Oracle License Management Services Collection Tool
- Data Collection: Gather detailed data on software usage and installations.
- Compliance Verification: Checks compliance with Oracle licensing agreements.
- Usage Analysis: Analyzes software usage patterns to optimize license utilization.
- Reporting: Generates reports on license usage and compliance status.
What is the Oracle License Management Services Collection Tool?
The Oracle License Management Services (LMS) Collection Tool is a specialized utility developed by Oracle to assist organizations in evaluating their deployed Oracle products. This tool plays a critical role in Oracle’s strategic license management approach, helping customers better understand their Oracle estate and ensure compliance.
What is the Oracle LMS Collection Tool?
The LMS Collection Tool is designed to collect detailed product usage data across an organization’s Oracle deployments.
Its primary functions include:
- Identifying Deployments: Pinpoints where Oracle products are installed and actively used within the infrastructure.
- Providing Insights: Offers a foundational view of Oracle product usage, supporting internal audits and compliance efforts.
Key Limitation: The LMS Collection Tool is not intended to manage Oracle Cloud licenses, such as SaaS or OCI cost management. Other tools or services are required for those areas.
Example: A retail organization uses the LMS Collection Tool to identify Oracle Database instances deployed across its on-premises and virtual environments, enabling a clearer view of licensing needs.
In-House Tools vs. Third-Party Vendors
Through its Global Licensing and Advisory Services (GLAS), Oracle offers several in-house tools to assist organizations in tracking and managing their Oracle product deployments. These tools were developed with the specific goal of improving the visibility of Oracle product usage.
In addition to in-house tools, Oracle LMS collaborates with third-party vendors to enhance the accuracy and breadth of usage data collection. These third-party tools complement Oracle’s offerings by providing advanced data collection capabilities tailored for complex IT environments.
Key Points to Note:
- Oracle’s Role: While these tools collect data, they do not replace an Oracle License Audit. Oracle retains the contractual right to perform formal audits.
- Data Analysis: Oracle must still analyze data collected by these tools to determine licensing needs.
Example: A manufacturing enterprise uses a combination of Oracle’s in-house LMS Collection Tool and a third-party solution to gather comprehensive usage data across physical, virtual, and containerized environments.
The Significance of Verified Third-Party Tool Vendors
Oracle has verified several third-party tool vendors to ensure their solutions can collect accurate Oracle product usage data. This verification process focuses on the tools’ ability to gather deployment and usage details for specific Oracle products, ensuring alignment with Oracle’s data collection standards.
Significance of Verification:
- Verified tools ensure compatibility with Oracle’s requirements for data collection.
- They simplify the process of gathering accurate deployment data across diverse environments.
Notable Verified Vendors for Oracle Database and Database Options:
- Certero: Provides tools for asset management with a focus on Oracle compliance and optimization.
- Flexera: Offers comprehensive capabilities for tracking Oracle deployments and managing licenses.
- Snow Software: Known for its detailed software usage reports and analytics tailored for Oracle products.
- ServiceNow: Integrates Oracle asset tracking with broader IT operations, offering a holistic view of software deployments.
Important Caveat: While Oracle verifies these tools for data collection, this verification does not extend to their capability to measure Oracle software usage or ensure compliance. Oracle LMS must still conduct final assessments of license requirements.
Conclusion
The Oracle License Management Services Collection Tool is pivotal in Oracle’s licensing ecosystem. While it offers a streamlined approach to collecting product usage data, businesses must approach it with a comprehensive understanding.
You need an expert to analyze the tool’s output properly, and Oracle license management services can help you with that.
By leveraging in-house and third-party tools, organizations can ensure they have a holistic view of their Oracle licensing landscape, enabling them to make informed decisions.
