Oracle Core Factor Table
The Oracle Core Factor Table is an essential tool to determine the number of Oracle Processor Licenses required for Oracle products. By referencing this table, companies can calculate licensing costs more accurately and ensure compliance with Oracle’s strict licensing policies.
How Calculation Works
- Formula: Multiply the number of physical server cores by the core factor specific to the processor type.
- Use Case: This calculation is crucial for all Oracle database and technology products, including WebLogic and Java subscriptions.
What is the Oracle Processor Core Factor Table?
The Oracle Processor Core Factor Table determines how to license Oracle database and technology products, such as Oracle Database, WebLogic Enterprise, and Java subscriptions. This table assigns a specific “core factor” to each processor type, standardizing and simplifying the licensing process.
Core-Based Licenses Overview
Purpose
The core factor table details the number of processor licenses needed for Oracle products licensed per processor core.
Applications
- The table calculates how many Oracle licenses are required based on the number of cores and the core factor assigned to each processor type.
- It ensures fair and consistent licensing across different hardware platforms.
Standard Edition Products vs. Enterprise Edition
Licensing Method for Standard Edition
- Oracle Standard Edition 2 and other standard products are licensed per occupied CPU socket.
- Exclusion: These products do not utilize the core factor table to determine the licensing requirements.
Key Takeaway
- Understanding the Oracle Processor Core Factor Table is vital for accurately determining your Oracle licensing needs, especially for Enterprise Edition products where core-based licensing applies.
How to Calculate Oracle Licensing Costs
Steps to Calculate Oracle Licensing Costs
- Understand Oracle Licensing: Oracle licensing depends on the type of hardware, specifically focusing on the processor type and the number of physical cores.
- Refer to the Oracle Core Factor Table: Identify the core factor for the specific processor type.
- Example: Suppose you have an Intel ES-16XX CPU with eight cores and a core factor of 0.5.
- Calculate Required Licenses: Multiply the number of cores (8) by the core factor (0.5) to get the required licenses. In this case: 8 x 0.5 = 4 Oracle Processor Licenses.
- Determine Costs:
- Multiply the number of required licenses by Oracle’s list price.
- For example: Oracle Database Enterprise Edition costs $47,500 per license. Therefore, 4 licenses would cost $190,000, plus annual support fees.
Oracle Processor License Explained
Definition
An Oracle Processor License allows organizations to run Oracle software on servers based on the number of cores available. The number of licenses required is calculated by applying the Oracle Core Factor Table to determine the actual license count needed.
How to Calculate
- Count the Cores: Determine the total number of server cores.
- Apply the Core Factor: Use the Oracle Core Factor Table to identify the core factor for your processor.
- Calculate the Licenses: Multiply the total cores by the core factor to determine the needed licenses.
Example Calculation
- Server with 8 Cores: Suppose you have a server with 8 cores.
- Core Factor of 0.5: If the core factor for your processor type is 0.5.
- Calculation: 8 cores x 0.5 = 4 Oracle Processor Licenses.
Oracle Core Factor Table for Different Environments
Oracle Core Factor Table for AWS
- Oracle has specific licensing rules for cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
- The Oracle Core Factor Table does not apply to these cloud environments. Instead, Oracle uses a different licensing model that involves reviewing the “Licensing Oracle software in the cloud computing environments” documentation.
- AWS and Azure allow sub-capacity licenses and use vCPU licensing, but Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and other providers do not have these rights.
Oracle Core Factor Table for Virtual Machines
- Hard Partitioning Technologies: These allow sub-capacity licensing, meaning you only need to license part of the server. Examples include Oracle VM Server and Oracle LDOMs.
- Soft Partitioning Technologies: The entire server or even the cluster must be licensed if virtualization is done with technologies not classified as hard partitioning, such as VMWare.
FAQs
What is the Oracle Core Factor Table?
The Oracle Core Factor Table determines the number of Oracle Processor Licenses required based on the type of processor and the number of cores in the server.
How does the Oracle Core Factor Table work?
It assigns a core factor value to specific processors. To calculate licenses, multiply the server cores by the assigned core factor.
Why is the Oracle Core Factor Table important?
It ensures accurate licensing calculations for Oracle products, helping organizations avoid over-licensing or non-compliance issues.
How do you use the Oracle Core Factor Table to determine licenses?
Count the number of server cores and multiply by the core factor listed in the Oracle Core Factor Table for your specific processor type.
Is the Oracle Core Factor Table applicable for all Oracle products?
No, it is used mainly for Oracle technology products like Oracle Database and WebLogic. Oracle Standard Edition products are licensed per CPU socket, not per core.
Do I need to use the Oracle Core Factor Table for cloud environments like AWS or Azure?
No, the core factor table does not apply to AWS, Azure, and OCI. Licensing in cloud environments is based on vCPU counts and other specific Oracle policies.
How can I calculate Oracle licensing costs using the core factor table?
Calculate the number of Oracle Processor Licenses using the core factor, then refer to the Oracle price list to determine the cost of each processor license and annual support fees.
What happens if I miscalculate the Oracle core factor?
Miscalculations can lead to non-compliance, resulting in financial penalties or paying for more licenses than necessary. It’s important to ensure accuracy when using the core factor table.
How does the Oracle core factor table differ for virtual environments?
Virtual environments can be licensed under hard or soft partitioning. Hard partitioning allows sub-capacity licensing, whereas soft partitioning requires full server licensing.
What are hard and soft partitioning technologies for Oracle licensing?
Hard partitioning allows you to license only part of a physical server. In contrast, soft partitioning (e.g., VMware) requires licensing all physical cores in a server or an entire cluster.
Does Oracle offer any core factor discounts for AWS or Azure deployments?
The core factor table does not offer discounts for AWS or Azure. Instead, specific licensing models, like BYOL or vCPU, apply to these cloud platforms.
How is the Oracle core factor table applied for licensing in mixed hardware environments?
Each server is treated individually based on its processor type. The applicable core factor is determined per server type, regardless of whether servers are mixed in a cluster.
Do Oracle’s core factor values change frequently?
Oracle occasionally updates the core factor table to reflect new processor technologies. Therefore, it’s essential to check the latest version before calculating licenses.
How are Oracle licensing requirements different for Standard Edition products?
Oracle Standard Edition products are licensed per occupied CPU socket, not based on core count, which means the Oracle Core Factor Table is not applicable.
Can using Oracle’s core factor table help reduce licensing costs?
Yes, accurately applying the Oracle Core Factor Table ensures you license only what’s needed, which can help reduce unnecessary costs and maintain compliance.
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