If you’ve been an Oracle DBA for any length of time, you’ve heard the term upgradation.  But what is an upgradation?

Is it an upgrade?  Is it a migration?  What the heck’s the difference between an upgrade and a migration?

If you’re switching operating system platforms (Windows to Linux for example), you’re migrating

If you’re switching database vendors (MS SQL Server to Oracle for example), you’re migrating

If you’re moving from Oracle 9i to Oracle 10g, you’re upgrading

If you’re moving from Oracle 11gR1 to Oracle 11gR2, you’re upgrading

If you’re moving from Oracle 11gR1 on Windows to Oracle 11gR2 on Linux, you’re performing both an upgrade and a migration.

So what is an upgradation?  Well damn if that isn’t a good question, because UPGRADATION ISN’T A WORD OR A REAL TECHNICAL TERM. In my experience, it tends to be used by people very new to the Oracle eco-system and by people who don’t have English (or American) as their primary language.

I’ve been at multiple clients where if upgradation is listed on a resume, the resume is no longer considered.  Unless a prospective candidate is otherwise amazing, I’m typically the same way.  It’s the same thing as having a misspelling on your resume.

So, make sure you don’t use upgradation on a resume and learn the difference between a migration and an upgrade.