Oracle Corporation provides dynamic software which is constantly improving. Oracle periodically releases software updates by means of Critical Path Updates (CPUs). Oracle also releases individual patches depending on the circumstances. These one-off patches can easily be applied using the OPatch tool. Oracle also releases major maintenance updates known as Patch Sets. A Patch Set is a group of one-off patches that have been tested and verified to work together. There may be additional functionality as well as bug fixes included in a Patch Set. When a Patch Set has been applied, the component-specific release number (http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14231/dba.htm#sthref94 ) is incremented. Patch Sets are applied with the Oracle Universal Installer included within the same patchset, and the other kinds of patches are applied using OPatch.

It is strongly suggested to keep your Oracle software updated to the last available Patch Set level so that known...