Simplify Oracle critical patch updates using simple configurations

There are many automation tools available and what I am about to share doesn’t require any.

Currently, I am patching Oracle July 2018 for AIX and October 2018 for Linux. The steps are the same and only the patch number differs. All the locations are the same for Dev/QA/PROD for each corresponding OS type and PSU.

Here is an example for Oct 2018 PSU.
Note: other variables are there to accommodate manual patching vs opatch auto.

# MDinh : Nov 15, 2018
# SET VARIABLES FOR GI_PSU AND OJVM_PSU 11.2.0.4
# Modify Locations/OPatch Version/Patch Number
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Patch 28429134 - Oracle Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patch Set Update 11.2.0.4.181016
#     Patch Number    Description               Applicable Homes
#     28204707        DB PSU 11.2.0.4.181016    Both DB Homes and Grid Home
#     27735020        OCW PSU 11.2.0.4.181016   Both DB Homes and Grid Home
#     28204939        ACFS PSU 11.2.0.4.181016  Only Grid Home
#
# Patch 28440700 - Oracle JavaVM Component 11.2.0.4.181016 Database PSU
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
set +x
export OPATCH_VER=11.2.0.3.6
export PATCH_TOP_DIR=/export/media/PSU/2018OCT
export GI_PSU=$PATCH_TOP_DIR/GI/28429134
export DB_PSU=$GI_PSU/28204707
export OCW_PSU=$GI_PSU/27735020
export ACFS_PSU=$GI_PSU/28204939
export OJVM_PSU=$PATCH_TOP_DIR/OJVM/28440700
env|grep PSU

Here is an example for Jul 2018 PSU.
Note: other variables are there to accommodate manual patching vs opatch auto.

# MDinh : Nov 15, 2018
# SET VARIABLES FOR GI_PSU AND OJVM_PSU 11.2.0.4
# Modify Locations/OPatch Version/Patch Number
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Patch 27967757 - Oracle Grid Infrastructure Patch Set Update 11.2.0.4.180717 (Includes Database PSU)
#     Patch Number    Description               Applicable Homes
#     27734982        DB PSU 11.2.0.4.180717    Both DB Homes and Grid Home
#     27441052        OCW PSU 11.2.0.4.180417   Both DB Homes and Grid Home
#     27959254        ACFS PSU 11.2.0.4.180717  Only Grid Home
#
# Patch 27923163 - Oracle JavaVM Component 11.2.0.4.180717 Database PSU
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
set +x
export OPATCH_VER=11.2.0.3.6
export PATCH_TOP_DIR=/recovery_area/media/PSU/2018JUL
export GI_PSU=$PATCH_TOP_DIR/GI/27967757
export OJVM_PSU=$PATCH_TOP_DIR/OJVM/27923163
export OCW_PSU=$GI_PSU/27441052
export ACFS_PSU=$GI_PSU/27959254
export DB_PSU=$GI_PSU/27734982
env|grep PSU

To patch GI PSU:

. /home/oracle/gi.env
echo $GRID_HOME

. /recovery_area/media/PSU/2018JUL/law_psu.env
ls -ld $GI_PSU; ls -l /tmp/ocm.rsp

$GRID_HOME/OPatch/opatch auto $GI_PSU -ocmrf /tmp/ocm.rsp

To patch OJVM PSU:

. /home/oracle/db.env
echo $ORACLE_HOME

. /recovery_area/media/PSU/2018JUL/law_psu.env
ls -ld $OJVM_PSU

$ORACLE_HOME/OPatch/opatch apply $OJVM_PSU

The only difference between patching Oracle July 2018 for AIX and October 2018 Linux is the *psu.env to source.

. /export/media/PSU/2018OCT/pos_psu.env
. /recovery_area/media/PSU/2018JUL/law_psu.env

Hopefully, this will make your patching simpler.