What is Oracle Exalytics? – And how much does it cost?

Oracle Exalytics is:

• An in-memory platform for Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management applications.
• Offers high-performance analytics with real-time insights.
• Utilizes in-memory technology for rapid data analysis.
• Integrates hardware and software for easy deployment.

Cost aspects include:

• License prices depend on the server size and how many licenses you need.
• Additional costs for software updates, hardware, yearly maintenance, and consulting services.

Oracle Exalytics: An Overview

Oracle Exalytics is a robust platform that delivers extreme performance for both in-memory analytics and traditional BI applications.

It is designed to work seamlessly with Oracle’s business intelligence tools and Hyperion performance management applications. The system is also optimized for in-memory analytics, providing unprecedented speed and computational power.

The Technology Behind Oracle Exalytics

Oracle Exalytics stands at the forefront of in-memory analytics, propelled by an advanced technological foundation designed to meet the demands of real-time data processing and sophisticated analysis.

At its core, this platform is built on a trio of key components, each contributing to its unparalleled performance and analytical prowess.

• Intel Xeon Processors: The heart of Oracle Exalytics beats with the power of Intel Xeon processors, renowned for their robust performance and reliability. These processors are specifically chosen for their high memory capacity, which is critical for supporting in-memory analytics. The inclusion of Intel Xeon processors ensures that Oracle Exalytics can handle massive datasets with ease, providing the computational muscle needed to drive complex analytics without compromise.
• Oracle’s TimesTen In-Memory Database: Purpose-built for lightning-fast data retrieval and real-time analytics, Oracle’s TimesTen In-Memory Database is a pivotal element of the Exalytics ecosystem. This specialized database technology is optimized for scenarios where speed and responsiveness are paramount, allowing for instantaneous data analysis and decision-making processes. By integrating TimesTen, Oracle Exalytics delivers an exceptional environment for executing real-time operations and analytics directly within memory, significantly cutting down on data access times.
• Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite: Complementing its powerful hardware and in-memory database, Oracle Exalytics is fortified with Oracle’s Business Intelligence Foundation Suite. This comprehensive suite of analytic tools and capabilities encompasses everything from advanced data visualization to predictive analytics, offering users a full spectrum of options for extracting actionable insights from their data. The Foundation Suite serves as the analytical brain of Oracle Exalytics, enabling businesses to explore data in new ways, identify trends, and make informed decisions with precision.

How Oracle Exalytics Works

Oracle Exalytics is engineered to redefine the boundaries of data analysis and business intelligence through a synergistic integration of hardware and software.

This advanced platform elevates data processing to unprecedented levels by harnessing the power of in-memory computing and sophisticated parallel processing techniques.

• In-Memory Computing: At the heart of Oracle Exalytics lies its in-memory computing capability, which strategically stores vast quantities of data directly in the RAM rather than traditional disk storage. This approach significantly reduces data retrieval times, enabling instantaneous analysis and insights. By keeping the data readily accessible in memory, Oracle Exalytics ensures that complex computations and queries that once took minutes or hours can now be executed in seconds.
• Parallel Processing: Oracle Exalytics doesn’t stop at in-memory advancements; it further amplifies its computational capacity through the use of parallel processing. This method effectively divides computational tasks across multiple processors, working in concert to tackle data analysis jobs. The result is a dramatic acceleration of data processing tasks, from data mining to predictive analytics, ensuring that businesses can derive meaningful insights at the speed of thought.

Oracle Exalytics is not just about speed; it’s about enabling businesses to leverage their data assets with unparalleled efficiency and agility.

The Benefits of Oracle Exalytics

With Oracle Exalytics, businesses can benefit from faster data analysis, improved business decisions, and better business outcomes.

The system enables real-time analysis of large volumes of data, allowing companies to gain insights faster and make data-driven decisions.

Oracle Exalytics also simplifies IT by consolidating various analytic workloads on a single machine, reducing the complexity and cost of managing multiple systems.

Oracle Exalytics Pricing Guide

Based on the Oracle Engineered Systems Price List:

Exalytics Software

1. Database In-Memory for Exalytics
   • License Price: $600 per Named User Plus
   • Software Update License & Support: $132.00 per Named User Plus
2. Exalytics In-Memory Software
   • License Price: $370 per Named User Plus or $30,000 per Processor
   • Software Update License & Support: $81.40 per Named User Plus or $6,600.00 per Processor
3. Exalytics In-Memory Software for Oracle Hyperion Financial Management Plus
   • License Price: $1,000 per Application User
   • Software Update License & Support: $220.00 per Application User

Building an Exalytics Configuration

Building an Exalytics configuration will depend on several factors, including the specific Exalytics software and services you choose and any additional hardware or maintenance costs.

