Preface

This book guides you through the process of planning and executing Oracle Database upgrades. In addition, this manual provides information about compatibility, upgrading applications, and important changes in the new Oracle Database release, such as initialization parameter changes and data dictionary changes.

Oracle Database Upgrade Guide contains information that describes the features and functions of Oracle Database (also known as the standard edition) and Oracle Database Enterprise Edition products. Oracle Database and Oracle Database Enterprise Edition have the same basic features. However, several advanced features are available only with Oracle Database Enterprise Edition, and some of these are optional. For example, to use application failover, you must have the Enterprise Edition with the Oracle Real Application Clusters option.

See Also:

Oracle Database New Features Guide for information about the differences between Oracle Database and Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and the features and options that are available to you

This preface contains these topics:

Audience

Oracle Database Upgrade Guide is intended for database administrators (DBAs), application developers, security administrators, system operators, and anyone who plans or performs Oracle Database upgrades.

To use this document, you must be familiar with:

  • Relational database concepts

  • Your current Oracle Database release

  • Your operating system environment

Documentation Accessibility

For information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program website at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=docacc.

Access to Oracle Support

Oracle customers that have purchased support have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=info or visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=trs if you are hearing impaired.

Related Documentation

For more information, see these Oracle resources:

Many of the examples in this guide use the sample schemas, installed by default when you select the Basic Installation option with an Oracle Database installation. Refer to Oracle Database Sample Schemas for information on how these schemas were created and how you can use them.

Conventions

The following text conventions are used in this document:

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