OracleIAS

Oracle IAS Licensing – Licensing Considerations & Best Practices

Oracle Internet Application Server (IAS) is licensed through two primary methods:

  • Processor Metric Licensing: Calculates the license fee based on the number of cores on the processor, multiplied by Oracle’s core factor table. It costs $35,000 per processor license, which is suitable for organizations with many users accessing the server simultaneously.
  • Named User Plus Licensing: For individual users, with a minimum requirement of 10 users per processor license. It costs $700 per Named User Plus license, ideal for organizations with fewer or sporadic server users.

These licensing options are chosen based on the number of users, frequency of server usage, and budget considerations.

Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition Licensing: What are the Options?

oracle ias licensing


Processor Metric Licensing

With Processor Metric licensing, count the number of cores on the processor and multiply it with the Oracle core factor table.

This metric is best for organizations with a large number of users accessing the server at the same time. The cost for a Processor Metric license is $35,000 in license fees.

Named User Plus Licensing

Named User Plus licensing is for individuals, and you must license a minimum of 10 users per processor license.

This option is best for organizations with a smaller user base or sporadic server usage. The cost for a Named User Plus license is $700 in license fees.

How to Choose the Right Oracle IAS License for Your Organization

oracle ias licensing considerations


When deciding which licensing option is best for your organization, there are a few things to consider.

  1. Consider the number of users that will access the server.
    If you have a lot of users, the Processor Metric licensing option may be the most cost-effective choice.
  2. Account for the frequency of server usage.
    If your organization uses the server sporadically, the Named User Plus licensing option may be the best fit.
  3. Consider your budget.
    Processor Metric licensing comes with a higher upfront cost but may be more cost-effective in the long run if many users access the server. Named User Plus licensing has a lower upfront cost and may be a better choice for organizations with a smaller budget.

Selecting the right licensing option for your organization can be a challenging decision. However, considering your user base, usage frequency, and budget, you can choose between Processor Metric and Named User Plus licensing options.

What Editions Are in the Internet Application Server Product Family?

The Oracle Internet Application Server product family comprises three different editions with varying functional capabilities.

Each edition is suitable for different applications and development/deployment scenarios.

In addition, Oracle offers several application server options, packs, and other products that can enhance the capabilities of the Oracle Internet Application Server for specific purposes.

Here are the licensing editions of the Oracle Internet Application Server:

  • Standard Edition.
    This edition is designed for organizations that require a single middle-tier server to run their applications. It includes Oracle HTTP Server, Oracle Web Cache, Oracle Forms and Reports, and Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer. The Standard Edition also includes Oracle WebLogic Server Basic for running components provided within the products, but it cannot be used for custom Java applications.
  • Enterprise Edition.
    This edition is designed for organizations that require a highly available and scalable infrastructure to run their applications. It includes all the components of the Standard Edition, as well as additional features such as Oracle WebLogic Server Enterprise Edition and Oracle Web Services Manager.

Note: All editions of Oracle Internet Application Server and Oracle Forms and Reports Server include the rights to WebLogic Server Basic.

WebLogic Server Basic is only for running components provided within these products, such as Forms, Reports, Discoverer, and Portal. It can also be used for custom Java applications developed for Oracle Containers for J2EE.

Products outside of Oracle Internet Application Server and Oracle Forms and Reports with licensing dependencies on any edition of Oracle Internet Application Server or Oracle Forms and Reports do not have the right to run those products on WebLogic Server Basic unless stated within their licensing documentation.

Oracle Internet Application Server: A Standard Edition vs. Enterprise Edition Comparison

oracle ias se vs ee


When licensing the Oracle Internet Application Server, there are two primary options: Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition.

