How is Oracle Internet Application Server (Oracle iAS) Licensed, and Does it Include WebLogic?
Oracle Internet Application Server (Oracle iAS), including legacy versions like Oracle Application Server 10g/11g, has distinct licensing requirements and specific inclusions related to Oracle WebLogic Server. Understanding exactly how Oracle iAS licensing works—including what’s included with WebLogic—helps ensure compliance and can significantly impact your software budget.
Oracle iAS Licensing Metrics Explained.
Oracle iAS licenses follow Oracle’s standard licensing models, providing two primary metrics for licensing: Processor-based licensing and Named User Plus (NUP) licensing. Each metric has specific implications for how you count and pay for licenses:
Processor Licensing
- Licensed based on the number of CPU cores, applying Oracle’s Core Factor Table.
- This method typically covers unlimited users and is ideal for applications serving many end users or external traffic.
- Example: A server with eight Intel CPU cores (core factor of 0.5) would require 4 Processor licenses (8 cores × 0.5 core factor = 4 licenses).
Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing
- Counts the number of distinct users or devices authorized to access the application server.
- Oracle enforces a minimum requirement of 10 NUP licenses per processor. This means even small deployments must meet a baseline number of licenses.
- Example: A server counted as two processors would require at least 20 NUP licenses, even if it has only five actual users.
Oracle iAS Editions: Standard vs. Enterprise Edition
Oracle historically offered two primary editions of iAS, each with distinct included components and licensing considerations:
Oracle iAS Standard Edition
- Focused primarily on basic web hosting, caching (Web Cache), and OC4J (Oracle Containers for J2EE) for Java application deployments.
- Intended for smaller-scale deployments or basic J2EE applications.
Oracle iAS Enterprise Edition
- Included advanced capabilities like Oracle Forms, Oracle Reports, Oracle Portal, Oracle Discoverer, and Oracle Identity Management components.
- Provided robust enterprise-grade middleware solutions ideal for complex deployments and enterprise portal/integration scenarios.
Inclusion of WebLogic Server Basic with Oracle iAS
A significant aspect of Oracle iAS licensing includes restricted-use licensing of Oracle WebLogic Server Basic for certain products—primarily Forms, Reports, Discoverer, and Portal. This is particularly important for customers migrating legacy iAS components to newer Fusion Middleware platforms.
What is WebLogic Server Basic?
WebLogic Server Basic is a restricted-use license that is provided at no additional cost. It allows customers to run specific Oracle middleware components originally licensed under Oracle iAS on the WebLogic platform. It is not equivalent to a full WebLogic Server license but provides enough capability to host specific middleware components transitioning from legacy OC4J-based infrastructure to WebLogic-based deployments.
Allowed Uses of WebLogic Server Basic:
- Deploying Oracle Forms and Reports applications.
- Deploying Oracle Discoverer and Portal components.
- Running legacy OC4J-based custom J2EE applications moved directly from Oracle Application Server to WebLogic Server.
Restrictions of WebLogic Server Basic:
- Does not allow general-purpose WebLogic use (i.e., deploying unrelated applications).
- Does not include advanced WebLogic features like clustering, advanced JMS functionality, Java SE Advanced (full use), or other premium capabilities.
- WebLogic Server Basic strictly supports legacy Oracle middleware product usage only.
Read What Components or Features Are Included with Oracle SOA Suite and Which Are Separate.
Practical Licensing Scenarios for Oracle iAS and WebLogic
Below are real-world scenarios to illustrate how licensing for Oracle iAS and WebLogic Server Basic operates:
Scenario 1: Legacy Oracle Forms & Reports Migration
- License Held: Oracle iAS Enterprise Edition
- Usage: Running Oracle Forms & Reports applications originally licensed under iAS EE.
- Allowed: You can deploy these applications on WebLogic Server Basic without additional WebLogic licensing cost.
- Licensing Required: Processor or NUP licenses per iAS EE license metric (minimum 10 NUP per processor still applies).
Scenario 2: Oracle Portal and Discoverer Applications
- License Held: Oracle iAS Enterprise Edition
- Usage: Running Oracle Portal and Discoverer applications migrated to WebLogic from OC4J.
- Allowed: Included WebLogic Server Basic covers deployment of these applications—no extra license needed.
- Licensing Required: Standard iAS Enterprise Edition licensing (Processor or NUP).
Scenario 3: General-Purpose Java Application
- License Held: Oracle iAS Standard Edition (or EE)
- Usage: Deploying a custom-built Java EE application unrelated to legacy Forms, Reports, or Portal components.
- Not Allowed: WebLogic Server Basic does not permit general-purpose deployments unrelated to legacy Oracle iAS components.
- Licensing Required: Full WebLogic Server Enterprise Edition or WebLogic Suite licenses are required.
Key Considerations and Licensing Tips
- WebLogic Basic vs. Full WebLogic: Be careful about general-purpose Java EE deployments on WebLogic. WebLogic Server Basic covers only specific legacy Oracle middleware use cases; general Java applications require full licenses.
- Check Edition and Metrics: Confirm your current iAS edition (Standard or Enterprise) and chosen metric (Processor or NUP). Ensure you meet minimum licensing requirements per Oracle policy.
- Legacy Product Migrations: If migrating legacy Oracle middleware (Forms, Reports, Portal, Discoverer), use WebLogic Server Basic to avoid unnecessary additional WebLogic licenses.
- Oracle Identity Management Components: While Identity Management was part of the old Oracle iAS EE suite, current Identity products (Oracle Access Manager, OIM, OID, etc.) require separate licenses if used outside original iAS versions. Verify carefully to avoid non-compliance.
Read How is Oracle WebCenter Portal Licensed, and Does it Require WebLogic.
Licensing Quick-Reference Table
| Oracle iAS Component | Included WebLogic Basic? | Separate WebLogic License Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle Forms | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (covered by WebLogic Basic) |
| Oracle Reports | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (covered by WebLogic Basic) |
| Oracle Discoverer | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (covered by WebLogic Basic) |
| Oracle Portal | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (covered by WebLogic Basic) |
| General-purpose Java EE applications | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Full WebLogic required) |
| Advanced WebLogic features (clustering) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Full WebLogic required) |
Conclusion and Recommendations
Oracle iAS licensing is straightforward, offering Processor or Named User Plus metrics. The critical aspect is understanding how the bundled WebLogic Server Basic license fits in. Oracle provides WebLogic Server Basic at no extra cost
to migrate legacy Oracle middleware components (Forms, Reports, Discoverer, Portal) onto WebLogic.
However, general-purpose Java deployments or advanced WebLogic features require separate, full licenses. Always carefully document and manage your Oracle middleware deployments and usage to remain compliant and avoid audit-related licensing issues.
