Oracle Partitioning Licensing works as follows:
- Licensing Requirements: These are available only with the Enterprise Edition of Oracle Database. They require separate licensing from the Database Enterprise Edition licenses and must match their number and metrics.
- Costs: Priced at $11,500 per processor, licensed by counting cores. Alternatively, it can be licensed with a named user plus at $230 per user.
Oracle Partitioning Licensing
Oracle Partitioning is a powerful database feature that optimizes performance, scalability, and manageability in high-volume environments.
However, it is not included in the base Oracle Database Enterprise Edition license and must be purchased as a separate add-on license.
This additional license enables organizations to use Oracle partitioning to improve query performance, reduce storage costs, and streamline data management for large datasets. This specialized feature is designed for enterprise-grade environments where enhanced database performance is critical.
Requirement for Oracle Database Enterprise Edition
Oracle Partitioning is exclusively available with the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition (DBEE). Organizations must acquire an Enterprise Edition license to license and use the partitioning feature.
- Incompatibility with Other Editions: Partitioning is unavailable with Oracle Standard Edition, Standard Edition 2, or Oracle Database Personal Edition.
- License Matching: The partitioning license must correspond exactly with the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition license regarding licensing metrics and quantities.
Why This Matters: This requirement ensures that only authorized users and processors leveraging the partitioning feature are properly licensed, preventing non-compliance.
Separate Licensing from Oracle Database Enterprise Edition
The Oracle Partitioning License is an independent add-on not bundled with the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. Organizations must acquire this feature separately to utilize its benefits.
- Clear Distinction: Licensing Oracle Database Enterprise Edition does not grant automatic rights to use the partitioning feature.
- Pay-for-What-You-Need Model: This approach allows businesses to control costs by only licensing features they actively use, ensuring value for money.
Example: An organization running Oracle Database Enterprise Edition for general data storage may not need partitioning. However, a company managing terabytes of data requiring advanced query optimization might benefit significantly from investing in the partitioning license.
Licensing Metrics: Named User Plus and Processor Options
Organizations can license Oracle Partitioning using two main metrics, aligning with their Oracle Database Enterprise Edition license:
- Named User Plus (NUP):
- This model licenses individual users accessing the database.
- Each person or device that connects to the database must be accounted for and properly licensed.
- Suitable for environments with a limited number of users, such as smaller teams or dedicated projects.
- Processor Licensing:
- This model is based on the number of processors running the database, ideal for high-transaction or user-intensive environments.Oracle’s core factor table determines the required number of processor licenses by applying a multiplier to the number of cores.
Cost Structure of Oracle Partitioning Licensing
Oracle Partitioning is a separately licensed feature with specific cost structures depending on the chosen licensing model. Understanding these costs and their calculation methods is essential for managing expenses effectively and ensuring compliance with Oracle’s licensing policies.
Cost Per Processor: $11,500
Oracle Partitioning costs $11,500 per processor, calculated based on the number of cores in each processor and Oracle’s core factor.
- Core Factor Application: Oracle uses a core factor table to account for the processing capacity of different types of CPUs. For example:
- Intel processors with a core factor of 0.5: A server with 16 cores would require eight licenses (16 cores 0.5 = 8 processors).
- SPARC processors with a core factor of 0.75: A server with 16 cores would require 12 licenses (16 cores 0.75 = 12 processors).
This method ensures licensing costs are proportional to the database’s computing power.
Example: A database running on a server with 32 Intel cores would cost $184,000 for Oracle Partitioning (32 cores 0.5 core factor $11,500 per processor).
Processor Licensing: Counting Cores
Processor licensing is particularly suited for high-performance environments where tracking individual users is impractical.
- Steps to Determine Licensing:
- Count the total number of cores in all processors running the database.
- Apply the appropriate core factor for each processor type based on Oracle\u2019s core factor table.
- Multiply the number of processors by the cost per processor ($11,500).
Example: A database running on two servers with 16 Intel cores each:
- Total cores = 32.
- Core factor = 0.5.
- Total processors for licensing = 32 \u00d7 0.5 = 16.
- Total cost = 16 processors \u00d7 $11,500 = $184,000.
