Introduction to Oracle Database Standard Edition 2 Licensing on VMware
Oracle Database Standard Edition 2 (SE2) is popular among businesses for its affordability and robust features.
However, when licensing Oracle SE2 on a VMware environment, there are specific considerations to remember.
This article aims to provide a clear understanding of Oracle SE2 licensing on VMware, focusing on the critical aspects of Oracle’s licensing policies and how they apply to VMware environments.
Oracle SE2 Licensing: The Basics
Oracle’s licensing policy for SE2 is based on the number of physical processors, not the virtual CPUs assigned to the Oracle database. This means that even if you assign a limited number of vCPUs to your Oracle database, you still need to license all the physical cores in your server.
Oracle Licensing on VMware
When it comes to licensing Oracle on VMware, you need to take into account Oracle’s licensing policies. According to these policies, you must license all physical processors in the VMware cluster. This applies even if the Oracle database only runs on a subset of the servers in the cluster.
Furthermore, depending on the version of VMware you’re running, you may also need to license other vCenters. This is because Oracle considers VMware vCenter and vSphere to be part of a single cluster, and therefore, all physical cores in these environments must be licensed.
Licensing Oracle DB SE2 on a VMware Environment Running 7.0
Consider an example where you’re running VMware 7.0, and your VMware environment has 16 processors. You don’t have any other VMware environments and want to license Oracle DB SE2.
In this scenario, you must license all 16 processors in your VMware environment, regardless of how many virtual cores you assign to the Oracle database. Oracle’s licensing policy requires you to license all physical cores in the VMware cluster.
It’s important to note that Oracle’s licensing policies can be complex and subject to change.
Therefore, consulting with an Oracle licensing expert is always a good idea to ensure you comply with their latest policies.
Conclusion
Licensing Oracle Database Standard Edition 2 on VMware can be complex, but understanding Oracle’s licensing policies can help you navigate this process more effectively.
Remember, Oracle’s licensing is based on physical cores, not virtual cores, and you need to license all physical processors in your VMware cluster. By keeping these points in mind, you can ensure that you comply with Oracle’s licensing policies and avoid any potential licensing issues.
