In order to get ST_GEOMETRY available through non-ArcGIS clients, you'll need to install at
least the ArcSDE libraries on the listener hosts; installing ArcSDE is optional but recommended.
With Direct Connect a possibility from clients (recommended to RAC servers), there is no
requirement that an ArcSDE application server be installed, though if you have an ArcGIS
server host, then I'd recommend you install ArcSDE for an application server there (it helps
with install management).
Most 10.x upgrades are done through ArcCatalog, so the location of ArcSDE is less critical.
Keep an eye out for the hotfix for 11.2.0.2 support.
- V