Oracle Advanced Compression Licensing
- Separately licensed Oracle EE option.
- Required for OLTP table compression, SecureFiles LOB compression/deduplication, Data Pump data compression, RMAN advanced compression, and Data Guard redo compression.
- Licensing metrics (Processor or NUP) must match EE licensing.
- Not needed for basic compression (direct-path inserts, metadata-only Data Pump, or RMAN default compression).
Oracle Advanced Compression Licensing
Oracle Advanced Compression is a powerful and versatile Enterprise Edition (EE) option designed to reduce storage usage, optimize database performance, and minimize overall infrastructure costs.
Understanding Oracle’s licensing for Advanced Compression ensures that organizations can effectively use its capabilities while remaining compliant and avoiding licensing pitfalls.
Read more about Oracle Database Options licensing.
What is Oracle Advanced Compression?
Oracle Advanced Compression offers comprehensive compression capabilities beyond basic database compression methods. It targets stored data and backups, network transport, and specialized data types like LOBs (Large Objects).
This significantly reduces storage needs, improves database I/O efficiency, and accelerates database performance due to reduced data scans.
Key Capabilities of Oracle Advanced Compression:
- OLTP Table Compression: Compresses data during regular data manipulation (DML) operations—not just bulk loads—reducing storage requirements and enhancing buffer cache efficiency.
- Index Compression: Compresses database indexes, significantly saving space and improving query performance.
- SecureFiles LOB Compression & Deduplication: Efficiently compresses large objects (documents, media files) and avoids storing duplicate copies.
- Data Pump Export Compression: Compresses data during database exports, significantly reducing export file size.
- RMAN Backup Compression: Provides higher compression levels (low, medium, high) beyond basic RMAN compression, minimizing backup storage requirements.
- Data Guard Network Transport Compression: Compresses redo logs transmitted across the network, improving replication efficiency.
Oracle Advanced Compression Licensing
Advanced Compression is not included with Oracle EE by default—it is a separately licensed option. Organizations must license Advanced Compression explicitly if its specific features are used within their database environments.
When is Advanced Compression Licensing Required?
The license is mandatory whenever the specific features of Oracle Advanced Compression are activated, such as:
- OLTP table compression (DML-based compression).
- SecureFiles compression and deduplication.
- Data Pump data compression (beyond basic metadata-only compression).
- Higher levels of RMAN backup compression (low, medium, high compression).
- Data Guard redo transport compression.
Licensing Metrics for Oracle Advanced Compression
Oracle Advanced Compression licensing must match the same metric used for Oracle EE licenses—either by Processor or Named User Plus (NUP):
Processor Licensing:
- Based on total processor cores of the database server where compression features are active.
- Licensing must match the processor count licensed for EE on that server exactly.
Example:
- Database server with 24 processor cores licensed for Oracle EE.
- Using Advanced Compression features requires explicitly licensing those same 24 processor cores for Advanced Compression.
Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing:
- Licensing is based on the number of named users authorized for database access.
- Oracle’s standard minimum applies: 25 Named User Plus licenses per processor core.
Example:
- Server with 8 processor cores using Advanced Compression features.
- Minimum Named User Plus licenses required: 8 processors × 25 NUP licenses per processor = 200 NUP licenses total.
Advanced Compression Features and Licensing Requirements
Clearly distinguishing what requires the Advanced Compression option versus what is available free within Oracle EE is critical.
Advanced Compression Option Required for:
- OLTP Table Compression (COMPRESS FOR OLTP):
- Compresses data dynamically during regular transactions.
- Significantly reduces storage size and improves query performance by reading fewer blocks.
- Licensing is required whenever it is used in production databases.
- SecureFiles LOB Compression & Deduplication:
- Optimizes storage for LOBs and reduces duplicate file storage.
- Essential for document management and multimedia content.
- Requires explicit Advanced Compression licensing.
- Data Pump Export Compression (Data & Metadata):
- Compresses exported data significantly, reducing storage and network costs.
- Licensing is required if data is compressed beyond the basic “METADATA_ONLY” setting.
- High-Level RMAN Backup Compression (Low, Medium, High):
- Reduces backup storage significantly compared to basic compression.
- Licensing is mandatory when using any compression beyond RMAN’s default compression algorithm.
- Data Guard Network Transport Compression:
- Compresses redo log traffic between primary and standby databases.
