Optimizing Oracle Licensing- An Oracle Primmer

Computer Measurement Group

June 25, 2010

Disclaimer

• This presentation does not constitute legal advise. Your Oracle licenses are governed by your Oracle License and Services Agreement and the Oracle Software Technical Support Polices. I would encourage you all to read both these documents and consult legal counsel before making any changes or additions to your Oracle licensing.

• This presentations is intended to give you a better understanding of Oracle products and product versions licensing policies and the common application of these policies.

Oracle 1977 to 2010

1978 2010

Oracle Licensing

Things to consider

• Understand key concepts and agreements

• Understand how hardware impacts licensing

• Know what products you need

• Consider all licensing options, versions, financing, leasing, etc.

• Have a licensing plan

• Monitor and track your licensing to ensure compliance

Product Versions

Oracle Database• Oracle Standard Edition One

– Use on max 2 Sockets– Includes Oracle RAC , but no other EE options– $5,000 per processor

• Oracle Standard Edition– Use on max 4 Sockets– Includes Oracle RAC, but no other EE options– $17,500 per processor

• Oracle Enterprise Edition– No limitations– EE Options available– $47,500 per processor

License and Support Agreements

OLSA- Oracle Licensing and Services Agreement Defines terms, conditions between Oracle and End User. Also, commits End User to the terms and conditions Oracle Technical Support Policies

ELA- Enterprise Licensing Agreement Typically defines the users right to use specific quantities of specific products for a defined period of time. Usually heavily discounted and usage must be certified at the end of the period. Typically used for large deployments where it is impossible or impractical to track product usage or the company is growing rapidly.

ULA- Unlimited Licensing Agreement Similar to an ELA, but my be a broader agreement.

License and Support Agreements

Key Terms:•“Testing: For the purpose of testing physical copies of backups, your license for the Oracle Database (Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition or Standard Edition One) includes the right to run the database on an unlicensed computer for up to four times, not exceeding 2 days per testing, in any given calendar year. “

•User Minimums: The minimum number of Named Users you must purchase PER processor OR the actual number of users; whichever is greater.

Named User Example 1

20 Users 2 Processor Server

=

*DBEE user minimum 25 Named Users per processor

50 Named UsersOracle Database EE

Named User Example 2

100 Users2 Processor Server

=

*DBEE user minimum 25 Named Users per processor

100 Named UsersOracle Database EE

License and Support Agreements

Key Terms:• “Testing: For the purpose of testing physical copies of backups, your license for the

Oracle Database (Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition or Standard Edition One) includes the right to run the database on an unlicensed computer for up to four times, not exceeding 2 days per testing, in any given calendar year. “

• User Minimums: The minimum number of Named Users you must purchase PER processor OR the actual number of users; whichever is greater.

• Processor: (See Oracle OLSA for complete definition)• Key points:

1. Multiply the number of processors times the number of cores2. Apply Core Factor (see Oracle multi core factor table)3. Results in number of cores/processors to be licensed

Processor Example 1

Sun T2000 Server

1- Eight core 1.2 GHz UltraSPARC T1

Oracle Core Factor

.25

(8 cores) x (.25 core factor)= 2 cores/processors

You must License 2 “processors” of Oracle DBEE

$115,900

Processor Example 2

Oracle Core Factor

.5

(8 cores) x (.5 core factor)= 4 cores/processors

You must License 4 “processors” of Oracle DBEE

Dell PowerEdge 605

2-Quad Core AMD Opteron 2.4GHz

$231,000

Oracle Support

• 22% of the net price of your purchase• Entitles you to updates and support• Is governed by your OLSA and Oracle technical support policies• Support is difficult to change or correct!

•Know the support implications of your licensing decisions

•Understand what you can and can’t do

•Understand Key support concepts: License Sets, desupporting, back-support, penalties, etc.

•Review and monitor your support agreements

Key Support Concepts

Virtualization

The Evolution of Oracle’s Policy on Virtualized Environments

You cant do it!!!!

You can’t do it! If you do; we won’t support you!!

You shouldn’t do it. If you do; we will make it difficult to support you!

You can do it and we will help you if it’s known problem.

Virtualization FAQ

Q: Can I run Oracle products in a “virtualized” environment?A: Yes

Q: Are Oracle products certified in “virtualized” environments?A: No

Q: Will Oracle support me if I have a “virtualized” environment?A: Maybe, if the issue is a known issue on the native OS or can

be demonstrated not to be the result of running VMware. Covered in Oracle Support Note ID 249212.1

VirtualizationMy Oracle support document ID 249212.1

“Oracle has not certified any of its products on VMware virtualized environments. Oracle Support will assist customers running Oracle products on VMware in the following manner: Oracle will only provide support for issues that either are known to occur on the native OS, or can be demonstrated not to be as a result of running on VMware. If a problem is a known Oracle issue, Oracle support will recommend the appropriate solution on the native OS. If that solution does not work in the VMware virtualized environment, the customer will be referred to VMware for support. When the customer can demonstrate that the Oracle solution does not work when running on the native OS, Oracle will resume support, including logging a bug with Oracle Development for investigation if required. If the problem is determined not to be a known Oracle issue, we will refer the customer to VMware for support. When the customer can demonstrate that the issue occurs when running on the native OS, Oracle will resume support, including logging a bug with Oracle Development for investigation if required. NOTE: Oracle has not certified any of its products on VMWare, and use of Oracle products in the RAC environment is also not supported. “

Negotiating with Oracle

•Know want you want/need•Understand the products and various methods of licensing•Understand how much you need

•Know when you need it•Consider consolidating purchases

•Allow enough time•6-12 months isn’t too long• Develop a licensing plan and strategy

•Know what to ask for•Don’t waste time and power asking for things you will never get•Understand your legal obligations

Negotiating with Oracle

•Know what a good deal looks like•Once you have what you need; take the deal•Policies change frequently regarding discounts and concessions

•Communicate•Build a relationship with Oracle and your Oracle Partner•Keep them informed

Oracle Partners and Resellers can help you with all of this

Questions?

About DBAK• Founded in January 2005• Based in Englewood, Colorado• 100% Oracle focused• Oracle Gold Partner/Reseller• Business Consulting and solutions for

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Our passion is all about extracting all of the value out of Oracle applications, technology, and processes … that’s why we created DBAK.

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