Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition Licensing
- The core license includes Oracle Smart View for Office, Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition, and Oracle Entitlements Server.
- Separate licenses needed for Oracle BI Interactive Dashboards, BI Delivers, and BI Answers
- Restricted use applies to WebLogic Server, Entitlements Server, and aggregate persistence with Exalytics.
Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition: Licensing and Features
Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition (OBI SEE) is a powerful data management and analytics platform designed to manage a range of business intelligence (BI) applications.
It is a centralized engine that provides access to and processes data, supporting tools like Oracle Business Intelligence Interactive Dashboards, Oracle Business Intelligence Answers, and Oracle Business Intelligence Delivers.
This server balances concurrency and parallelism, making it suitable for handling complex business intelligence workloads while ensuring efficient resource use and improved organizational decision-making.
Core Components of Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition
Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition includes several essential components:
- Oracle Smart View for Office: A tool that allows users to view and interact with Oracle Business Intelligence data within Microsoft Office applications.
- Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition: Provides the infrastructure for running OBI applications, though clustering is not permitted under this edition.
- Oracle Entitlements Server: Offers fine-grained access control and security for business intelligence data and applications.
Optional Add-ons
The core Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition does not include certain features and options but can be licensed separately to expand its capabilities.
These options must match the licenses purchased for the core OBI SEE product. They include:
- Oracle Business Intelligence Interactive Dashboards allow users to interact with data visually and intuitively.
- Oracle Business Intelligence Delivers Automates alerts and notifications based on predefined business rules and data conditions.
- Oracle Business Intelligence Answers: A self-service reporting tool that enables users to query and analyze data interactively.
- Oracle Analytics Publisher (formerly Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher): Used for generating highly formatted, pixel-perfect reports from business intelligence data.
Restricted Use Licenses
Some features and tools included with Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition come with restricted-use licenses, meaning they are only available under specific conditions:
- Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition & Options: Restricted to testing and debugging deployments built with Oracle Business Intelligence Server Administrator.
- Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition: Its use is restricted to supporting OBI SEE only. Clustering capabilities for WebLogic Server are not allowed unless otherwise licensed.
- Oracle Entitlements Server: Restricted solely to usage in conjunction with Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition.
- Aggregate Persistence: When using the
CREATE AGGREGATESandDELETE AGGREGATEScommands against Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database for Exalytics or Oracle Database Enterprise Edition’s In-Memory Option, a separate license for Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Software is required. - Oracle Hardware Acceleration: Leveraging Oracle hardware acceleration features necessitates a license for Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Software.
Licensing Considerations
When purchasing Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition, the number of licenses for each optional feature must match the number of core licenses.
For example, suppose an organization purchases ten licenses for Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition and ten licenses for any of the optional features, such as Oracle Business Intelligence Interactive Dashboards or Oracle Analytics Publisher.
Additionally, restricted components like WebLogic Server or Oracle Entitlements Server are limited to supporting Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition, with no broader application or clustering support without additional licenses.
Conclusion
Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition is a comprehensive platform for managing business intelligence applications, delivering data to users, and providing robust security and access controls.
Organizations looking to expand their data access and analysis capabilities can leverage the suite’s core components and optional features to enhance decision-making while considering the various licensing restrictions and options.
Proper planning around the number of licenses and restricted-use scenarios ensures that organizations get the most value from their Oracle Business Intelligence investment.
FAQ: Oracle Business Intelligence Server Enterprise Edition Licensing
What components are included in the core license?
The core license includes Oracle Smart View for Office, Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition, and Oracle Entitlements Server.
Are Oracle BI Dashboards and Answers included in the base license?
No, Oracle Business Intelligence Interactive Dashboards, Delivers, and Answers require separate licenses.
What is restricted about using Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition?
Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition can only be used with Oracle Business Intelligence Server, and clustering is prohibited.
Can I use Oracle Entitlements Server for other applications?
No, the Oracle Entitlements Server is restricted to only use with the Oracle Business Intelligence Server.
Do I need separate licenses for aggregate persistence?
Using aggregate persistence with TimesTen In-Memory Database or Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Software requires a separate license.
What is the purpose of Oracle Smart View for Office?
It allows users to access and interact with Oracle BI data within Microsoft Office applications.
Is there a specific licensing requirement for Oracle Analytics Publisher?
Yes, you must purchase a separate license for Oracle Analytics Publisher to use it with Oracle BI Server.
How many licenses do I need for the optional features?
The number of licenses for optional features like Dashboards or Analytics Publisher must match the number of Oracle BI Server Enterprise Edition licenses.
What does the restricted use of Oracle WebLogic Server Standard Edition entail?
It is limited to deployment alongside Oracle Business Intelligence Server and cannot be used independently or for clustering.
Can I test or debug Oracle Business Intelligence Server without additional licenses?
Yes, restricted use of Oracle BI Server and its options allows for testing and debugging with Oracle Business Intelligence Administrator.
Do I need to license Oracle Business Intelligence Delivers separately?
Oracle Business Intelligence Delivers is an optional feature and must be licensed separately from the core Oracle BI Server license.
What does the Oracle Hardware Acceleration feature require?
Using Oracle Hardware Acceleration requires an additional license for Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Software.
How do I use Oracle WebLogic Server in my deployment?
WebLogic Server is included with Oracle BI Server, but any broader use requires additional licensing.
Can I cluster the Oracle WebLogic Server with my BI Server license?
No, clustering Oracle WebLogic Server is not allowed under the Oracle BI Server Enterprise Edition licensing.
What happens if I don’t match the licenses for options like Dashboards?
The number of licenses for each option must match the Oracle BI Server licenses to ensure compliance with Oracle’s licensing policies.
Read about our Oracle License Management Services.
