You upgrade database instances from one version to another, and update their database software at the same time. The following information refers to this procedure as an upgrade.
The strategy you choose depends on the database instance type and the source and target versions. For help on choosing a suitable upgrade strategy, see the tables under Selection of the Upgrade Strategy.
Each time you upgrade database instances, we recommend that you take precautions to avoid errors. Make sure that you have made complete backups of all data in the relevant database instances, and also have the database software of the source version. Only then can you return to the source version straight away, if necessary, and avoid long periods of system downtime.
Before you start, make sure that you have excluded the most common sources of errors in the upgrade (see Troubleshooting).
Whenever possible, use the SDBUPD program to perform the upgrade. This program gives you comprehensive support for an upgrade without problems. However, you can only use it if you fulfill certain prerequisites. Otherwise, you must use a different upgrade strategy.
SAP customers can use the program SDBUPD for upgrading database instances in SAP systems. The SDBUPD program makes all required checks during the upgrade process.
You can also use this program to upgrade database instances that are not part of an SAP system. To do this, however, the following prerequisites must be fulfilled:
· The program SDBINST was used to install the existing software.
· Each of the existing database instances refers to a separate software installation.
See Variables, Supported Operating Systems and Platforms