Google Cloud Oracle Licensing
- vCPU Limits: Ensure instances stay within Oracle’s vCPU limits.
- Multi-Threading Rules: Apply correct licensing ratios for enabled/disabled multi-threading.
- Territory Restrictions: Verify if Google Cloud regions fall within licensed territory.
- BYOL Only: Google Bare Metal requires a Bring Your Own License.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate records for Oracle compliance and audits.
With Oracle’s recent approval of Google Cloud as an authorized cloud vendor, many organizations are now looking to run their Oracle workloads on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Licensing Oracle on GCP can be challenging because Oracle’s licensing requirements are complex. This article will explain the key considerations, options, and guidelines for Oracle licensing on Google Cloud.
Understanding these guidelines can help you avoid non-compliance risks and optimize your cloud-based Oracle deployments.
Oracle Licensing on Google Cloud
As of June 2024, Google Cloud has been recognized as an authorized cloud vendor for Oracle, giving organizations more flexibility in deploying Oracle databases on Google’s infrastructure.
With GCP and Google Bare Metal Solutions, companies now have various choices when managing Oracle workloads in the cloud. These options offer flexibility for different business requirements, whether you need fully managed services, cloud-based Oracle databases, or bare-metal installations.
Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the specifics of Oracle licensing on Google Cloud.
Licensing Options Available on Google Cloud
1. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Licensing Options
Google Cloud provides three main methods for running Oracle workloads:
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Virtual Instances: You can deploy Oracle databases on virtual machines within GCP, where licensing is based on the vCPUs of the selected instance types.
- Google Bare Metal Solution: This solution involves dedicated hardware and allows you to use existing Oracle licenses in a Bring Your Own License (BYOL) setup.
2. Oracle Database Cloud Services on GCP
You can also run Oracle Database Cloud Services via GCP, providing a cloud-native experience for Oracle databases without manually managing infrastructure. Licensing for these services is handled differently:
- You can use Google Cloud Commitments to pay for Oracle services instead of bringing separate licenses.
- This model enables organizations to benefit from cloud-native Oracle database services while simplifying the licensing process.
3. Google Bare Metal for BYOL
With Google Bare Metal Solutions, you must bring or purchase your own Oracle licenses (BYOL). This means you have full control over your licensing, like managing licenses in an on-premises data center.
- No License Included: Google does not offer a “license included” option for Oracle on bare metal. Therefore, customers must buy or bring Oracle licenses for this dedicated infrastructure.
- Example: If your deployment requires 32 Oracle database Enterprise Edition cores, you must provide the corresponding Oracle licenses as you would for an on-premises server.
Oracle Licensing Rules for GCP
Oracle Processor Licensing on GCP
Licensing Oracle programs on GCP involves careful calculation of vCPUs and applying Oracle’s specific rules for cloud deployments.
- With Multi-Threading Enabled: If multi-threading is enabled, two vCPUs are equivalent to one Oracle Processor license. This means you can significantly optimize your licensing costs by using multi-threading.
- Without Multi-Threading: If multi-threading is disabled, each vCPU is equivalent to one Oracle Processor license. This will require more licenses, which could increase costs.
- Important Note: The Oracle Processor Core Factor Table does not apply to deployments on GCP. This differs from on-premises environments, where the core factor is often used to calculate licensing.
Standard Edition Licensing on GCP
Understanding the different requirements, such as sizes, when licensing Oracle Standard Edition products on GCP is essential.
- Instances with Four or Fewer vCPUs: If your GCP instance has four or fewer vCPUs, it is counted as one socket equivalent to one Oracle Processor license.
- Instances with More than Four vCPUs: If your instance has more than four vCPUs, each block of four vCPUs (rounded up to the nearest multiple of four) is equivalent to one Oracle Processor license.
- Example: For an instance with ten vCPUs, you would need to count it as three sockets (i.e., ten vCPUs rounded up to 12, divided by 4).
Instance Limits for Standard Edition Products
- Oracle Database Standard Edition can be licensed on GCP instances of up to 16 vCPUs.
