What is Oracle Exadata, and How much does it cost?

In database management, the question often arises, “What is Oracle Exadata?” This comprehensive guide aims to answer that question and delve into the depths of Oracle Exadata, a game-changing data handling and processing solution.

Oracle Exadata at a Glance

• Oracle Exadata is a database machine that combines hardware and software to deliver superior performance, scalability, and reliability.
• It is a full-stack solution specifically designed to run high-performing Oracle databases.
• Oracle Exadata is not just hardware; it’s a complete package that includes servers, networking, storage, and specialized software.

What is Oracle Exadata?

Oracle Exadata is a database machine that offers a blend of hardware and software to deliver superior performance, scalability, and reliability.

It is a full-stack solution designed to run high-performing Oracle databases, providing an all-in-one solution for managing and processing vast amounts of data.

Oracle Exadata is not just a piece of hardware; it’s a complete package that includes scale-out x86-64 compute and storage servers, RoCE or InfiniBand networking, RDMA-addressable memory acceleration, NVMe flash, and specialized software.

Understanding the Oracle Exadata Database Machine

The Exadata Database Machine is a critical component of Oracle Exadata. It’s a computing platform optimized for running Oracle Databases, designed to deliver extreme performance for data warehousing and online transaction processing (OLTP) applications.

The machine is engineered to provide the highest levels of database performance and to reduce the risk of deploying high-performance databases.

Exadata and Data Warehousing

Data warehousing involves the storage and analysis of large volumes of data. Oracle Exadata shines in this domain due to its high-performance capabilities.

It offers features like Smart Scan, which significantly reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred from storage to database servers, thereby improving query performance.

With Exadata, data warehousing tasks become more efficient, leading to quicker insights and decision-making.

Exadata and Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) involves managing transaction-oriented applications, typically for data entry and retrieval transaction processing.

Oracle Exadata is designed to handle high volumes of transactions with ease. Its ability to perform millions of transactions per minute makes it an ideal choice for businesses that require real-time transaction processing.

Oracle Exadata vs. Non-Exadata Platforms: A Comparison

Here’s a comparison of running Oracle Database on Exadata versus non-Exadata platforms:

1. Performance

• Exadata: Exadata provides strong performance due to its integrated hardware and software design. It uses features like Smart Scan, Smart Flash Cache, and Hybrid Columnar Compression to deliver high-speed data processing. Furthermore, Exadata’s In-Memory capabilities allow for real-time analytics, providing a significant performance boost.
• Non-Exadata: While non-Exadata platforms can deliver good performance, they may not match the speed and efficiency of Exadata. They lack Exadata’s smart features and integrated design, which can lead to slower data processing and analytics.

2. Scalability

• Exadata: Exadata offers seamless scalability. You can start with a small configuration and quickly scale up as your needs grow without major disruptions. Exadata’s scale-out architecture allows for adding more storage and computing resources easily.
• Non-Exadata: Scaling on non-Exadata platforms can be more complex and may require significant planning and downtime. It may also involve additional hardware and software configuration.

3. Features

• Exadata: Exadata has many unique features like Smart Scan, Smart Flash Cache, Hybrid Columnar Compression, and Automatic Storage Management. These features are designed to optimize database performance, reduce data storage requirements, and simplify database management.
• Non-Exadata: Non-Exadata platforms lack these unique features. While they can run Oracle Database, they may not offer the same level of optimization and ease of management.

4. Cost

• Exadata: While Exadata can be more expensive upfront, it can provide significant cost savings in the long run due to its superior performance, reduced storage requirements, and lower management overhead.
• Non-Exadata: Non-Exadata platforms may have a lower upfront cost, but they could become more expensive in the long run due to higher storage requirements, lower performance, and increased management overhead.

5. Support

• Exadata: With Exadata, you get integrated support from Oracle for hardware and software. This can simplify issue resolution and reduce downtime.
• Non-Exadata: With non-Exadata platforms, you may have to deal with multiple hardware and software support vendors, complicating issue resolution and increasing downtime.

Exadata Cloud Service

The Exadata Cloud Service brings the power of Exadata to the cloud. It offers the same benefits as the on-premises Exadata but with the added advantages of a cloud-based service.

This includes scalability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to pay for what you use. With Exadata Cloud Service, businesses can leverage the power of Exadata without the need for upfront capital expenditure.

Exadata Cloud@Customer

Exadata Cloud@Customer is a unique offering that provides the benefits of Exadata Cloud Service with the added advantage of keeping data within the customer’s data center.

This service is managed by Oracle, allowing customers to focus on their core business while Oracle takes care of the infrastructure.

