Database Upgrades Made Easy: EBS to 19c/23ai-Without the Outage

Oracle Database 19c is the Long-Term Support release (Premier Support to Dec 31, 2029; Extended Support to Dec 31, 2032), making it the safe baseline for EBS 12.2 estates.

Oracle Database 23ai (formerly 23c) introduces AI Vector Search and JSON-Relational Duality-capabilities that let enterprises blend operational data with AI/LLM workflows and modern JSON app patterns, without losing relational integrity.

What this means for EBS
EBS 12.2 continues to certify on 19c Release Updates (RUs). Many customers standardize on 19c for stability and line up 23ai for new analytics/AI-assisted services and adjacent apps.

Proven upgrade & migration paths

1. GoldenGate Microservices (CDC, cross-platform, multi-cloud)
   GoldenGate MA delivers sub-second change data capture, a microservices UI, and REST APIs for automation-ideal for migrations to AWS/OCI, version upgrades, and active-active topologies with conflict detection.
2. Zero Downtime Migration (ZDM)
   Oracle’s MAA-recommended tool to automate near-zero-downtime upgrades/migrations into Oracle platforms (Exadata, Cloud@Customer, OCI, and even Oracle Database@Azure/Google/AWS).
3. AutoUpgrade (19c→23ai)
   The supported, automated path for in-place database upgrades, with prechecks, fixups, and rollback.

Real-world case (Banking): On-prem → AWS with zero downtime

Client context
A leading bank running EBS wanted to migrate its Oracle Database from on-prem to AWS (RDS & EC2) with zero downtime, keeping regulatory rigor intact. Pain points: cutover risk, latency, and the need for a secure hybrid path.

Solution

• GoldenGate Microservices (HA) for CDC replication and controlled cutover
• Hardened network (required ports/policies) across source/destination
• Joint runbook with DBA, Network, Infra teams
• Full documentation (architecture, flows, ops)

Results

• Zero-downtime migration and a seamless DB upgrade
• Faster reporting & data-backed decisions; foundation for new digital apps
• Client satisfaction and a roadmap to OCI DR and multi-region active-active

Lessons learned (your shortcut to success)

• Validate supplemental logging/PKs/LOB handling early to avoid replication gaps
• Use hybrid initial load: RMAN/EXPDP for large stable tables; GoldenGate direct load for high-churn objects
• Treat network throughput as a first-class design item; compression can lower lag
• Include functional validation with business users-not just row counts
• Start small, then scale: a pilot schema builds confidence

Where 23ai changes the conversation

With AI Vector Search, you can search by meaning over documents, images, and rows already secured in Oracle Database-no extra data hops. With JSON-Relational Duality, modern apps can read/write JSON while Finance/IT keep a clean relational model-ideal for EBS-adjacent services, reporting, and AI assistants.

How ECS delivers (playbook)

1. Assessment & pathing (19c LTS vs 23ai innovation targets)
2. Architecture (GoldenGate MA HA + monitoring + APIs; or ZDM/AutoUpgrade)
3. Pilot (limited schema), then scale by modules/entities
4. Cutover with rehearsals & rollback
5. KT & docs; roadmap to multi-region, OCI DR, and analytics streams

Bottom line: You can modernize EBS databases without the outage, land on a supportable baseline, and unlock AI-ready capabilities for what’s next.