/rootcrs.pl -prepatch returned error messages

Aftering installing Oracle 12c1, I patched the p18705901_121010_SOLARIS64.zip on a RAC manually since the autopatch still failed. (Doc ID 1594184.1). According to the Doc, the first step to run “rootcrs.pl -prepatch” by root user, it showed errors below. Fortunately, the following URL can help to fix the problem.

http://www.stojanveselinovski.com/blog/2014/05/19/gi-psu-12-1-0-1-3/

1. It traced that the script was executing “su oracle”
2. The rootcrs.pl script run under current directory and didn’t have permsision to wirte the directory. i.e if you su to root, your current directory must be /root

2014/08/13 10:30:03 CLSRSC-175: Failed to write the checkpoint ‘ROOTCRS_PREPATCH’ with status ‘START’ (error code 256)

2014/08/13 10:30:03 CLSRSC-177: Failed to add (property/value):(‘NONROLLING’/’0’) for checkpoint ‘ROOTCRS_PREPATCH’ (error code 256)

2014/08/13 10:30:03 CLSRSC-177: Failed to add (property/value):(‘DESTCRSHOME’/’null’) for checkpoint ‘ROOTCRS_PREPATCH’ (error code 256)

2014/08/13 10:30:03 CLSRSC-177: Failed to add (property/value):(‘NORESTART’/’0’) for checkpoint ‘ROOTCRS_PREPATCH’ (error code 256)

2014/08/13 10:30:04 CLSRSC-177: Failed to add (property/value):(‘SOFTWAREPATCH’/’0’) for checkpoint ‘ROOTCRS_PREPATCH’ (error code 256)

Oracle Clusterware active version on the cluster is [12.1.0.1.0]. The cluster upgrade state is [NORMAL]. The cluster active patch level is [0].

Solution
Before runing the rootcrs.pl, change to /tmp directory. After “su – oracle”, it still have permission to write the /tmp directory.