Oracle License Buyer's Guide - Specific Examples of License Counts
License Counting in Virtualized Environments
When using server virtualization software (Oracle VM, VMware, Hyper-V, etc.)
Oracle VM, VMware, Hyper-V, etc. are classified as Soft Partitioning, and all processors on the physical server where Oracle products are running are subject to license counting.
4Core/2CPU x86 Server
Example
Four virtual machines are built with VMware on a 4-core, 2-CPU x86 server. One of the virtual machines runs Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. Purchase with a processor license.
Billable
One physical server running Oracle products
Required license
Total 8-core x86 server with two 4-core CPUPs
8 cores x core factor 0.5 = 4
Oracle Database Enterprise Edition requires 4Processor
Virtualization environment with multiple physical servers
Oracle VM, VMware, Hyper-V, etc. are classified as Soft Partitioning, and all processors on the physical server where Oracle products are running are subject to license counting. When a virtual machine is to be migrated from one physical server to another, the Oracle products are required to be license at both the source and destination servers.
4Core/2CPU x86 Server
4Core/2CPU x86 Server
Example
Four virtual machines each with VMware on two 4-core, 2-CPU x86 servers. Three of these virtual machines run Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. Purchase with a processor license.
Billable
Two physical servers running Oracle products
Required license
Total 8-core x86 server with two 4-core CPUPs
8 cores x core factor 0.5 = 4
Two machines requiring 4Prosessor licenses
Oracle Database Enterprise Edition requires 8Processor
When using Oracle VM Server for x86 to limit the number of cores running the Oracle product
When Oracle VM Server for x86 is configured for Hard Partitioning, only the cores configured to run the Oracle product will be licensed.
4Core/2CPU x86 Server
Example
Four virtual machines with Oracle VM on a 4-core, 2-CPU x86 server. Only two of those cores run Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. Purchase with a processor license.
Billable
Two cores on which the Oracle product is running
Required license
Total 2-core x86 server
2 cores x core factor 0.5 = 1
Oracle Database Enterprise Edition requires 1 Processor
License Counting in a Cloud Computing Environment
(These are hereinafter referred to as "authorized cloud environments.")
Clients are required to consider the following when counting the licenses for Oracle programs in an authorized cloud environment.
| Cloud provider | Virtual core | Processor metric | Hyperthreading | Number of licenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon EC2 and RDS | 2 | Core factor table not applicable | Yes | 1 |
| 1 | Core factor table not applicable | No | 1 | |
| Microsoft Azure | 2 | Core factor table not applicable | Yes | 1 |
| 1 | Core factor table not applicable | No | 1 |
Note that the Oracle Processor Core Factor Table does not apply when counting Oracle Processor licenses required in an authorized cloud environment.
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/contracts/processor-core-factor-table-070634.pdf