Announcement: Amazon RDS for Oracle - End of Support Timeline for 12c Oracle Release 2 (12.2.0.1) and Oracle Release 1 (12.1.0.2) Major Version

Oracle Corporation has announced the end of support for Oracle Database version 12.1.0.2 on July 31, 2022, and version 12.2.0.1 on March 31, 2022 [1]. After these dates, Oracle Support will no longer release Critical Patch Updates for these database versions, and these versions will no longer be available in Amazon RDS for Oracle.

For Oracle Database version 12.2.0.1: Amazon RDS for Oracle will end the support for Oracle Database version 12.2.0.1 (all editions) for both License Included (LI) and Bring Your Own License (BYOL) models on March 31, 2022.

For Oracle Database version 12.1.0.2: Amazon RDS for Oracle will end the support for Oracle Database version 12.1.0.2 (all editions) for both License Included (LI) and Bring Your Own License (BYOL) models on July 31, 2022.

If you have already upgraded your DB instance(s) to 19c, no further action is required. We highly recommend you upgrade your existing 12.1.0.2 and 12.2.0.1 DB instances to version 19c and validate your applications before the automatic upgrades begin.

Please keep in mind the following timeline for the 19c version: • 19c: The Premier Support for Oracle Database 19c ends on April 30, 2024, while the Extended Support ends on April 30, 2027. Amazon RDS for Oracle plans to support Oracle Database 19c until April 30, 2027.

12.2.0.1 Deprecation - Timeline summary:

• Now - March 31, 2022 - You can upgrade 12.2.0.1 DB instances manually to the version of your choice. • From February 14, 2022 - You can upgrade 12.2.0.1 snapshots manually to the version of your choice. • From February 14, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle disables new instance creates on 12.2.0.1, but you will be able to continue to restore 12.2.0.1 DB snapshots without being auto upgraded until March 31, 2022. • From April 1, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle starts automatic upgrades of 12.2.0.1 DB instances to 19c. • From April 1, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle starts automatic upgrades to 19c of DB instances restored from 12.2.0.1 snapshots.

12.2.0.1 Deprecation Timeline by Amazon RDS for Oracle (for both BYOL and LI):

Starting on February 14, 2022, Amazon RDS for Oracle will disable the ability to create new DB instances using 12.2.0.1. If you are using 12.2.0.1, please upgrade your instance(s) to a later major version before March 31, 2022. Starting on April 1, 2022, Amazon RDS Oracle will automatically upgrade DB instances from 12.2.0.1 to the latest Release Update (RU) on RDS for Oracle Database 19c. We highly recommend that you test your application on 19c or whichever major version you plan on upgrading to.

Starting on April 1, 2022, any 12.2.0.1 DB instance created from a snapshot restore or point-in-time restore will be automatically upgraded to the latest RU on RDS for Oracle 19c.

Starting on February 14, 2022, you may upgrade your snapshots manually from 12.2.0.1 to a newer major engine version. For more information, see Upgrading an Oracle DB Snapshot [3]. If you have encrypted snapshots do plan to perform manual snapshot upgrade.

12.1.0.2 Deprecation - Timeline summary:

• Now - July 31, 2022 - You can upgrade 12.1.0.2 DB instances manually to the version of your choice. • From June 1, 2022 - You can upgrade 12.1.0.2 snapshots manually to the version of your choice. • From June 1, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle disables new instance creates on 12.1.0.2, but you will be able to continue to restore 12.1.0.2 DB snapshots without being auto upgraded until July 31, 2022. • From August 1, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle starts automatic upgrades of 12.1.0.2 DB instances to 19c. • From August 1, 2022 - Amazon RDS for Oracle starts automatic upgrades to 19c of DB instances restored from 12.1.0.2 snapshots.

12.1.0.2 Deprecation Timeline by Amazon RDS for Oracle (for both BYOL and LI):

Starting on June 1, 2022, Amazon RDS for Oracle will disable the ability to create new DB instances using 12.1.0.2. If you are using 12.1.0.2, please upgrade your instance(s) to a later major version before July 31, 2022. Starting on August 1, 2022, Amazon RDS Oracle will automatically upgrade DB instances from 12.1.0.2 to the latest Release Update (RU) on RDS for Oracle Database 19c. We highly recommend that you test your application on 19c or whichever major version you plan on upgrading to.

Starting on August 1, 2022, any 12.1.0.2 DB instance created from a snapshot restore or point-in-time restore will be automatically upgraded to the latest RU on RDS for Oracle 19c.

Starting on June 1, 2022, you may upgrade your snapshots manually from 12.1.0.2 to a newer major engine version. For more information, see Upgrading an Oracle DB Snapshot [3]. If you have encrypted snapshots, you need to plan to perform manual snapshot upgrade.

Additional Notes:

After the upgrade, if the SQL statements perform in an unexpected manner due to the change in the plans by the 19c optimizer, you can use the OPTIMIZER_FEATURES_ENABLE parameter to retain the behavior of the 12c optimizer.

There is no impact to your current Reserved Instances (RI) due to the engine version deprecation of 12.1.0.2 and 12.2.0.1.

For versions in Extended Support, BYOL model customers must have purchased Extended Support agreements from Oracle Support or upgrade to a version for which they have support. For the details on the Licensing and Support requirements for the BYOL model customers, refer to the Amazon RDS for Oracle FAQs [4].

To learn more about upgrading Oracle major versions in RDS, review Upgrading the Oracle DB engine [5].

Please contact us through AWS Support [6] should you have any questions or concerns.

Oracle Database Version 19c: The Extended Support for Oracle Database 19c ends on April 30, 2027. Amazon RDS for Oracle will support Oracle Database 19c until April 30, 2027.

We recommend you to upgrade your existing 12.1.0.2 or 12.2.0.1 DB instances to version 19c [7] because it is the long-term support release. Note for versions in Extended Support, BYOL model customers must have purchased Extended Support agreements from Oracle Support or upgrade to a version for which they have support.

For the details on the Licensing and Support requirements for the BYOL model customers, refer to the Amazon RDS for Oracle FAQs [4]. Review the version specific deprecation details on the AWS forum [2]. To learn more about Amazon RDS policy for supporting database versions, please see the RDS FAQs and search for “guidelines for deprecating database engine versions” [8].

Please contact us through AWS Support [6] or the AWS Developer Forums [9] should you have any questions or concerns.

[1] https://www.oracle.com/us/assets/lifetime-support-technology-069183.pdf [2] https://forums.aws.amazon.com/ann.jspa?annID=8593 [3] https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_UpgradeDBSnapshot.Oracle.html [4] https://aws.amazon.com/rds/oracle/faqs/ [5] https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_UpgradeDBInstance.Oracle.html [6] https://aws.amazon.com/support [7] https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2019/11/amazon-rds-for-oracle-now-supports-oracle-database-19c/ [8] https://aws.amazon.com/rds/faqs [9] https://forums.aws.amazon.com/forum.jspa?forumID=60