9.3 Using Earlier Oracle Database Releases with Oracle Grid Infrastructure

Review the following topics for information about using earlier Oracle Database releases with Oracle Grid Infrastructure 12c Release 2 (12.2) installations:

• General Restrictions for Using Earlier Oracle Database Releases
  You can use Oracle Database 12c releases 1 and 2 and Oracle Database 11g release 2 (11.2.0.3 or later) with Oracle Grid Infrastructure 12c release 2 (12.2).
• Managing Server Pools with Earlier Database Versions
  Starting with Oracle Grid Infrastructure 12c, Oracle Database server categories include roles such as Hub and Leaf that were not present in earlier releases.
• Making Oracle ASM Available to Earlier Oracle Database Releases
  To use Oracle ASM with Oracle Database releases earlier than Oracle Database 12c, you must use Local ASM or set the cardinality for Oracle Flex ASM to ALL, instead of the default of 3.
• Using ASMCA to Administer Disk Groups for Earlier Database Releases
  Use Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant (ASMCA) to create and modify disk groups when you install earlier Oracle databases and Oracle RAC databases on Oracle Grid Infrastructure installations.
• Pinning Cluster Nodes for Oracle Database Release 11.x
  When Oracle Clusterware 12c Release 2 (12.2) is installed on a cluster with no previous Oracle software version, it configures the cluster nodes dynamically, which is compatible with Oracle Database Release 11.2 and later, but Oracle Database 10g and 11.1 require a persistent configuration.
• Using the Correct LSNRCTL Commands
  To administer Oracle Database 12c Release 2 local and scan listeners using the lsnrctl command, set your $ORACLE_HOME environment variable to the path for the Oracle Grid Infrastructure home (Grid home).