Q: What types of services does AWS offer for Oracle?
AWS manages the physical infrastructure up to the virtualization layer. The operating system and any Oracle applications and databases running above the virtualization layer are managed by the customer. If a managed service is required, AWS has a network of partners that specialize in helping customers architect, deploy, and manage Oracle based workloads running on the AWS Cloud. To find an AWS Oracle Partner, see Oracle Competency Partners.
Q: Where can I find information on licensing Oracle software on AWS?
Amazon Web Services – Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is listed as an ‘Authorized Cloud Environment’ in Oracle’s “Licensing Oracle Software in the Cloud Computing Environment” policy.
As per the policy, for the purposes of licensing Oracle programs in an ‘Authorized Cloud Environment’, customers are required to count each virtual core as equivalent to a physical core; the policy applies to all Oracle programs available on a processor metric.
The above information must not to be used as guidance for licensing purchases or compliance, it is merely informational, and customers should consult their own Oracle license agreement for details.
Q: Where can I find the number of virtual cores on EC2 and RDS DB instance types?
The number of virtual cores per EC2 and RDS DB instance type can be found on the Virtual Cores by Amazon EC2 and RDS DB Instance Type page.
Q: What types of licensing options are available for running Oracle databases on Amazon EC2?
You can use your existing Oracle Database licenses (BYOL) to run Oracle databases on Amazon EC2. Please refer to Oracle's "Licensing Oracle Software in the Cloud Computing Environment" policy and to your Oracle license agreement for licensing Oracle Database software. See "AWS License Manager" for managing your licenses in AWS.
Q: What types of licensing options are available with Amazon RDS for Oracle?
There are two types of licensing options available for using Amazon RDS for Oracle:
- Bring Your Own License (BYOL): In this licensing model, you can use your existing Oracle Database licenses to run Oracle deployments on Amazon RDS. To run a DB Instance under the BYOL model, you must have the appropriate Oracle Database license (with Software Update License & Support) for the DB Instance class and Oracle Database edition you wish to run. You must also follow Oracle's policies for licensing Oracle Database software in the cloud computing environment. DB Instances reside in the Amazon EC2 environment, and Oracle's licensing policy for Amazon EC2 is located here.
- License Included: In the "License Included" service model, you do not need separately purchased Oracle licenses; the Oracle Database software has been licensed by AWS. "License Included" pricing is inclusive of software, underlying hardware resources, and Amazon RDS management capabilities.
Q: Which Oracle Database Editions are available with Amazon RDS for Oracle?
Amazon RDS currently supports the following Oracle Database Editions under each of the licensing models below:
- BYOL: Standard Edition Two (SE2), Standard Edition One (SE1), Standard Edition (SE), and Enterprise Edition (EE)
- License Included: Standard Edition One (SE1), and Standard Edition Two (SE2)
Q: Is there a ‘License Included’ option for using Amazon RDS for Oracle?
Yes, Amazon RDS for Oracle has a “License Included” model. Under the "License Included" service model, you do not need separately purchased Oracle licenses; the Oracle Database software has been licensed by AWS. "License Included" pricing is inclusive of software, underlying hardware resources, and Amazon RDS management capabilities. Currently only Oracle Standard Edition One and Oracle Standard Edition 2 are supported under the “License Included” model. Refer to the Amazon RDS for Oracle website for further details.
Q: How will Amazon RDS for Oracle be supported?
- BYOL: Under this model, you will continue to use your active Oracle support account and contact Oracle directly for Oracle Database specific service requests. If you have an active AWS Premium Support account, you can contact AWS Premium Support for Amazon RDS specific issues. Amazon Web Services and Oracle have multi-vendor support process for cases which require assistance from both organizations.
- License Included: In this model, if you have an active AWS Premium Support account, you should contact AWS Premium Support for both Amazon RDS and Oracle Database specific service requests.
Q: Where can I find documentation about Oracle on AWS?
See the whitepapers in the Oracle Whitepapers page.
Q: Oracle database backup on AWS?
Standard backup utilities like RMAN can be used to backup Oracle databases deployed on AWS. In addition, the Oracle Secure Backup Cloud Module (separately licensed by Oracle) can be used to backup Oracle databases directly to Amazon S3.