Upgrade the database time zone file using the DBMS_DST package in 19c

After upgrading database from 12c to 19c, you may need to upgrade database time zone file version. This step is not always mandatory, but it is recommended by pre-upgrade checker.

Useful info about its necessity from Oracle site: https://oracle-base.com/articles/misc/update-database-time-zone-file

From Oracle 11gR2 onward, new time zone files are shipped with upgrades and patches, but they are not automatically applied to the database.

Applying a change to the database time zone file not only affects the way new data is handled, but potentially alters data stored in TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE columns, so you need to consider the impact of this before upgrading the time zone file.

Remember, if you only deal with dates in your country, and your country has not altered its time zone or daylight saving time policy, this upgrade may not be necessary.”

Now let’s do time zone file upgrade:

1. Check current settings:

SQL> SELECT * FROM v$timezone_file;

FILENAME		VERSION     CON_ID
-------------------- ---------- ----------
timezlrg_26.dat 	     26 	 0

2. Startup database in upgrade mode:

SQL> shutdown immediate;
SQL> startup upgrade;

3. Start upgrade window:

SQL> SET SERVEROUTPUT ON
SQL> DECLARE
  l_tz_version PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
  l_tz_version := DBMS_DST.get_latest_timezone_version;

  DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line('l_tz_version=' || l_tz_version);
  DBMS_DST.begin_upgrade(l_tz_version);
END;
/


l_tz_version=32
An upgrade window has been successfully started.

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

4. Check primary and secondary time zone versions:

SQL> SELECT PROPERTY_NAME, SUBSTR(property_value, 1, 30) value
FROM DATABASE_PROPERTIES
WHERE PROPERTY_NAME LIKE 'DST_%'
ORDER BY PROPERTY_NAME; 

PROPERTY_NAME		 VALUE
------------------------ ----------
DST_PRIMARY_TT_VERSION	 32
DST_SECONDARY_TT_VERSION 26
DST_UPGRADE_STATE	 UPGRADE

5. Startup database in normal mode:

SQL> shut immediate;
SQL> startup;

6. Do the upgrade:

SQL> SET SERVEROUTPUT ON
SQL> DECLARE
  l_failures   PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
  DBMS_DST.upgrade_database(l_failures);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line('DBMS_DST.upgrade_database : l_failures=' || l_failures);
  DBMS_DST.end_upgrade(l_failures);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line('DBMS_DST.end_upgrade : l_failures=' || l_failures);
END;
/


Table list: "GSMADMIN_INTERNAL"."AQ$_CHANGE_LOG_QUEUE_TABLE_S"
Number of failures: 0
Table list: "GSMADMIN_INTERNAL"."AQ$_CHANGE_LOG_QUEUE_TABLE_L"
Number of failures: 0
Table list: "MDSYS"."SDO_DIAG_MESSAGES_TABLE"
Number of failures: 0
Table list: "DVSYS"."SIMULATION_LOG$"
Number of failures: 0
Table list: "DVSYS"."AUDIT_TRAIL$"
Number of failures: 0
DBMS_DST.upgrade_database : l_failures=0
An upgrade window has been successfully ended.
DBMS_DST.end_upgrade : l_failures=0

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

7. Check new settings:

SQL> SELECT * FROM v$timezone_file;

FILENAME		VERSION     CON_ID
-------------------- ---------- ----------
timezlrg_32.dat 	     32 	 0


SQL> COLUMN property_name FORMAT A30
SQL> COLUMN property_value FORMAT A20

SQL> SELECT property_name, property_value
FROM   database_properties
WHERE  property_name LIKE 'DST_%'
ORDER BY property_name;

PROPERTY_NAME		       PROPERTY_VALUE
------------------------------ --------------------
DST_PRIMARY_TT_VERSION	       32
DST_SECONDARY_TT_VERSION       0
DST_UPGRADE_STATE	       NONE

About Mariami Kupatadze
Oracle Certified Master Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariami-kupatadze-01074722/

4 Responses to Upgrade the database time zone file using the DBMS_DST package in 19c

  1. Pingback: A mid-September blog – Oracle Business Intelligence

  2. Haider Ain says:

    Fount it really helpful, thanks for sharing đŸ™‚

  3. Mike says:

    Very helpful and clear, thank you!

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