Oracle Database Licensing
1. GENERAL
Oracle Database, the industry’s first database designed for grid
computing, is available in a choice of editions: Express Edition,
Standard Edition One, Standard Edition, and Enterprise Edition. All
editions are built using the same common code base, which means your
database applications can easily scale from small, single processor
servers to clusters of multi-processor servers without changing a line
of code. Additional options for enhanced performance, scalability,
availability, security and manageability are available with Oracle
Database Enterprise Edition. Whether you’re a lone developer, small and
midsize business, or large corporate enterprise, there’s an edition of
the world’s #1 database tailored to meet your business and technical
requirements. Given Oracle’s extensive product portfolio only Database
Licensing is explained here. For licensing questions, pricing and
special promotions regarding all Oracle products (for example Internet
Application Server) you can also contact your Insight account manager.
2. DATABASE METRICS
The Standard Edition One, Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition
of the Oracle database can be licensed using the Named User Plus metric
or the Processor metric.
Named User Plus: is defined as an
individual authorised by you to use the programs which are installed on
a single server or multiple servers, regardless of whether the
individual is actively using the programs at any given time.
Processor: shall be defined as all
processors where the Oracle programs are installed and/or running. For
a complete description of the Named User Plus metric and the Processor
metric, including the product specific licensing requirements please
visit the Oracle Software Investment Guide on
http://oracle.com/corporate/pricing/sig.pdf
3. LICENSING TERMS
Oracle offers fixed-term or perpetual licenses. With fixed-term
licenses, the license rights terminates automatically with the passing
of time. Should the Oracle environment need to be operated longer, a
new license must be purchased. A mix is also usually possible: e.g. the
data bank can have a perpetual license but the development tool (e.g.
Internet Developer Suite) can have a license lasting only 2 years.
4. PLATFORM INDEPENDENCE
Oracle products are available for all current Unix, Linux and Windows
platforms. The selected product is purchased separately from the
platform for which it is supplied. A change of platform is therefore
only associated with media costs.
5. SUPPORT
Oracle offers a Software Update License & Support service in the
framework of its support services, which can be purchased as an option.
The costs for this are to be paid annually in advance. Initial the fee
is 22% of the license price.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
Oracle has a discount-schedule that is transaction based. Some (global)
customers have specials discount agreements, based on a transaction or
even for a specified period. In both cases Insight can fulfill and
manage the license requirement. You can obtain further information from
your Insight advisors.
TOP 3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I have older licenses than are described here. Can I still use them?
A. If the licenses are perpetual you still can. However, you are not be able to buy additional licenses of this type.
B. If you need additional licenses, you can migrate your old ones to
one of the current license definitions (Named User Plus or Processor).
By doing this, you must adhere the new definition. Migrations can be
profitable as your annual support fees may decrease. However there are
cases where it may be beneficial to keep the old definition.
Do I need to license test and development servers?
A. Yes, they need to be licensed. If a server is only used for the
purpose of Development (Prototyping/Proof of Concept), a development
license (Internet Development Suite) can be purchased for the hired and
contracted developers of your company.
B. Testing servers: Are usually licensed correctly by Named User Plus
based on the minimum requirements per processor (if the amount of users
of the testing server is lower than the minimum).
How do I license standby/failover databases?
A. In a typical Standby scenario databases are installed (one for each
server). The standby-server is installed and running and is ‘synced’
with the production server. All queries on the production server are
also replicated on the standby server (usually with Archive-Log files).
Therefore a standby server must be licensed the same way the production
server is licensed.
B. Failover is allowed: In this scenario there is only one database
existing (for example in a SAN). The failover server cannot be used and
is only checking the heartbeat of the production server (using Fail
safe or similar technology) and cannot be accessed. Oracle allows to
use a Failsafe server without licenses as long as it is not used for
more than 10 separate calendar days per year.
