Re: Reducing Oracle license costs by changing cpu_count?

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. Received on Sun Apr 20 2008 - 20:15:27 CDT