Re: Reducing Oracle license costs by changing cpu_count?
From: DA Morgan <damorgan_at_psoug.org>
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:01:44 -0700
Message-ID: <1208743302.847259@bubbleator.drizzle.com>
>> On Apr 20, 5:22 pm, zigzag..._at_yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>>> Our Windows Servers have 4 CPU’s. Our licenses are based on no of
>>> cpu’s. Our cpu utilization typically is 10%. Is it possible to change
>>> cpu_count parameter e.g. 1 to Oracle will only use 1 cpu. I changed
>>> this parameter and did find that parameter remains in fact to 1. Now
>>> question is whether Oracle will agree to this technique.
>>> I know For Oracle free ware, is Oracle Database Express Edition,
>>> Oracle license is limited to 1 CPU and 4GB. How does Oracle forces
>>> that, i.e., is it something in buitlt in Oracle that Oracle software
>>> will not use more than 1 CPU.
>>> Thanks.
>> It is not only the cpu count but also the core count and the relevant
>> oracle multi core cpu licensing factor that counts.
>>
>> For example a quad core intel or amd cpu counts as 2 ( 4 times .5 )
>> while a dual core cores as 1 cpu for licensing purpose varies based on
>> hardware platform etc.
>>
>> To get below a count of 4 on windows I think you have to have a
>> machine that has less than 4 cpu's ( pull some of them out in other
>> words or use a different box ).
>>
>> Certain platforms and os combinations ( solaris for example ) allow
>> you to partition the machine but it has to be a hard partition and not
>> sure windows has any such "oracle validated" type of configs.
>>
>> Look at the oracle licensing and multi core documents.
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:01:44 -0700
Message-ID: <1208743302.847259@bubbleator.drizzle.com>
zigzagdna_at_yahoo.com wrote:
> On Apr 20, 7:46 pm, hpuxrac <johnbhur..._at_sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> On Apr 20, 5:22 pm, zigzag..._at_yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>>> Our Windows Servers have 4 CPU’s. Our licenses are based on no of
>>> cpu’s. Our cpu utilization typically is 10%. Is it possible to change
>>> cpu_count parameter e.g. 1 to Oracle will only use 1 cpu. I changed
>>> this parameter and did find that parameter remains in fact to 1. Now
>>> question is whether Oracle will agree to this technique.
>>> I know For Oracle free ware, is Oracle Database Express Edition,
>>> Oracle license is limited to 1 CPU and 4GB. How does Oracle forces
>>> that, i.e., is it something in buitlt in Oracle that Oracle software
>>> will not use more than 1 CPU.
>>> Thanks.
>> It is not only the cpu count but also the core count and the relevant
>> oracle multi core cpu licensing factor that counts.
>>
>> For example a quad core intel or amd cpu counts as 2 ( 4 times .5 )
>> while a dual core cores as 1 cpu for licensing purpose varies based on
>> hardware platform etc.
>>
>> To get below a count of 4 on windows I think you have to have a
>> machine that has less than 4 cpu's ( pull some of them out in other
>> words or use a different box ).
>>
>> Certain platforms and os combinations ( solaris for example ) allow
>> you to partition the machine but it has to be a hard partition and not
>> sure windows has any such "oracle validated" type of configs.
>>
>> Look at the oracle licensing and multi core documents.
> > Oracle's cpu_count parameter is same of no of cpu's shown in Windows > task manager. I have seen 2 dual core chips on the server which show > up as 4 cpu's in task manager and cpu_count to 4. I know, Oracle has > licenecsing for multi-core chips, hperhreading etc, but my question is > if I reduce cpu_count init.ora, will it effect Oracle licensing. I > guess I have to ask my Oracle account manager.
If you want to know what Oracle sees run this report: http://www.psoug.org/reference/dbms_feature_usage_rpt.html
-- Daniel A. Morgan Oracle Ace Director & Instructor University of Washington damorgan_at_x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond) Puget Sound Oracle Users Group www.psoug.orgReceived on Sun Apr 20 2008 - 21:01:44 CDT