Re: Reducing Oracle license costs by changing cpu_count?
From: DA Morgan <damorgan_at_psoug.org>
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:25:51 -0700
Message-ID: <1208748350.96127@bubbleator.drizzle.com>
>> zigzag..._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
>> damor..._at_x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)
>> Puget Sound Oracle Users Groupwww.psoug.org- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:25:51 -0700
Message-ID: <1208748350.96127@bubbleator.drizzle.com>
zigzagdna_at_yahoo.com wrote:
> On Apr 20, 10:01 pm, DA Morgan <damor..._at_psoug.org> wrote:
>> zigzag..._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
>> damor..._at_x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)
>> Puget Sound Oracle Users Groupwww.psoug.org- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
> > Thanks, when I ran this report, I got: > CPU Core CPU Socket > Timestamp CPU Count Count Count > ----------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- > 11/03/07 00:01 4 N/A 4 > 04/20/08 22:01 2 N/A 4 > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > Do n't what to make of this output.
I didn't say I could interpret it in accordance with your license. <g>
Only that this is the report Oracle runs when checking compliance.
-- 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 - 22:25:51 CDT