Oracle GlassFish Server, initially developed by Sun Microsystems and later acquired by Oracle, is a robust and lightweight Java EE application server recognized for its ease of use and developer-friendly architecture.
Oracle offers a commercial version of GlassFish Server, which provides enterprise-level support, patches, and security updates beyond its open-source counterpart.
This comprehensive guide covers key licensing aspects, cost structures, practical licensing examples, essential compliance considerations, and best practices to efficiently manage Oracle GlassFish Server licensing.
Read more about the Oracle price list.
Oracle GlassFish Server Licensing: Available Metrics and Pricing
Oracle GlassFish Server licensing follows Oracle’s traditional licensing metrics. Organizations typically select from two primary licensing methods:
- Processor-Based Licensing: $5,000 per processor
- Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing: $100 per Named User Plus
Each model serves different operational scales and user scenarios, providing flexibility in matching license purchases to actual usage.
Processor-Based Licensing Model Explained
The processor-based licensing model offers unlimited user access to the GlassFish Server instances running on licensed processors. Oracle calculates this using its core factor table, which determines the required licenses based on processor cores and type.
Example Core Factors:
- Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC: 0.5 core factor
- IBM Power: 1.0 core factor
- SPARC: Typically 0.5 or 0.75 core factor
Processor Licensing Calculation Example:
- Server Specs: 12-core Intel Xeon CPU
- Core Factor: 0.5 (Intel Xeon)
- Total Licenses Required: 12 cores × 0.5 = 6 Processor licenses
- Total Cost: 6 licenses × $5,000 = $30,000
- Annual Support (~22%): $6,600 per year
This model benefits scenarios with high or unpredictable user access where counting individual users becomes impractical.
Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing Model Explained
The Named User Plus licensing model suits organizations with a smaller, well-defined user base. Under this model, each individual accessing the GlassFish server (directly or indirectly) requires a dedicated NUP license. Oracle also enforces a minimum purchase of 10 Named User Plus licenses per processor.
Named User Plus Calculation Example:
- Scenario: The Application is accessed by 35 employees and deployed on a server with 4-core Intel Xeon CPUs.
- Processor Calculation: 4 cores × 0.5 core factor = 2 Processor licenses
- Minimum NUP required: 2 processors × 10 NUP per processor = 20 NUP licenses minimum
- Actual users: 35 (above minimum, hence use actual user count)
- Total Cost: 35 users × $100 = $3,500
- Annual Support (~22%): $770 per year
This model works best for departmental applications or small teams with controlled and predictable user counts.
Read Oracle Web Tier Licensing and Costs.
Key Features and Benefits of Oracle GlassFish Server
Oracle GlassFish Server provides several critical features beneficial for enterprise Java EE applications, particularly in scenarios where a full-featured application server is not necessary:
Lightweight Footprint and Easy Management
- Minimal Resource Requirements: GlassFish is designed for efficiency, requiring fewer hardware resources than larger application servers like Oracle WebLogic, making it ideal for resource-constrained environments.
- Easy Administration: A straightforward admin console simplifies deployment and management, reducing administrative overhead and operational complexity.
Comprehensive Java EE Support
- GlassFish serves as the reference implementation of Java EE, offering developers early access to the latest Java EE standards and technologies, including:
- Servlet and JSP support
- Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB)
- Java Persistence API (JPA)
- Java Messaging Service (JMS)
- Developers benefit from consistency with open standards, reducing vendor lock-in risks.
Enterprise-Grade Support and Security Patches
- Oracle’s commercially supported version of GlassFish includes enterprise-grade customer support, critical security patches, bug fixes, and performance enhancements unavailable in the open-source edition.
- Organizations that require guaranteed response times and professional support for mission-critical deployments gain significant value from the commercial license.
Read Oracle Coherence Standard Edition One Licensing.
