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Background documentation Upgrading Database Instances and Their Software Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Implementation Considerations

You upgrade database instances to higher versions, and update their database software at the same time. The following section refers to this procedure as an upgrade.

The strategy you choose depends on the database instance type and on the source and target versions. For help in choosing a suitable upgrade strategy, see the tables under Selecting an Upgrade Strategy.

Recommendation

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 that you also have the database software of the source version. This is the only way you can immediately revert to the source version, if necessary, and avoid long periods of system downtime.

Before you start, make sure that you have taken precautions against the most common errors that cause an upgrade to crash (see Troubleshooting).

Whenever possible, use the SDBUPD program to perform the upgrade. This program gives you comprehensive support for a smooth upgrade without problems. However, you can only use it if you fulfill certain prerequisites. Otherwise, you must use a different upgrade strategy.

Prerequisites for Using SDBUPD

SAP customers can use the SDBUPD program for upgrading database instances in SAP systems. The SDBUPD program carries out 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 SDBINST program must have been used to install the existing software.

·        Each of the existing database instances must refer to a separate software installation.

 

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