Service privileges for Patch Download? (Oracle 11gR2) I first asked this question on stackoverflow, but someone pointed out that this might be the appropriate site. Hope I am doing this right.

To perform tests in advance of an upgrade from Oracle 11gR2 to 12c on our production systems, I tried to update the database of a developer virtual machine (Windows 7). The current Oracle Database version of this old developer machine is 11.2.0.1.0.
The setup file of Oracle 12c then told me to patch to 11.2.0.2, 11.2.0.3 or 11.2.0.4 first. So I tried to find and download the Patch to 11.2.0.4 for Windows x64. The official Oracle page only lists 11.2.0.1, so I did a quick search that lead me to this page.

I am used to be forced to login to download stuff from Oracle, but the second page tells me I need special support privileges. Seriously? Oracle allows me to setup a developing machine with their enterprise editions but I need support privileges to download a patch to the most recent version of Oracle 11? 

Did I miss something? How am I supposed to test the upgrade process on my developing machine(s)?

Thanks for any help!
Short version: install the 12c software, create an empty database, and transfer the data with Data Pump. This way you can skip 11.2.0.1+ versions.

Long version: OTN Developer License Terms

In this, there is the following:


  No Technical Support
  Unless Oracle support for the Programs, if any,
  is expressly included in a separate, current support agreement between
  You and Oracle, Oracle’s technical support organization will not
  provide technical support, phone support, or updates to You for the
  Programs provided under this Agreement.


So no, you can not download updates officially with the OTN Developer License.

A valid support contract is needed for that. Actually a support contract costs extra on top of the database license, so there are companies that choose not to pay for it (and not to install patches...).