Here’s a basic outline of the potential costs involved:

1. Exalytics Software License Price: As outlined above, the license price for Exalytics software ranges from $370 to $30,000, depending on the specific software and licensing metric (Named User Plus or Processor).
2. Software Update License & Support: This ongoing cost provides software updates and support services. The price ranges from $81.40 to $6,600.00, depending on the specific software and licensing metric.
3. Hardware Costs: The cost of the physical Exalytics machine is not included in the software license price. You’ll need to contact Oracle or an Oracle partner for a quote on the hardware cost.
4. Yearly Maintenance: Oracle Premier Support for Systems is an additional cost that provides you with support for your Exalytics machine. The charge for this service is not listed in the price list, and you’ll need to contact Oracle for a quote.
5. Oracle Consulting Services: There will be additional costs if you require consulting services for your Exalytics implementation. The price for Oracle Consulting Advisory for Oracle Engineered Systems is listed as “Each” in the price list, indicating that the cost will depend on the specific services you require.

Remember, these are just the basic costs of building an Exalytics configuration. Depending on your specific needs and circumstances, there may be additional costs, such as training for your staff, data migration costs, and more.

Oracle Exalytics Specifications and Versions

Oracle Exalytics is a powerful engineered system for in-memory analytics that delivers extreme performance for Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management applications.

The system is built using Oracle’s market-leading business intelligence software, in-memory database technology, and the most powerful and scalable mid-range server.

The Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine T5-8 is a complete system that delivers exceptionally high throughput performance and is ideal for multi-tenancy environments where real-time performance, intelligence, simplicity, and manageability are crucial.

The system can be deployed in existing IT environments independently or with Oracle Exadata, Oracle SuperCluster, Oracle Big Data Appliance, or Oracle Exalogic to enable even higher performance with an even more compelling business user experience.

Here are some key specifications of the Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine T5-8:

• Processor: Eight sixteen-core 3.6 GHz SPARC T5 processors with sixteen cryptographic units per SPARC T5 processor.
• Main Memory: One hundred twenty-eight 32 GB DDR3 ECC Registered DIMMs with a total memory capacity of 4 TB.
• Networking: Four 10 GbE (100 Mbps/1 Gbps/10 Gbps) ports on board, four QDR (40Gb/s) InfiniBand ports, and four 8Gb Dual-Port Fibre Channel PCI-Express Card.
• Internal Storage: 6.4TB of PCI Flash, 9.6TB of raw disk capacity.
• Operating Systems: Oracle Solaris 11.
• Analytics Software: Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite, Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database for Exalytics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Oracle Exadata vs Oracle Exalytics

While Oracle Exadata and Oracle Exalytics are engineered systems designed to enhance database and application processing, they serve different purposes and are used in other contexts.

Oracle Exadata is a database machine that performs exceptionally well for data warehousing and online transaction processing (OLTP) applications. It is aimed at making it the ideal platform for consolidating legacy apps. Exadata provides the following:

• Database Servers, Storage, and Network in a Single Enclosure (336 TB+)
• High Bandwidth Network Connects Database and Storage Servers
• Intelligent Storage Filters Data and Minimizes Network traffic
• Optimized for Both Data Warehouse and OLTP Activity

On the other hand, Oracle Exalytics is an Engineered BI Machine designed for Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) and Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) applications.

It is used in business intelligence to handle and analyze big data. These Big Data appliances, combining hardware and software, aim to simplify the IT infrastructure, reduce costs, and improve productivity/speed.

Here is a comparison table to highlight the differences:

Real-Life Use Cases for Oracle Exalytics

Oracle Exalytics is used in various industries and sectors to handle and analyze big data. Here are a few examples:

1. Telecom Industry: Telecom companies generate a vast amount of data every day. Oracle Exalytics can help these companies analyze this data to improve their services, understand customer behavior, and make data-driven decisions.
2. Banks: Banks also deal with a large amount of data. Oracle Exalytics can help banks analyze this data to detect fraudulent activities, understand customer behavior, and improve their services.
3. Airlines: Airlines can use Oracle Exalytics to analyze flight data, customer data, and other relevant data to improve their services, optimize their operations, and increase customer satisfaction.
4. Government: Government agencies can use Oracle Exalytics to analyze various data types to improve their services, make data-driven decisions, and increase efficiency.
5. Data Service Providers: Data service providers can use Oracle Exalytics to analyze the data they collect to provide better client services.