- Significantly optimizes network utilization for disaster recovery configurations.
- Explicit licensing is required.
No Additional Licensing Required (Included with EE):
- Basic Table Compression (Read-Only Data):
- Compression during direct-path inserts or bulk loads (non-OLTP).
- No extra licensing beyond standard EE.
- Data Pump METADATA_ONLY Compression:
- Compresses only metadata during Data Pump export operations.
- Available by default within EE at no extra cost.
- RMAN Default Compression:
- The default BZIP2-based compression is included for free with Oracle EE.
- No additional licensing is required unless higher compression levels are explicitly used.
- Hybrid Columnar Compression (HCC):
- Available by default but only on Oracle Engineered Systems (Exadata, etc.).
- No additional licensing is required unless it is used explicitly beyond Engineered Systems.
Read about Oracle Real Application Testing Licensing.
Usage Scenario: SaaS Provider Database Optimization
Consider a practical scenario illustrating Oracle Advanced Compression’s usage and licensing clearly:
Scenario Overview:
A SaaS provider operates a large transactional Oracle database (multiple terabytes) experiencing rapid storage growth. Storage costs escalate, and database performance suffers from high I/O loads due to massive data scans.
Implementing Advanced Compression:
The provider decides to implement the following Advanced Compression features:
- OLTP Table Compression: Reduces transactional table size by approximately 50%, boosting I/O performance significantly.
- SecureFiles Compression and Deduplication: Compresses and deduplicates stored documents and files, further reducing storage requirements.
- RMAN Medium Compression: Reduces backup storage and associated costs by compressing backups beyond default levels.
Licensing Requirements:
- The database server has 24 processor cores and is fully licensed for EE.
- Explicit Advanced Compression licensing is required for all 24 cores (matching EE licensing).
Achieved Benefits:
- Dramatically reduced storage requirements, significantly lowering operational costs.
- Enhanced query performance through reduced data scanning and improved cache utilization.
- Efficient backups, reducing backup storage costs and network traffic.
- Compliance ensured through proactive license acquisition.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Advanced Compression Licensing
Avoiding compliance pitfalls with Advanced Compression includes clearly understanding these common licensing misunderstandings:
- Using OLTP Compression Without Licensing: Any use of OLTP compression features mandates explicit licensing.
- Mistaking Basic Compression as Advanced: Differentiate between basic compression, available freely within EE, and Advanced Compression features.
- Ignoring Licensing for Data Pump or RMAN Compression: Licensing is explicitly required for data-level compression beyond basic settings in Data Pump and RMAN backups.
Read about Oracle Advanced Security Licensing.
Licensing Audits and Compliance with Oracle Advanced Compression
Due to its broad utility and specific licensing terms, Oracle audits licensing compliance, particularly Advanced Compression usage.
Recommendations to Ensure Compliance:
- Document Advanced Compression feature usage per database instance.
- Conduct periodic internal audits reviewing compression licensing compliance.
- Engage Oracle licensing experts proactively when implementing or expanding compression usage.
Cost Optimization Strategies for Oracle Advanced Compression Licensing
Though licensing Advanced Compression has upfront costs, these strategies help manage expenses effectively:
- Selective Implementation: Use Advanced Compression features strategically on tables or data types, providing the highest benefit-to-cost ratio.
- Evaluate Storage Savings: Ensure licensing costs are justified by the tangible storage reduction and performance gains achieved.
- Optimize Hardware Choices: Consolidate databases on fewer, more powerful servers, reducing the processors requiring licenses.
Summary of Oracle Advanced Compression Licensing:
- Separately licensed Oracle EE option, explicitly required for advanced compression features (OLTP, SecureFiles, Data Pump, RMAN high-level compression).
- Licensing is required for all processors or users accessing databases using Advanced Compression.
- Licensing metrics (Processor or NUP) must match exactly EE database licensing metrics.
- No additional licensing for basic compression (read-only data, default RMAN/Data Pump metadata compression).
Conclusion
Oracle Advanced Compression delivers substantial operational benefits through storage reduction, performance optimization, and improved database manageability. However, understanding its specific licensing terms is vital for compliance and cost-effectiveness.
By carefully documenting usage, matching licensing metrics consistently with EE licenses, and proactively managing compression licensing compliance, organizations maximize the value derived from Oracle Advanced Compression, ensuring efficient database operations and audit-ready compliance.
