Oracle database can be licensed on a named user or per CPU basis.
Named User Plus Licences are based on users and non-human operated devices accessing the Database. Each user must have their own Named User Plus Licence, but that user may then access multiple Oracle database systems.
Processor licensing is based on the server where the Oracle Program is installed. Calculations are made upon the number and type of processors / cores. User numbers are unlimited for the licensed server.
Can the number of environment users be counted? If so, a named user plus licence will probably be best if the number of users is fairly low. However, this licensing strategy can be difficult to maintain.
If users interact with the environment via the internet and user numbers are unquantifiable, processor licensing is most likely the best option.
Named User Licences are cost effective when user numbers are low.
Processor Licences are easy to track [hardware and processor numbers are typically easier to monitor than number of users], and are also fairly low maintenance [hardware does not change all that frequently and there is rarely a need for additional software licences]
Standard Edition One: Minimum 5 Named User Plus per organisation; 2 socket server maximum
Standard Edition: Minimum 5 Named User Plus per organisation; 4 socket server maximum
Enterprise Edition: Minimum 25 Named User Plus per Oracle CPU; No CPU Maximum
‘ASFU’ stands for ‘Application Specific Full Use Licence’. This type of licence is sold by software vendors.
‘ASFUs’ are integrated into a software package that must be commercially available as an ‘of the shelf’ application [not bespoke]. It is essential that the ISV owns the intellectual property rights.
Importantly, this licence type allows end users to run ONLY the named application. They have no rights to run additional applications within the same database environment.
Full Use Licences are sold by Resellers [e.g. Xynomix], ISVs, Systems Integrators and some Hardware Vendors. It covers multiple applications, including bespoke apps.
There are three types of hosting licence: Generic Hosting; Proprietary Application Hosting; and Specified End User.
Generic Hosting Licences cover third party or multiple application hosting and multiple customers.
Proprietary Application Hosting licences cover multiple customers and a single application where the Intellectual Property Rights are owned by the hoster.
Specified End User Licences cover hosting environments that are dedicated to a single end user.
Many Database Options are available with Oracle, common features include Oracle RAC Licences, Database Partitioning and Various Grid Monitoring Tools. Many of these options are Enterprise Only features, and all must be licensed correctly and match the licence structure of the underlying database technology.
Yes, you do.
A licence migration is where users change licensing metric. This must be arranged with the approval of Oracle, and migration fees may apply.
