Google Cloud Oracle Licensing – 2 licensing options

Oracle licensing on Google Cloud is a topic that requires careful attention. Unlike AWS and Azure, Google Cloud is not recognized by Oracle as a public cloud provider, which means Oracle deployments on Google Cloud need to be treated as on-premises deployments.

Here are the key points:

1. Google Cloud and Oracle: Google offers GCP and Bare Metal solutions for deploying Oracle environments. However, Oracle does not recognize Google’s hypervisor, which means Oracle licensing policy documents and Bare Metal solutions must be followed.
2. Oracle on Google Cloud Licensing Options: Oracle licensing for technology products is based on hardware specs for user and processor licenses. Oracle requires customers to license per core or processor and does not recognize many virtualization technologies to limit licensing when servers are put together in clusters.
3. Google Cloud Oracle Licensing – Public Cloud: Oracle has defined two public cloud platforms, Microsoft Azure and AWS, as “authorized cloud environments” with unique ways of calculating and licensing Oracle. Google Cloud does not benefit from these special licensing rights.
4. Licensing Oracle on Google Bare Metal: Customers must choose Google Bare Metal solutions, where licensing is calculated as if Oracle was deployed in your data center. Google does not offer any “license included” solution, so customers need to bring/purchase their own Oracle licenses and use it as a BYOL (Bring Your Own License) solution.

Google Cloud Oracle Licensing

• Oracle licensing for technology products is based upon hardware specs both for user licensing and processor licenses.
• Oracle requires end customers to license per core or processor.
• Oracle does not recognize many virtualization technologies as means to limit licensing when servers are put together in clusters. Read more in Oracle soft partitioning policy guide.

What this means is that if you run Oracle on two vCPU on a server running in a virtualized cluster where there are one hundred physical cores, Oracle requires you to purchase a license for all one hundred physical cores and not only the two virtual processors you have assigned to the Oracle deployment.

Google Cloud Oracle Licensing – (Public Cloud)

Oracle has defined two public cloud platforms as “authorized cloud environments” with a unique way of calculating and licensing Oracle. Those two are Microsoft Azure and AWS. Oracle allows end customers to license the specific vCPUs you have assigned to the instance running Oracle software. You can read more in the Oracle cloud licensing policy document here.  Google Cloud does not benefit from the same special licensing rights.

Where does this leave Oracle licensing on Google Cloud?

Google Cloud Oracle licensing is not ideal, as it does not offer the same safe deployment as Azure and AWS. If you follow Oracle guidelines,  you must license Oracle software the same way as you would for your on-premise environment. This means:

• You need to consider Oracle soft partitioning policy document (which is non-contractual)
• You need to review the Oracle processor definition (in your licensing agreement)
• You then need to apply the Oracle core factor table.
• You can decide to disregard Oracle licensing policy documents and make up your mind when running Oracle on GCP. We have a lengthy Oracle on VMware strategy article.

Licensing Oracle on Google Bare Metal 

As an end customer, you need to choose Google Bare Metal solutions, where you calculate licensing as you would if you deployed Oracle in your own data center. Google does not offer any “license included” solution – therefore, you need to bring/purchase your own Oracle licenses and use them as a BYOL solution.

For example:

Suppose you need thirty-two cores of Oracle database EE in GCP/Bare metal. – You will need sixteen Oracle Enterprise Database processor licenses as Google uses Intel Xeon processors.

How Can Redress Compliance Assist You with Oracle Licensing on Google Cloud?

Navigating Oracle licensing on Google Cloud can be challenging, but Redress Compliance is here to help. Our services are designed to simplify the process and ensure you get the most out of your Oracle software on Google Cloud. Here’s how we can assist:

1. Independent Review: We thoroughly assess your on-premise Oracle deployments using license compliance scripts. This ensures that you comply with Oracle’s licensing policies.
2. Contract Assessment: Our team will review your contracts to determine if you can transition to Google Cloud. We ensure you remain compliant during this transition, avoiding potential pitfalls.
3. Oracle Licensing Optimization: We help optimize your Oracle licensing on Google Cloud. This reduces costs and improves efficiency, making your operations more streamlined and cost-effective.
4. Expert Guidance: Our experts are well-versed in Oracle licensing policies. They can guide you through complex licensing scenarios, ensuring you always maintain compliance.

Take the Next Step in Your Oracle Licensing on Google Cloud Journey

Understanding Oracle licensing on Google Cloud can be complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team at Redress Compliance is ready to guide you through every step of the process.

Whether you’re just starting your cloud migration journey or looking to fine-tune your existing setup, we’re here to help. We’ve got you covered, from understanding your licensing requirements to avoiding common compliance pitfalls.

Don’t let Oracle licensing complexities slow down your cloud journey. Contact us today to learn how we can help you make the most of your Oracle software on Google Cloud. Let’s unlock the full potential of your cloud strategy together.