Implementing Oracle Exalytics

Implementing Oracle Exalytics involves several steps, including planning, installation, configuration, and testing.

Here are the general steps involved:

1. Planning involves understanding the business requirements, defining the project’s scope, and planning the resources and timeline.
2. Installation: This involves installing the Oracle Exalytics machine and the necessary software.
3. Configuration: This involves configuring the Oracle Exalytics machine and the software according to the business requirements.
4. Testing: This involves testing the Oracle Exalytics machine and the software to ensure they work as expected.
5. Deployment: This involves deploying the Oracle Exalytics machine and the software in the production environment.
6. Maintenance and Support: This involves providing ongoing maintenance and support to ensure the Oracle Exalytics machine and the software continue to meet the business requirements.

It’s important to note that the implementation process can vary depending on the specific business requirements and the existing IT infrastructure.

Therefore, working with a team of experts or a service provider with experience implementing Oracle Exalytics is recommended.

Additional FAQs on Oracle Exalytics

1. What specific business problems does Oracle Exalytics solve?
   • Oracle Exalytics is designed to solve complex business intelligence, data analysis, and enterprise performance management problems by delivering faster analytics and data visualization capabilities.
2. How does Oracle Exalytics integrate with existing IT infrastructure?
   • Oracle Exalytics can integrate with existing IT infrastructures through its compatibility with Oracle and non-Oracle data sources, leveraging standard interfaces and Oracle’s business intelligence software.
3. Can Oracle Exalytics be used with cloud data sources?
   • Yes, Oracle Exalytics supports integration with cloud data sources, enabling businesses to analyze data stored in both on-premises and cloud environments.
4. What are the scalability options for Oracle Exalytics?
   • Oracle Exalytics can scale vertically by adding more RAM or CPUs within the server and horizontally by adding more Exalytics machines to meet growing data analysis needs.
5. How does Oracle Exalytics ensure data security?
   • Oracle Exalytics incorporates Oracle’s advanced security features, including data encryption, access controls, and secure connectivity, to protect sensitive information.
6. What types of analytics can be performed with Oracle Exalytics?
   • It supports various analytics, including real-time, predictive, spatial, and text analytics.
7. How user-friendly is the Oracle Exalytics interface for non-technical users?
   • Oracle Exalytics features a user-friendly interface for business users, with intuitive dashboards and visualization tools requiring minimal technical expertise.
8. What training and support options are available for Oracle Exalytics?
   • Oracle offers comprehensive training and support for Exalytics, including online tutorials, documentation, user forums, and professional support services.
9. Can Oracle Exalytics process data from social media and IoT devices?
   • Yes, Oracle Exalytics can process and analyze data from various sources, including social media and IoT devices, allowing businesses to gain insights from these data streams.
10. What is the typical deployment time for Oracle Exalytics?
    • Deployment times can vary based on the complexity of the environment and the specific configurations required, but Oracle aims for quick deployment through pre-integrated hardware and software.
11. How does Oracle Exalytics compare to other BI and analytics platforms?
    • Oracle Exalytics distinguishes itself by combining high-performance hardware with optimized analytics software, offering speed and scalability advantages over some competing platforms.
12. Are there industry-specific solutions available with Oracle Exalytics?
    • Oracle Exalytics can be tailored to meet the specific needs of various industries, such as finance, healthcare, and retail, through customizable dashboards and analytics tools.
13. What are the environmental requirements for hosting an Oracle Exalytics machine?
    • Oracle Exalytics requires a data center environment with adequate space, cooling, and power to support its high-performance hardware.
14. How does Oracle Exalytics handle data warehousing needs?
    • Oracle Exalytics can work with Oracle’s data warehousing solutions to provide an integrated platform for data storage, management, and analysis.
15. What future developments are expected for Oracle Exalytics?
    • Oracle continuously invests in research and development to enhance the capabilities of Exalytics, focusing on increased performance, expanded data source integrations, and advanced analytics features.