12c? Yes, but not for the features Oracle wants you to like. So far anyway, I’m not seeing much use of container DBs and I don’t know anyone using Oracle’s cloud. Don’t get me wrong, I’m know there are lots of customers using both features. And Oracle is blazing new paths with these type features.
No what’s grabbing my attention is the array of new features and enhancements to the product across the board in 12c.
I would add with the logarithmic growth of database sizes and table storage – the use of the pre-existing partitioning feature option (additional $$$) is for most TB+ sized databases and above almost a necessity these days and should be growing quickly.
One very interesting new 12c feature is ACFS support for database files – yes it’s on top of ASM but my understanding it’s a full features file system with advanced features like snapshots and real file system UNIX like commands to manipulate it. If ACFS eliminates some of ASM’s cryptic syntax that alone would be a huge plus but from what I read that is the tip of the iceberg…
Another feature I would to take advantage of is the use of stored Oracle Homes in a catalog for what Oracle is calling “Rapid Home Provisioning”. The feature is over due and when it is a mature product sure to be used heavily in large Enterprise environments – what manual Oracle Home cloning has been done by most large companies for a long time. Rapid Home Provisioning is a new feature only available in 12.1.0.2 and requires the use of Grid / ASM and HA NFS.
Here’s a link to an Oracle document addressing how to use the feature:
Rapid Home Provisioning
Unfortunately the setup and process for using RHP is quite complex and requires a good deal of setup at this time.
At this time, my best bet for Oracle Home cloning can be accomplished more simplistically by following the steps outlined in Oracle Support note will get it done:
RDBMS Oracle Home Cloning Using OUI (Doc ID 565009.1)
Hope this helps, Mike