Standard Edition

The Oracle Internet Application Server Standard Edition is designed for organizations that require a single middle-tier server to run their applications. It includes the following components:

  • Oracle HTTP Server.
    A web server based on the Apache HTTP Server that provides a framework for deploying dynamic web pages and web applications.
  • Oracle TopLink.
    A Java object-relational mapping framework that provides a link between Java objects and a relational database.
  • Oracle MapViewer.
    A Java-based tool for creating and publishing maps on the web.
  • Oracle Portal.
    A web-based application that provides a framework for building and deploying web portals.
  • Oracle Web Cache.
    A caching proxy server that speeds up the delivery of web content by caching frequently accessed content.

Enterprise Edition

The Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition includes all the Standard Edition’s functionality and additional features for organizations that require a highly available and scalable infrastructure to run their applications. It includes the following components:

  • Oracle Internet Directory.
    A lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) directory that provides a central repository for storing and managing information about users and resources.
  • Oracle Single Sign-On.
    A tool for managing user authentication and authorization across multiple applications and systems.
  • Oracle Discoverer.
    A business intelligence tool for creating ad-hoc queries, reports, and charts.
  • Oracle Reports Services.
    A server-based reporting tool for creating and publishing enterprise reports.
  • Oracle Forms Services.
    A server-based tool for designing and deploying enterprise forms.
  • Oracle Directory Services Manager.
    A web-based tool for managing LDAP directories.

The Oracle Internet Application Server Standard Edition suits organizations requiring a single middle-tier server.

At the same time, the Enterprise Edition is best for organizations that require a highly available and scalable infrastructure to run their applications.

Organizations can choose the option that best fits their needs by understanding the differences between the two editions and what each includes.

Can You License the Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition on a Bare Metal Server?

If you want to run Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition (IAS EE) on a bare metal server, it’s important to understand the licensing requirements.

The licensing factor for a bare metal server is 0.5, and the formula used to calculate the number of processor licenses needed is 0.5 multiplied by the number of cores.

For example, here is how to license Oracle IAS EE on a bare metal server that has 16 cores of Intel and what the associated licensing costs would be:

Let’s say you want to run Oracle IAS EE on a bare metal server that has 16 cores of Intel. According to the licensing formula, this server needs eight processor licenses.

You’ll need to check the current pricing for Oracle IAS EE to determine the licensing costs. As of this writing, the list price for a single processor license for Oracle IAS EE is $35,000.

So, for our example, a bare metal server with 16 cores of Intel would need eight processor licenses, which would cost $280,000 (8 x $35,000).

Licensing Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition on AWS and Azure

If you plan to run Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition (IAS EE) on AWS or Azure, the licensing requirements are as follows.

The formula used to calculate the number of processor licenses needed is two vCPUs equals one processor license.

Here’s an example of how to license Oracle IAS EE on AWS with an instance type with eight vCPUs and the associated licensing costs.

Let’s say you want to run Oracle IAS EE on an AWS instance type that has eight vCPUs. According to the licensing formula, you would need four processor licenses.

You’ll need to check the current pricing for Oracle IAS EE to determine the licensing costs. As of this writing, the list price for a single processor license for Oracle IAS EE is $35,000.

So, for our example instance, with eight vCPUs, you would need four processor licenses, costing $140,000 (4 x $35,000).

It’s important to note that these costs are subject to change, and you should always check the latest pricing information from Oracle to ensure you have the most accurate information.

When licensing Oracle IAS EE on AWS or Azure, it’s important to understand the licensing formula of 2 vCPUs equals 1 processor license.

By following this formula and checking the current pricing information, you can accurately determine the number of processor licenses needed and the associated licensing costs for your specific instance type.

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Author

  • Fredrik Filipsson

    Fredrik Filipsson brings two decades of Oracle license management experience, including a nine-year tenure at Oracle and 11 years in Oracle license consulting. His expertise extends across leading IT corporations like IBM, enriching his profile with a broad spectrum of software and cloud projects. Filipsson's proficiency encompasses IBM, SAP, Microsoft, and Salesforce platforms, alongside significant involvement in Microsoft Copilot and AI initiatives, enhancing organizational efficiency.