Oracle revamps multi-core CPU pricing

Oracle is updating its multi-core licensing policy

Oracle has published updated software and licensing prices in a bid to prepare for the mainstream arrival of multi-core PC and server processors.

Jacqueline Woods, vice president of global pricing and licensing strategy at Oracle, said: "For the past several months we have been working closely with our customers to address the recent advancements in multi-core processors. To meet these needs, Oracle is updating its licensing policy regarding multi-core processors."

Under the terms of its revised pricing schedules Oracle will continue to recognise each core as a separate processor.

However, the firm stated that "processor definition has been amended" when it comes to counting multi-core chips to determine the total number of processor licences required.

Somewhat confusingly Woods explained: "For the purposes of counting the number of processors that require licensing, the number of cores in a multi-core chip shall now be multiplied by a factor of .75. Previously, each core was counted as a full processor."

By way of an example, a four-way dual-core processor server which previously had a list price of $320,000 (4 x 2 [cores] x $40,000) would now have a list licence fee of $240,000 (0.75 x 8 [cores] x $40,000).

Oracle's Standard Edition One or Standard Edition programs for use on a single processor server containing a maximum of two cores will be priced as a single processor, the firm said.

"Licensing our database software by processor is one of several choices we provide to our customers," said Woods.

"Other options include licensing per user and per employee. Oracle also offers the option of licensing its software on a term or perpetual basis (1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year and 5-year)."

Oracle's full policy regarding the licensing of dual-core processors is published here.