Prerequisites

Before you begin, you must install Oracle 12.1.0.2 into a new ORACLE_HOME. Make sure that you install Oracle into a different ORACLE_HOME than the one used for Oracle 11.2.0.4. Refer to the Tivoli® Netcool® Performance Manager installation instructions for help on installing Oracle.

When you complete the installation of Oracle 12.1.0.2, make sure that you change your ORACLE_HOME environment variable back to the Oracle 11.2.0.4 home. You are directed to change to the Oracle 12.1.0.2 ORACLE_HOME later in the upgrade process.

To verify the current version of Oracle that you are running, log in to SQL*Plus as the sys user and issue the following query:

-bash-3.2$ sqlplus "/ as sysdba"

SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.4.0 Production on Wed Jun 12 19:50:37 2013

Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.4.0 - 64bit Production
With the Partitioning option

SQL> select * from v$version;

BANNER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.4.0 - 64bit Production
PL/SQL Release 11.2.0.4.0 - Production
CORE    11.2.0.4.0      Production
TNS for Linux: Version 11.2.0.4.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 11.2.0.4.0 - Production

SQL>

Oracle recommends a full cold backup of your database.

Ensure that all requirements are met in each operating system. Refer to the Metalink article 169706.1 for individual operating system release levels, patch levels, package requirements, and system settings needed.

For Solaris, the Solaris 10 installation must be at least update 6 (dated October 2008) or later. If the Solaris release is not at least update 6, it cannot be patched to update 6. It must be upgraded to update 6 or above by using booting off of DVD or Jumpstart or similar. Applying a Solaris recommended patch set dated after October 2008 is not the same thing as having Solaris 10 Update 6 and the Oracle 11g upgrade is most likely to fail.