Re: 32-bit Oracle Server on 64-bit Solaris?

Knut,

There is no problem in "downgrading" from 64 to 32 bit Oracle. All you need to do is something like:

1. Install the 32-bit Oracle in a new ORACLE_HOME
2. Shutdown the database
3. Take a full backup! (Just in case something goes wrong)
4. Change ORACLE_HOME from the 64-bit Oracle to the 32-bit Oracle
5. Startup database
6. As internal run the script: $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin/utlirp (which invalidates and recompiles all PL/SQL)
7. You are up and running! (You might want to do a backup at this stage)

The main disadvantage with 32-bit Oracle compared to 64-bit Oracle is that you cannot address as large amounts of memory, so unless you have a real need for a large SGA nothing is wrong with using the 32-bit version (it is definitely not slower!).

About the patch: If the bug mentioned cannot be backported to 8.1.6.1 (talk to Oracle Support about this) then perhaps it is an option for you to upgrade to 8.1.7 instead (assuming the bug is fixed here)?

HTH,
Gollum

"Knut E. Meidal" <plsdontsend_at_any.mail> wrote in message news:P71V6.1612$QX5.33636_at_news1.oke.nextra.no...
> My company is running a 64-bit version of Oracle 8.1.6.1 on 64-bit
 Solaris7.
>
> Recently, we have run into a problem with our application and Oracle.
> The application vendor informs us about an Oracle patch that might address
> our problem, BUT: The vendor is running 32-bit Oracle and OracleSupport
> informs us that the aforementioned patch is not available for our
 platform.
>
> We have raised this as an issue with the vendor, but the system owner
 wants
> to know if 'downgrading' the server to 32-bit just to be able to apply
 this
> patch(.!.) can be possible.
>
> First: Can it be done? (I kinda hope it's not..)
> I'm quite new to Oracle and this whole idea appears quite stupid. Wouldn't
> it defeat the purpose and advantages of 64-bits OS+DB? Wouldn't it be sort
> of like teaching a dog to walk on two legs--possible, but not terribly
> efficient..(Dog trainers: pls don't shoot me for this analogy)
>
> Any insights appreciated
>
> Knut E. Meidal
> (Wannabe Oracle DBA)
>
>
Received on Mon Jun 11 2001 - 13:46:01 CDT