Practical Oracle GlassFish Server Licensing Scenarios
Scenario 1: Large-Scale Deployment (Processor Licensing)
- Use Case: An online retail business running Java EE-based web applications, expecting high customer traffic.
- Server Environment: Two servers, each with 8-core AMD EPYC processors.
- Calculation:
- 2 servers × 8 cores each = 16 cores total
- Core factor (AMD EPYC): 0.5
- Licenses required: 16 × 0.5 = 8 Processor licenses
- Total Licensing Cost: 8 licenses × $5,000 = $40,000
- Annual Support (~22%): $8,800 per year
Scenario 2: Small Development Team (NUP Licensing)
- Use Case: A development team with 12 developers using GlassFish for application prototyping and internal testing.
- Server Specs: Single 4-core Intel Xeon server
- Processor Count: 4 cores × 0.5 core factor = 2 Processor licenses
- Minimum NUP: 2 × 10 NUP = 20 NUP licenses
- Actual Users: 12 (less than minimum, thus minimum applies)
- Total Cost: 20 NUP licenses × $100 = $2,000
- Annual Support (~22%): $440 per year
Essential Compliance Considerations for Oracle GlassFish Server Licensing
Maintaining compliance with Oracle licensing is critical to avoid audits, penalties, and unexpected costs. Important points to monitor include:
- Proper Core Factor Application:
- Always verify the core factor according to Oracle’s official core factor table to ensure you’re correctly calculating the required processor licenses.
- Minimum Named User Plus Requirement:
- For NUP licenses, never overlook Oracle’s minimum requirements (10 NUP per processor). Even small environments must adhere strictly to these rules.
- User Tracking and Management:
- Ensure meticulous record-keeping of all named users accessing GlassFish applications.
- Regular audits and user account reviews help maintain compliance, avoiding surprise during Oracle audits.
- Version and Patch Management:
- Ensure you have an active support contract to access patches and security updates provided by Oracle legally. Using patches without valid support can trigger compliance issues.
Best Practices for Oracle GlassFish Server Licensing Management
To effectively manage your Oracle GlassFish Server licenses, adhere to the following best practices:
- Regular Internal Audits:
- Conduct periodic license assessments to match your usage with your licensed entitlements, especially after infrastructure changes.
- Clear Documentation and Inventory:
- Maintain comprehensive documentation detailing server hardware, cores, user lists, and purchased licenses. This proactive measure simplifies future audits or internal reviews.
- Educate and Train Staff:
- Ensure that developers, administrators, and procurement teams understand Oracle licensing rules to prevent accidental violations, unauthorized feature usage, or improper deployments.
- Strategic License Planning:
- Plan license purchases carefully, considering future growth or downscaling, especially during contract renewals. Negotiating favorable terms and flexible contracts early can prevent future cost escalations.
Common Licensing Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Pitfall 1: Incorrect Core Factor Application
- Avoidance Strategy:
Cross-check your processor type regularly with Oracle’s official core factor table. Always confirm after server upgrades or migrations.
Pitfall 2: Ignoring Minimum NUP License Requirement
- Avoidance Strategy:
Ensure NUP licensing calculations always meet or exceed Oracle’s mandated minimums. Periodically audit your licensing stance to avoid violations.
Pitfall 3: Unauthorized Use of Enterprise Features Without Support
- Avoidance Strategy:
Verify feature usage regularly and ensure no Oracle-provided commercial patches or updates are used without active support contracts.
Summary: Key Takeaways for Oracle GlassFish Server Licensing
- Processor Licensing is optimal for large-scale, public-facing, or high-traffic deployments with numerous users.
- User Plus Licensing suits small to medium-sized teams or internal departmental usage scenarios with defined and limited user access.
- Compliance management involves careful attention to core factors, minimum user requirements, accurate documentation, and proactive internal audits.
- Strategic license planning and Oracle engagement ensure cost-effective and compliant deployments.
Adhering to these insights will help your organization maximize the value and minimize the risks associated with Oracle GlassFish Server licensing.
