Timezone update issues in 11.2.0.1- 11.2.0.2 upgrade

Question

I'm getting lost in the note maze on timezones. I'm upgrading, "out of place," from 11.2.0.1 to 11.2.0.2. When I run utlu112i.sql it tells me to:
.... After the release migration, it is recommended that DBMS_DST package
.... be used to upgrade the 11.2.0.1.0 database timezone version
.... to the latest version which comes with the new release.
I find, via a search of metalink, "Updating the RDBMS DST version in 11gR2 (11.2.0.1 and up) using DBMS_DST [ID 977512.1]" which says:
Locate the latest RDBMS DST patch available in NOTE:412160.1 Updated DST transitions and new Time Zones in Oracle Time Zone File patches
Apply the RDBMS DST patch to the $ORACLE_HOME using Opatch, there is no need to shutdown the database to apply the RDBMS DST patch.
This is where I get lost. 412160.1 provides DSTv15diff, but this does not look like a patch to me. Also, there is no digest provided, so I can't be sure the file is valid on download (sigh):
$ unzip -l DSTv15diff.zip
Archive: DSTv15diff.zip
Length Date Time Name
0 12-17-10 14:41 DSTv15diff/
4604 12-17-10 14:46 DSTv15diff/DST15new.txt
1882 12-17-10 14:40 DSTv15diff/readme.txt
32850 12-17-10 14:42 DSTv15diff/tzdst15.txt
39336 4 files
Updated DST transitions and new Time Zones in Oracle Time Zone File patches [ID 412160.1] does not seem to say how to apply this patch.
What rabbit trail did I miss?

Answer 1

Hello,
DSTv15diff is pure informative thing, it was added by customer request, i've made it hidden as attachement and added this text "(this is not a "DST patch" or needed to apply dst patches, it's pure informative)"
in 11.2 there is no need to shutdown a database to apply a new DST patch, it's simply add a new file to the home. Hence it is not in use (like on the older versions), i'll see the readme for 11.2 patch is changed for DSTv16)
you have 2 distinct different things you can do
* upgrade a software version (which, for 11.2. you may need to apply a dst patche to the target home)
* not upgrade the software version but simply update the DST version
both are handled in different note seen they are different actions, both are in Note 412160.1 Updated DST transitions and new Time Zones in Oracle Time Zone File patches
If you want to update a DST version of a existing database (= not upgrade the db) then you have the "normal" dst advisory's
for example if you want to upgrade 11.2.0.1 to the latest tz file from DSTv11-> note 1274498.1 Applying the DSTv15 update for the Oracle Database
which basically say's, apply the DStv15 patch and then use DBMS_DST to go to 15 for each database in that home
If you then (later) want to UPGRADE a 11.2.0.1 DSTv15 to 11.2.0.2 then you have notes like Note 1201253.1 Actions For DST Updates When Upgrading To Or Applying The 11.2.0.2 Patchset
there it basically bottoms down (when coming from 11.2.0.1) to:
If you do "Out-of-place upgrade" in 11.2 then make sure then new version has your current dst version included (for example you use DSTv15 in 11.2.0.1 , then you need to apply DStv15 on 11.2.0.2 because it's not by default in the 112.0.2 stack), if not, then apply it to the new home and then ,after upgrade, (if needed/wanted) go to the latest dst version
I will also ask to include a reference to Note 412160.1 Updated DST transitions and new Time Zones in Oracle Time Zone File patches in the upgrade docset (which I assume you follow)
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e17222/upgrade.htm#CIAFHIBG
Regards,
Gunther
Edited by: Gunther Vermeir, Oracle on Mar 14, 2011 5:25 PM
added "no" where it was missing