistant when a database is created
Finished running generic part of root script.
Now product-specific root actions will be performed.
Executing command '/grid/23.6/perl/bin/perl -I/grid/23.6/perl/lib -I/grid/23.6/crs/install /grid/23.6/crs/install/roothas.pl  -dstcrshome /grid/23.6 -prepatch                           '
Using configuration parameter file: /grid/23.6/crs/install/crsconfig_params
The log of current session can be found at:
  /grid/base/crsdata/ol810/crsconfig/hapatch_2024-11-27_12-59-47AM.log
acfsutil info fs: ACFS-03036: no mounted ACFS file systems
2024/11/27 13:00:08 CLSRSC-347: Successfully unlock /grid/23.6
2024/11/27 13:00:08 CLSRSC-671: Pre-patch steps for patching GI home successfully completed.
Executing command '/grid/23.6/perl/bin/perl -I/grid/23.6/perl/lib -I/grid/23.6/crs/install /grid/23.6/crs/install/roothas.pl  -dstcrshome /grid/23.6 -postpatch'
Using configuration parameter file: /grid/23.6/crs/install/crsconfig_params
The log of current session can be found at:
  /grid/base/crsdata/ol810/crsconfig/hapatch_2024-11-27_01-00-09PM.log
2024/11/27 13:00:30 CLSRSC-329: Replacing Clusterware entries in file 'oracle-ohasd.service'
2024/11/27 13:01:44 CLSRSC-672: Post-patch steps for patching GI home successfully completed.

The patch has been successfully applied to the Grid Infrastructure software, and the Oracle Grid Infrastructure version has been upgraded to 23.6:

[grid@OL810 ~]$ sqlplus "/as sysasm"
SQL*Plus: Release 23.0.0.0.0 - for Oracle Cloud and Engineered Systems on Wed Nov 27 13:04:06 2024
Version 23.5.0.24.07
Copyright (c) 1982, 2024, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 23ai Enterprise Edition Release 23.0.0.0.0 - for Oracle Cloud and Engineered Systems
Version 23.6.0.24.10
SQL>