Re: Reducing Oracle license costs by changing cpu_count?

On Apr 20, 7:59 pm, zigzag..._at_yahoo.com wrote:
> On Apr 20, 10:01 pm, DA Morgan <damor..._at_psoug.org> wrote:
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> > 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:
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> > >>> 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.
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> > >> 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.
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> > >> 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 ).
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> > >> 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.
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> > >> Look at the oracle licensing and multi core documents.
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> > > 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.
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> > 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.

If you have one of the standard editions, the number of sockets becomes important. SE1 can't be licensed for you. See http://oraclestore.oracle.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=11365&media=os_local_license_agreement.

I believe CPU_COUNT is used for some internal tuning purposes. Note the caution about it in the docs. Note also Oracle can do a license audit, and some Oracle salespeople will threaten you with it if you even ask about this stuff. I for one do not take such threats well.

jg

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