- Oracle Standard Edition One and Standard Edition 2 can be licensed on instances of up to 8 GCP vCPUs.
- Compliance Tip: Exceeding these vCPU limits could require a significantly more expensive and complex license of Oracle Enterprise Edition.
Named User Plus (NUP) Metric
If you choose to license Oracle Standard Edition 2 using the Named User Plus (NUP) metric, there are specific requirements for Google Cloud deployments:
- The minimum requirement is 10 Named User Plus licenses per 8 GCP vCPUs.
- This approach can benefit smaller workloads where a per-user licensing model may offer better cost efficiency than processor-based licensing.
Licensing Oracle on Google Bare Metal Solutions
Google Bare Metal Solutions provides dedicated hardware for Oracle deployments, which allows you to bring your existing Oracle licenses, similar to running Oracle in your data center.
Here are some key points to consider:
- BYOL Model: The bare-metal solution on GCP works purely as a BYOL model. You must bring and properly license all Oracle software used on these servers.
- Licensing Calculation Example: Suppose you need 32 Oracle Database Enterprise Edition cores on Google Bare Metal. You must procure and assign 32 processor licenses, just as you would for any physical server in your data center.
- No License Flexibility: Unlike the fully managed cloud services where licensing can be included in your payment to Google, Google Bare Metal requires the same license management rigor as an on-premises deployment.
Compliance Considerations for Oracle Licensing on GCP
Proper compliance is critical when running Oracle on Google Cloud. Failure to comply with Oracle’s licensing policies can lead to severe penalties.
Here are some compliance considerations:
1. vCPU Monitoring and Compliance
- Ensure that all instances are within the vCPU limits set for the Oracle license you use. Use Google Cloud Monitoring to monitor instance sizes and ensure compliance.
- Multi-Threading Considerations: Always verify if multi-threading is enabled, as this significantly affects your licensing requirements.
2. Territory Clause
- Geographical Restrictions: Some Oracle licenses include a territory clause limiting the software’s deployment regions. Always verify that your chosen Google Cloud region falls within your licensed territory.
3. Documentation and Audits
- Maintain Accurate Documentation: Keep detailed records of where your Oracle software is deployed, including information about vCPU count, Google Cloud regions, and licensing metrics.
- Prepare for Audits: Google Cloud deployments are subject to the same Oracle audits as on-premises environments. Maintaining accurate documentation will make audits smoother and reduce the risk of penalties.
Best Practices for Managing Oracle Licensing on GCP
1. Regular Audits and License Reviews
- Conduct regular internal audits to ensure your Oracle licenses comply with Google Cloud usage. This can help you identify potential compliance risks before an external Oracle audit.
2. Work with Licensing Experts
- Consider working with Oracle licensing consultants who can help navigate the complexities of licensing Oracle on Google Cloud. Consultants can provide insight into the best practices for optimizing licenses and avoiding non-compliance.
3. Leverage Google Cloud Tools
- Use Google Cloud’s monitoring tools to manage your Oracle deployments effectively. Google Cloud offers tools that can help track your vCPU usage, identify potential compliance issues, and ensure your workloads remain within licensed limits.
- Use Automation to enforce compliance rules. For instance, you could set up alerts for instances that exceed the vCPU limits for a particular license type.
4. Plan for Scalability
- If you expect your workload to grow, plan your licensing strategy accordingly. Ensure that any future expansion remains within the confines of your current licensing structure or make adjustments proactively to avoid compliance risks.
Example Scenarios for Oracle Licensing on GCP
Scenario 1: Deploying Oracle Standard Edition 2 on GCP
- Instance Size: Deploying Oracle SE2 on a GCP instance with eight vCPUs.
- Licensing Requirements: Since SE2 allows up to 8 vCPUs per instance, you need one socket license for this setup.
- Compliance Tip: To avoid upgrading to Enterprise Edition licensing, ensure that the instance never scales beyond eight vCPUs.