Understanding Mixed Workloads in Exadata

One of the critical strengths of Oracle Exadata is its ability to handle mixed workloads efficiently.

Whether OLTP or data warehousing workloads, Exadata ensures optimal resource utilization. Its resource management features allow for prioritized allocation, ensuring critical workloads get the necessary resources.

Exadata’s Resource Management Features

Exadata comes with advanced resource management features that allow for the efficient allocation of resources. These features ensure that all workloads are treated fairly and resources are allocated based on priority.

This ensures critical workloads always have the resources they need to perform optimally.

Oracle Exadata Release History

Oracle Exadata has a rich history of releases, each bringing new features and enhancements to the platform. Here’s a brief overview of the major releases:

1. Exadata V1 (HP Oracle Database Machine): Launched in 2008, this was the first version of Exadata, developed in partnership with HP. It was primarily designed for data warehousing.
2. Exadata V2 (Sun Oracle Database Machine): Released in 2009, this version marked Oracle’s acquisition of Sun Microsystems. It was the first Exadata version to support both OLTP and OLAP workloads.
3. Exadata X2-2 and X2-8: Launched in 2010, these versions introduced the option of choosing between a high-capacity storage server and a high-performance one.
4. Exadata X3-2 and X3-8: Released in 2012, these versions introduced the concept of “smart flash cache, ” significantly improving performance.
5. Exadata X4-2 and X4-8: Launched in 2013, these versions offered improved flash cache and more powerful CPUs.
6. Exadata X5-2 and X5-8: Released in 2015, these versions introduced all-flash storage servers and software improvements for better flash performance.
7. Exadata X6-2 and X6-8: Launched in 2016, these versions significantly improved flash capacity and database performance.
8. Exadata X7-2 and X7-8: Released in 2017, these versions introduced machine learning algorithms to the storage tier, improving performance and capacity.
9. Exadata X8-2 and X8-8: Launched in 2019, these versions further improved machine learning capabilities, performance, and capacity.
10. Exadata X9M: The latest version as of 2021, it introduced features like persistent memory and RoCE networking for improved performance.

Use Cases for Oracle Exadata

Oracle Exadata is a versatile platform that can handle many workloads.

Here are some simple use cases:

1. Database Consolidation: Exadata often consolidates multiple databases into a single platform, improving management efficiency and reducing costs.
2. Data Warehousing: Exadata’s high-performance storage and intelligent algorithms make it an excellent choice for data warehousing applications.
3. Online Transaction Processing (OLTP): Exadata can easily handle high-volume transactional workloads, making it suitable for applications like e-commerce and banking.
4. Mixed Workloads: Exadata can simultaneously handle OLTP and OLAP workloads, making it a good fit for organizations that need to perform transaction processing and analytics on the same platform.
5. Real-Life Examples: Many organizations across various sectors use Exadata. For instance, a telecom company might use Exadata for its billing system, while a bank might use it for its core banking system. Similarly, a retail company might use Exadata for its e-commerce platform, and a government agency might use it for its citizen services portal.

Best Practices for Using Oracle Exadata

1. Optimize for your Workload: Oracle Exadata is designed to handle a variety of workloads. Understand the nature of your workload and optimize accordingly. For instance, OLTP workloads may require different optimization strategies than data warehousing workloads.
2. Leverage Exadata Features: Exadata has features like Smart Scan, Hybrid Columnar Compression, and Flash Cache. Make sure to leverage these features to get the most out of your Exadata machine.
3. Monitor and Manage: Regular monitoring and managing your Exadata machine are crucial. Oracle provides tools like Oracle Enterprise Manager and Exadata Health Check script that can help you keep track of the health and performance of your Exadata machine.
4. Plan for High Availability: Exadata provides various high-availability features like Real Application Clusters (RAC), Automatic Storage Management (ASM), and Data Guard. Plan your high-availability strategy and leverage these features to ensure your data is always available.
5. Stay Updated: Oracle regularly releases updates and patches for Exadata. Make sure to stay updated to benefit from the latest features and improvements.

