ASM instance version requirement for Graceful Switchover with ASM & RAC

[Mike Donovan]

Question:
The Dbvisit user guide mentions the following in relation to Graceful Switchover for ASM and RAC.
“The RAC database will become a single instance database during switchover. After switchover database can be converted to a RAC database again.
Note: The Oracle ASM instance needs to be version 11gR1 or higher. The Oracle database itself can be Oracle 10g or higher.”

Does this mean that if we have a 10gR2 SE RAC database (for which ASM is mandatory) at the primary site then we cannot do a Graceful Switchover unless the ASM instance is upgraded to 11gR1 or higher?

Answer:
Yes, this is correct. As of version 5.2.16 of the Dbvisit software you are able to perform a Graceful Switchover with databases in ASM, provided that the ASM instance is at least 11gR1. The database which this ASM instance is connected to, however, can be either Oracle 10g or 11g.

Should you need to the steps to upgrade an ASM instance are outlined here:
First install the new Oracle software in a new home:
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B...e.htm#i1011398

Then run the Pre-upgrade check:
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B...e.htm#CACHIDJD

And then start DBUA to only upgrade the ASM instance:
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B...tm#insertedID9