Extended support for Oracle 11g ended in December 2020 and
support for Oracle 18c in June 2021
So, what are your options?
To ensure that the database software is kept relevant for their customers and to stay on top of their game, Oracle constantly releases new versions with new features and new tools that aim to increase security, database capabilities and performance.
As new versions are released, support for the older versions eventually ends. As has now happened to Oracle versions 11g and 18c. For a full list of Oracle database versions (and many other products) see: End of Life – Oracle Database
So, what are your options?
Upgrade – Upgrading is the recommended choice and maybe an ideal opportunity to consolidate your database estate. WellData’s Database Migration Service
Move to Cloud – Oracle guidance on how to migrate to OCI. WellData’s Cloud Migration Service
Do nothing – you can simply ignore the End-of-Support notice. Your Oracle database will still be usable.
However, it does mean that you will no longer receive critical patch updates, hotfixes or security fixes. You can still use the database and you can still get support for currently known bugs, but you won’t receive any Oracle support if you incur any new problems, and critically, your system could be vulnerable to security breaches
But I Can’t Upgrade!
There are many reasons why upgrading to the latest version of Oracle is not possible, unsupported hardware, redevelopment costs of existing infrastructure, application dependencies, financial constraints and many others…
So, What Can I do?
Rather than “Do Nothing” the better option is to ensure that your database is actively maintained. Obviously upgrading is no longer an option but keeping track of security weaknesses and ensuring that other defences are deployed to mitigate any vulnerabilities can be achieved.
WellData’s database support services can resolve these challenges. WellData will not only manage and maintain a tight grip on the security aspects of the database infrastructure but also continue to maintain the good functioning of your systems overall with the tools available. This is in addition to the high standards of support you would naturally expect from WellData as your support partner.
Infrastructure Managed Service
And the Future?
WellData will also help you prepare a “Plan for The Future”.
That plan may be to upgrade your database to a later version with the possible upgrades to hardware, application, interfaces, etc. All of which would require careful planning, reengineering and testing to ensure a seamless transition.
Alternatively, the plan may be to continue with the existing system (suitably supported) until a replacement system is available to take over. That replacement system could be a later version of the existing system or, in some cases, a completely different one. And that system could be located On-Prem or in the Cloud. In each case WellData will ensure the transition is as seamless as it can be.
Infrastructure Managed Service
But what about older versions?
WellData’s database support services are not just limited to the latest versions we can also support some quite old versions, not just 18c and 11g but also 12c, 10g or even 9i.
The oldest version we have provided support for was a version 7.2 database on an OpenVMS operating system using Alpha hardware from DEC. Yes, we have been established for that long. Version 7.2 was old even when we started support, but it was needed while a late running project was completed.
Our involvement went beyond just the database support and included the data mapping and final extraction of the data to feed into the replacement system.
Infrastructure Managed Service
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