Oracle Exadata machines Configurations

1. Oracle Exadata Database Machine X9M-2
   • 2 Exadata X9M-2 database servers with 1 x 32-core processor each
   • 3 Exadata X9M-2 storage servers with 2 x 16-core processors each
   • Raw flash capacity: 153.6 TB for EF, or 76.8 TB for HC
   • Raw hard disk capacity: 648 TB for HC
   • Persistent memory capacity: 4.5 TB
2. Oracle Exadata Database Machine X8M-2
   • 2 Exadata X8M-2 database servers with 1x 24-core processor each
   • 3 Exadata X8M-2 storage servers with 2 x 16-core processors each
   • Raw flash capacity: 153.6 TB for EF, or 76.8 TB for HC
   • Raw hard disk capacity: 504 TB for HC
3. Oracle Exadata Database Machine X8-2
   • 2 Exadata X8-2 database servers with 1x 24-core processor each
   • 3 Exadata X8-2 storage servers with 2 x 16-core processors each
   • Raw flash capacity: 153.6 TB for EF, or 76.8 TB for HC
   • Raw hard disk capacity: 504 TB for HC
4. Oracle Exadata Database Machine X7-2
   • 2 Exadata X7-2 database servers with 1x 24-core processor each
   • 3 Exadata X7-2 storage servers with 2 x 10-core processors each
   • Raw flash capacity: 153.6 TB for EF, or 76.8 TB for HC
   • Raw hard disk capacity: 360 TB for HC
5. Oracle Exadata Database Machine X6-2
   • 2 Exadata X6-2 database servers with 2x 22-core processors each
   • 3 Exadata X6-2 storage servers with 2 x 10-core processors each
   • Raw flash capacity: 76.8 TB for EF, or 38.4 TB for HC
   • Raw hard disk capacity: 288 TB for HC

How much does Oracle Exadata Cost?

Exadata pricing based on the information extracted from the Oracle Engineered Systems Price List:

Database Machine Base Configurations:

• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Eighth Rack (384 GB per Database Server): $282,269
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Eighth Rack (1 TB per Database Server): $314,928
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 Extreme Flash (EF) Quarter Rack (512 GB per Database Server): $423,404
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Quarter Rack (512 GB per Database Server): $423,404
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 Extreme Flash (EF) Quarter Rack (1 TB per Database Server): $451,397
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Quarter Rack (1 TB per Database Server): $451,397
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 Extreme Flash (EF) Quarter Rack (2 TB per Database Server): $481,724
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Quarter Rack (2 TB per Database Server): $481,724
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-8 Extreme Flash (EF) Half Rack: $1,090,584
• Exadata Database Machine X9M-8 High Capacity (HC) Half Rack: $1,090,584

Database Machine Upgrades:

• Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $103,810
• Memory Upgrade Kit for Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $4,666
• Exadata Database Machine X8-2 and X8M-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $103,810
• Exadata Database Machine X7-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $103,810
• Exadata Database Machine X7-2 Extreme Flash (EF) Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Storage Server Upgrade: $103,810
• Exadata Database Machine X6-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X6-2 Extreme Flash (EF) Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Storage Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X5-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X5-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Storage Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X4-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X4-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Storage Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X3-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Database Server Upgrade: $97,978
• Exadata Database Machine X3-2 Eighth Rack to Quarter Rack Storage Server Upgrade: $97,978

Exadata Storage Server Software and Costs:

• Exadata Storage Server Software: $10,000 per Disk Drive, $20,000 per Flash Drive

Please note that these prices are subject to change, and it’s always best to check with Oracle for the most current pricing.

How to build your Oracle Exadata Configuration

Building an Oracle Exadata configuration involves several steps and considerations. Here’s a guide on how to go about it, along with the associated costs:

1. Choose the Base Configuration:

The first step is to choose the base configuration that suits your needs. The cost of the base configuration includes the hardware cost and the annual support cost.

For instance, the Exadata Database Machine X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Eighth Rack with 384 GB per Database Server costs $282,269, with an annual Oracle Premier Support for Systems fee of $33,872 and an Oracle Premier Support for Operating Systems fee of $22,582.

2. Consider Upgrades:

Depending on your requirements, you may need to upgrade your base configuration. For example, upgrading from an Eighth Rack to a Quarter Rack Database Server for the X9M-2 model costs $103,810.

The annual support costs for this upgrade are $12,457 for Oracle Premier Support for Systems and $8,305 for Oracle Premier Support for Operating Systems.

3. Exadata Storage Server Software:

The Exadata Storage Server Software is a crucial part of the Exadata configuration. This software costs $10,000 per Disk Drive and $20,000 per Flash Drive, with an annual Software Update License & Support fee of $2,200 for Disk Drive and $4,400 for Flash Drive.

4. Annual Maintenance:

In addition to the initial hardware and software costs, you should consider annual maintenance costs. These include the Oracle Premier Support for Systems and Oracle Premier Support for Operating Systems fees, which vary depending on the configuration and upgrades.

5. Other Costs:

There may be other costs associated with specific configurations or services. For instance, the Oracle Customer Data and Device Retention annual fee for the X9M-2 High Capacity (HC) Eighth Rack is $8,468.

Oracle Exadata FAQs