Scenario 2: Enterprise Edition on GCP with Multi-Threading
- Instance Size: Deploying Oracle Enterprise Edition on a 16 vCPU instance, with multi-threading enabled.
- Licensing Calculation: With multi-threading enabled, 16 vCPUs require 8 Oracle Processor licenses.
- Benefit: Utilizing multi-threading reduces the required licenses, saving costs.
Scenario 3: Licensing Oracle on Google Bare Metal
- Requirement: You need 32 Oracle Database Enterprise Edition cores on Google Bare Metal.
- Licensing Approach: This is a BYOL scenario, and you need to bring licenses for all 32 processor cores, following Oracle’s on-premises licensing rules.
Google Cloud Oracle Licensing FAQ
What is Bring Your Own License (BYOL) on Google Bare Metal?
Google Bare Metal requires customers to bring or purchase their own Oracle licenses. Thus, Google does not offer a license-included solution for Oracle software on bare metal infrastructure.
How do I license Oracle on Google Cloud with multi-threading enabled?
If multi-threading is enabled, two vCPUs are equivalent to one Oracle Processor license. This can significantly reduce the number of licenses needed compared to non-multi-threaded instances.
Are Oracle’s core factors applicable to Google Cloud deployments?
The Oracle Processor Core Factor Table does not apply to Google Cloud Platform deployments. VCPU count determines Oracle licensing on GCP without applying core factor reductions.
What is the vCPU limit for Oracle Standard Edition 2 on GCP?
Oracle Standard Edition 2 can only be licensed on instances with up to 8 GCP vCPUs. Deploying beyond this limit would require an upgrade to Oracle Enterprise Edition.
How do territory clauses affect Oracle licensing on Google Cloud?
Oracle’s territory clauses limit the geographical locations where software can be deployed. Therefore, always ensure the selected Google Cloud region aligns with your licensing territory.
Can I license Oracle by Named User Plus (NUP) on Google Cloud?
The Named User Plus (NUP) metric can be used with Oracle Standard Edition 2. However, a minimum of 10 NUP licenses is required per 8 GCP vCPUs.
What are the licensing guidelines for Oracle Standard Edition on GCP?
For Standard Edition, instances with four or fewer vCPUs count as one socket. Instances with more than four vCPUs must license every block of four vCPUs as one socket.
How does Google Cloud Commitment help with Oracle licensing?
You can use Google Cloud Commitment to pay for Oracle Database Cloud Services, which allows cloud-native Oracle deployments without purchasing traditional Oracle licenses separately.
What happens if I exceed vCPU limits for Oracle Standard Edition?
Exceeding vCPU limits for Standard Edition results in non-compliance. This can require upgrading to Oracle Enterprise Edition, leading to significantly higher costs.
Can I count Google Cloud Oracle deployments towards ULA certification?
Many Oracle ULAs do not allow Google Cloud deployments to count towards ULA certification. Verify if your ULA covers cloud deployments or is restricted to on-premises usage.
What compliance risks exist with Oracle on Google Cloud?
Risks include exceeding vCPU limits, violating territory clauses, using restricted tools, and misunderstanding licensing metrics. Accurate documentation and monitoring are essential for compliance.
How can I monitor Oracle license compliance on Google Cloud?
Use Google Cloud’s monitoring tools to track vCPU counts, manage instance sizes, and ensure that instances do not exceed licensing limits. Regular internal audits are also advised.
How does multi-threading affect Oracle license costs?
Multi-threading reduces Oracle license costs by allowing two vCPUs to count as one Processor license. Use multi-threading where applicable to optimize licensing expenses.
What are the best practices for Oracle licensing on Google Cloud?
Best practices include regularly auditing your deployments, consulting with licensing experts, maintaining updated documentation, and using Google Cloud monitoring tools to ensure compliance.
How can Oracle licensing specialists help with Google Cloud?
Licensing specialists help navigate complex Oracle terms, ensuring compliance and identifying opportunities to optimize license costs. They also assist during audits and license negotiations.
Read more about our Oracle License Management Services.
