不了解Oracle软件Lifetime Support支持生命周期的朋友可以直接参阅Expect Lifetime Support http://www.oracle.com/us/support/lifetime-support/index.html页面。
我们知道Oracle软件的支持周期可以分为Premier Support 和 Extended Support， 在Premier Support 时期只要是购买了Oracle PS服务的用户都可以申请 创建或合并补丁(create or merge patch) ， 当支持周期进入Extended Support后 只有购买了扩展服务包的用户才能申请 新的补丁。
具体各Release 版本的Database的Support 周期如下：
如上图所见 版本10.2的Premier Support 已在2010年过期，实际10.2已经过度到了Extended Support时期，且会在2013年进入Sustainging Support。
但是实际My Oracle Support并没有在2010年立即限制仅购买Premier Support的用户下载July 2010 后发布的一些PSU/CPU补丁，例如Patch 12419392: DATABASE PSU 10.2.0.5.4 (INCLUDES CPUJUL2011) 是在2011年7月发布的 ， 仅购买了Premier Support的用户同样可以下载该Patch set Update。
因为Oracle没有立即限制扩展补丁的下载，所以我们有时候都已经忘记了 已经过度到Extended Support周期了。
但是最近发布的：
- 10.2.0.5 上的
- Patch 12827745: DATABASE PSU 10.2.0.5.5 (INCLUDES CPUOCT2011)
- Patch 12828105: CPUOCT2011 DATABASE 10.2.0.5
- 10.2.0.4 上
- Patch 12827778: DATABASE PSU 10.2.0.4.10 (REQUIRES PRE-REQUISITE 10.2.0.4.4|INCLUDES CPUOCT2011)
- Patch 12828112: CPUOCT2011 DATABASE 10.2.0.4
即 自2011 OCT以后发布的10.2上的 PSU和CPU补丁都要求 用户具有相关的Patch权限方能下载 ， 见下图：
注意上图中的”You do not have privileges to download Extended Support patches. See How Patches and Updates Entitlements Works for more information. learn more privileges “信息。
Mos 文档<How Patches and Updates Entitlement Works> 叙述了用户如何查询自身在MOS上的权限以及如何获得相关Patch的下载权限。
显然Oracle此举是一举三得的：
- 驱动坚持仅购买PS服务的用户尽快升级他们的数据库到仍在Premier Support 周期内的版本，如11.1和11.2
- 一方面在于向普通购买PS服务的用户表明购买Extended Support服务包的重要性
- 另一方面也是向已经购买ES服务的用户的一种示好姿态， 毕竟要给人家VIP的体验嘛！
关于更多Oracle database Lifetime policy 的信息见下文:
Oracle's Life Time Support Policy (LSP) ======================================= Oracle Database Softwares are not desupported, they get in Sustaining Support with deliverable restrictions as described below. To help our customer to drive their business success, Oracle has put in place the Lifetime Support Policy (LSP). Since Database version 8.1.7 there are 3 Stages of support: 1. Premier Support - provides maintenance and support of Oracle Database for five years from their general availability date. Premier Support include: Major product and technology releases. Technical support. Updates, fixes, security alerts, data fixes, and critical patch updates. Tax, legal, and regulatory updates. Upgrade scripts. Certification with most new third-party products/versions. Certification with most new Oracle products 2. Extended Support - provides with an extra three years of support for specific Oracle releases for an additional fee. Extended Support include: Major product and technology releases. Technical support. Updates, fixes, security alerts, data fixes, and critical patch updates. Tax, legal, and regulatory updates. Upgrade scripts. Certification with most existing third-party products/versions. Certification with most existing Oracle products Extended Support may not include certification with some new third-party products/versions. 3. Sustaining Support - provide access to support tools, knowledgebase, pre-existing fixes, and assistance from technical support experts. Sustaining Support include: Major product and technology releases. Technical support. Access to OracleMetaLink, POINT Support Portal, AVT Support Portal, Global Support Portal System. Fixes, updates, and critical patch updates created during the Premier Support stage. Upgrade scripts created during the Premier Support stage. Assistance with service requests, on a commercially reasonable basis, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week Sustaining Support does not include New updates, fixes, security alerts, data fixes, and critical patch updates. New upgrade scripts. Certification with new third-party products/versions. Certification with new Oracle products. 24 hour commitment and response guidelines for Severity 1 service requests as defined in the Severity Level section of “Technical Support Policies“ document. -> Premier and Extended Support dates for all current releases (e.g. 10.2 or 11.2) can be found in the "http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/lifetime-support-technology-069183.pdf#page=7" -> Note that although 10.2 Extended Support begins in August 2010, Extended Support fees have been waived for the first year for all customers For more information please see : Oracle Technical Support Policy document http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/057419.pdf#page=7 section 6. Note 1293180.1 Database Patch Set 10.2.0.4 patching extended to July 31, 2011 -> Patches created from August 2011 will be be Entitled under "Software Extended Support" -> For downloading the Patches under Extended Support you would need Extended Support "EXS" CSI. An Extended Support contract is required to receive patches once a release enters the Extended Support phase. For more information, please see : Note 757445.1 FAQ for Products in Extended Support Lifetime Support Policy covering Technology Products for dates of Extended Support "http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/lifetime-support-technology-069183.pdf#page=7". -> NOTE if you have a Valid CSI for Extended "EXS" Support, would request you to please create a Non-Tech SR to verify the same as mentioned in Note 757445.1 FAQ for Products in Extended Support Usefull References : ==================== Note 742060.1 Release Schedule of Current Database Releases Note 209768.1 Database, FMW, EM Grid Control, and OCS Software Error Correction Support Policy Note 1293180.1 Database Patch Set 10.2.0.4 patching extended to July 31, 2011 Note 757445.1 FAQ for Products in Extended Support Note 161818.1 Oracle Server (RDBMS) Releases Support Status Summary Note 821748.1 What is the Lifetime Support Policy For Captovation Capture / Oracle Document Capture Products? Lifetime Support Policy http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/lifetime-support-technology-069183.pdf Oracle Software Technical Support Policies http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/057419.pdf
