Always Test Your Patch File

Whenever you try to patch Oracle database, before you unzip the patch file make sure you test the file, and ensure no error from the test.

I encountered error while trying to patch the database, it is because the patch file is corrupted.

File is compressed with ZIP




I am using the unzip command to unzip the patch

When I hit enter everything looks ok

The Patch look like successfully extracted. Please note that the extraction is not completely 100%, there are so many missing files. Then do to test the file, with following command

unzip -t patchfile

Now I see a lot of errors.

I do not know where is the problem lies, most probably because the patch is corrupted when I try to ftp to the server using sftp and ftp.

Oracle suggested

"Downloading Patch to Windows OS and then ftp to Linux server causes such file corruptions issues in most cases. that is why you are always advised to download patches to the server machine with Oracle Applications directly."

"Copy the file with removable storage"

"Request for the media"

But the fact is that most of the database servers are at the back end therefore do not have internet connection for security purpose, and most of the time you work remotely, requesting for the media takes days to arrive.

However I did this:

After downloaded the patch file from metalink, extract the file with WinZip or any similar program you have, then re compress again the output to new zip file and ftp the file to the server. (off course you must use binary mode during the ftp trasfer).
Simple and workable.

Good Luck.