With the Premier Support period for Oracle 9i set to end on the 31st of July, many organisations are gearing up for an upgrade to Oracle’s flagship product - 10g Release 2.

 

The huge strides in automation, system availability and security have been well documented over the past three years, however there’s a plethora of reasons why businesses running Oracle are still running older versions. Oracle 10g may have been on the scene for a while now, yet many IT Managers and DBAs haven’t been in any rush to upgrade – regardless of Oracle’s press machine.

 

One of the most common reasons is that the whole process can be time consuming and a considerably challenging prospect for even the most seasoned IT professional. A recent survey by Tech Target found that a massive 40% of IT decision makers in organisations running Oracle, said that one of the most significant challenges they face in their working lives is dealing with upgrades and patches.

 

Why upgrade now?

 

As well as the huge benefits and new features in 10g, there are system-critical reasons to upgrade 9i before the Premier Support period ends. Once Premier Support has ended, ‘extended support’ begins. This, critically, doesn’t include fixes for newly discovered bugs or certification with new third party applications.

Each environment is different, and if your systems go down from a bug which hasn’t been identified before – Oracle will not write a fix. This evidently could have massive implications on the security and availability of your systems.

 

Manage the risk

 

Significant preparation, testing and time are required for any upgrade project, so it’s easy to see why businesses are often apprehensive to commit resource. 

Teamsolve have managed scores of upgrades and migrations to 10g - Technology Director Dave Bennett has overseen many of them. “When a company’s systems are working correctly, it can be hard to see value in upgrading and running the risk of database downtime.” Dave adds, “But once Premier Support ends you’re entering different territory, and I would recommend every company develops a migration plan with clearly defined timescales as soon as possible.”

 

Miss it – miss out

 

The risk involved in running a database under extended support is reason enough to upgrade, but it also needs to be seen as a process which can bring great benefit to your IT operations.

 

There are a wide range of new features at your disposal with Oracle 10g, that actually, ultimately, offset much of the investment. Improved efficiencies can be enjoyed through the security and automation improvements that lower the total cost of ownership and free up DBAs to work on other projects.

 

The best way to ensure you get the most out of your upgrade is to consider training as part of the migration plan. Teamsolve have delivered a 10g New Features course for many organisations to ensure that the benefits and efficiencies are realised from the outset.

 

In summary:

  • Oracle 9i is de-supported by Oracle on the 31st of July.
  • Plan your migration strategy now to 10g, so you can be sure your mission critical data remains live.
  • If you aren’t going to upgrade immediately, consider a robust support contract from a Trusted Oracle Advisor such as Teamsolve, to provide peace of mind that your legacy system will continue to function correctly.
  • Investment in the upgrade is offset by the cost savings and improved automation contained with 10g Release 2.
  • When you do upgrade, make sure you get the most out of your investment by including training in your migration plan.  Specific training courses, such as 10g New Features offered by Teamsolve, ensures your business gets maximum return from day one.

Teamsolve can manage and implement any upgrade project, taking away the time required, resource and risk for your business. Our proven upgrade methodologies ensure that your systems are in safe hands and that the whole process is carried out with the minimum disruption to system productivity.

 

Remember, as long as you’ve been paying your Oracle support and maintenance there are no licence charges associated with upgrading to the latest releases. 

 

In the event that licences are needed, our Certified Advantage Partner status – the highest level of Oracle partnership possible – guarantees maximum discount on your licences.

 

To find out how Teamsolve can help you upgrade your environment, complete our contact form, email info@teamsolve.co.uk or telephone us on 0870 11 22 000.

Contact Us