Re: Reducing Oracle license costs by changing cpu_count?

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. Received on Sun Apr 20 2008 - 21:59:26 CDT