SYSTEMS, METHODS AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE FOR UPGRADING A DATABASE WITH A SHADOW SYSTEM

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for upgrading a database using of a shadow system. During an upgrade, the shadow system or repository is built as a new instance on the database. The shadow system may be a complete central instance and comprise the new release to be installed in the database. The new release or “destination release” may represent the release(s) of software application(s) and/or data that the user wants to run in the future. The destination release may replace a “source release” of software application(s) and/or data currently running on the database as part of a main productive system. In one embodiment, the shadow system may be operated in parallel with the main productive system to minimize the required downtime for the upgrade.