This calculation standardizes costs while reflecting the database computing capacity.
Cost Per Named User Plus (NUP): $230 Per User
In smaller environments where the Named User Plus (NUP) licensing model is more suitable, Oracle Partitioning costs $230 per user. This model is ideal for organizations with limited users accessing the database.
- Minimum User Requirements: Oracle often imposes a minimum requirement for Named User Plus licenses, depending on the processor count.
- For example, if the minimum requirement is 25 Named User Plus licenses per processor and the database runs on four processors, the organization must license at least 100 users (4 processors, 25 minimum users).
Example: A company with 150 active users accessing Oracle Partitioning would pay $34,500 ($230 \u00d7 150 users).
- Scalability: The NUP model offers cost advantages for smaller teams but becomes less economical as the user count increases.
Comparing Processor vs. Named User Plus Licensing
Choosing between processor and Named User Plus licensing depends on the organization\u2019s database usage patterns and user base size:
| Metric | Processor Licensing | Named User Plus Licensing |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | High user counts or high-transaction systems | Limited, smaller user groups |
| Cost Calculation | Based on processor cores and core factor | Based on the number of individual users |
| Scalability | More cost-effective for large environments | More cost-effective for small environments |
| Example Cost (16 Cores) | $92,000 (8 processors \ $11,500) | $46,000 (200 users \$230 per user) |
FAQs About the Oracle Partitioning License
What is Oracle Partitioning?
Oracle Partitioning is a database feature that improves performance and manageability by dividing large tables and indexes into smaller, more manageable segments.
Is Oracle Partitioning included in the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition license?
No, Oracle Partitioning is a separately licensed option that must be purchased in addition to the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition license.
Can Oracle Partitioning be used with other Oracle Database editions?
No, Oracle Partitioning is only available with Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. It is not supported in Standard Edition or other Oracle Database editions.
How is Oracle Partitioning licensed?
Oracle Partitioning can be licensed using two models: Named User Plus (NUP) or Processor licensing. The chosen model must match the Oracle Database Enterprise Edition licensing metric.
What is the cost of Oracle Partitioning per processor?
The cost of Oracle Partitioning is $11,500 per processor. Counting cores and applying Oracle’s core factor determines the number of processors.
What is the cost of Oracle Partitioning under the Named User Plus model?
For Named User Plus licensing, Oracle Partitioning costs $230 per user. Depending on the number of processors, minimum user requirements apply.
What is Oracle’s core factor, and how is it applied?
The core factor is a multiplier used to determine the number of processors for licensing based on the CPU’s core count. For example, Intel processors have a core factor of 0.5, meaning two cores count as one processor.
Do I need to match my Oracle Partitioning licenses with my database licenses?
Yes, the number of Oracle Partitioning licenses must match the number of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition licenses, whether licensed by NUP or Processor.
What are the benefits of Oracle Partitioning?
Oracle Partitioning improves query performance, reduces storage costs, and simplifies database management, making it ideal for high-volume and transactional environments.
What are the minimum Named User Plus requirements for Oracle Partitioning?
The minimum user requirement depends on the number of licensed processors. If the requirement is 25 NUPs per processor and you have four processors, you must license at least 100 users.
How does partitioning improve database performance?
Partitioning enables faster query processing by breaking large tables into smaller partitions, reducing the amount of data scanned during queries.
Can I license Oracle Partitioning only for specific processors?
No, Oracle requires that all Oracle Database Enterprise Edition processors be licensed for Oracle Partitioning if the feature is used.
What happens if I use partitioning without licensing it?
Using Oracle Partitioning without a license violates Oracle’s licensing policies and may result in penalties or additional costs during an audit.
How can I calculate the cost of Oracle Partitioning for a multi-core environment?
To determine the number of processors, multiply the total number of cores by Oracle’s core factor. Then, multiply the processor count by $11,500 to calculate the cost.
What documentation should I maintain for Oracle Partitioning compliance?
Accurate core counts, user licenses, and system usage records should be maintained to demonstrate compliance during Oracle audits. Regular internal audits can help identify and address potential gaps.
