Foreword:
The following is a summary of Oracle's upgrade roadmap for each version:
1. Oracle 8i : It is no longer maintained.
2. Oracle 9i : It is no longer maintained.
3. Oracle 10g : It is no longer maintained.
4. Oracle 11g : Supports upgrading to Oracle 12c. However, it should be noted that the upgrade of Oracle 11g needs to be upgraded to version 11.2.0.4 first, and then upgraded to Oracle 12c.
5. Oracle 12c : Supports upgrading to Oracle 18c and Oracle 19c. However, it should be noted that the upgrade of Oracle 12c needs to be upgraded to version 12.2.0.1 first, and then upgraded to Oracle 18c or 19c.
6. Oracle 18c : Support direct upgrade to Oracle 19c.
7. Oracle 19c : Currently the latest version, it is Oracle's long-term support version (LTS), which will be continuously maintained and updated in the next few years.
It should be noted that the upgrade process between different versions may involve different upgrade paths and specific operation steps. Before upgrading, you need to carefully read the official documents, understand the preparations and precautions before upgrading, and choose the appropriate upgrading plan and method according to the actual situation. At the same time, adequate testing and backup work are also required to ensure smooth upgrade process and data security.
First, the life cycle of the oracle database
1.1 Oracle version life cycle and new version release official documents (regularly updated):
Release Schedule of Current Database Releases (MOS Document ID 742060.1)
1.2 There are two versions of the Oracle database: the long-term version and the innovative version.
Long Term Releases:
Oracle Database Long Term Releases are ideal for use cases that benefit from less frequent update releases. Long-term releases provide the highest level of stability and longest bugfix support. These releases have 5 years of main support and 3 years of extended support. When combined with extended support, customers typically have nearly 4 years to upgrade from one long-term release to the next.
Innovation Releases:
Between Oracle Database Long Term Releases, Oracle releases Oracle Database Innovation Releases that contain many enhancements and new features that will also be included in the next Long Term Release. Innovative releases are designed to enable customers to continue to use leading-edge technology to rapidly develop or deploy new applications, or to enhance existing applications. Support for innovative releases includes at least 2 years of mainline support, but no extended support.
Below is a visual roadmap showing Oracle Database releases starting with release 11.2, showing lifecycle support phases (Premier, Extended) and bug correction windows for each release. Note that not all releases are eligible for extended support (e.g. 12.2.0.1,18c).
2. Conclusion
Oracle Database 21c is an innovation release, and unlike long-term releases, innovation releases are supported for a limited time (typically 2 years). Therefore, for business continuity, customers still running on previous releases (e.g. 11gR2, 12cR1, 12cR2, 18c) are encouraged to upgrade to Oracle Database 19c, which is the current long-term release (supported until April 2, 2027) .
If you are currently running 11.2.x/12.1. You need to upgrade to the DB version of the terminal version (i.e. 11.2.0.4/12.1.0.2) first, then proceed to upgrade to 19c. If you are currently running 12.2.0.1 or 18c, you should upgrade to 19c immediately.