Oracle Licensing

Oracle WebLogic Licensing Guide 2024

Oracle Weblogic Licensing

  • Editions: Available in Standard and Enterprise.
  • Standard Edition: Licensed per occupied CPU socket.
  • Enterprise Edition: Licensed per core using Oracle’s core factor table.
  • Named User Plus: Minimum of 10 users per processor.
  • WebLogic Suite: Includes additional features and uses core-based licensing.

What is Oracle WebLogic?

What is Oracle WebLogic?

Oracle WebLogic is a Java EE platform and application server initially developed by BEA Systems and now owned by Oracle. It is used to develop, deploy, and manage Java EE applications.

Overview of WebLogic Products

Oracle WebLogic Server licenses cover several products:

  • Standard Edition
  • Enterprise Edition
  • WebLogic Suite: Includes the Enterprise Edition server and additional options, such as Oracle SOA Suite.

Inclusion in Other Oracle Products

Oracle WebLogic Server is also included as a Basic version in many other Oracle products, such as:

  • Oracle WebLogic and Service Options
  • Oracle Internet Application Server

WebLogic Editions

WebLogic Editions

To use Oracle WebLogic, you need to purchase a license. There are three editions available: Basic, Standard, and Enterprise. Higher editions offer more features but are more expensive.

Basic Edition

The WebLogic Server Basic license provides:

  • Core Application Server
  • Java EE 5/EJB 3.0
  • Management Tools
  • JDBC Drivers
  • Clients and Plug-ins
  • Basic JMS Messaging
  • Deployment and High Availability
  • Streamlined Storage for Java Applications

Note: The Basic license cannot be purchased independently and is only available as part of other Oracle software licenses.

Standard Edition

The Standard Edition includes all features of the Basic Edition, plus additional functionalities tailored for mid-sized businesses and specific enterprise needs.

Enterprise Edition

The Enterprise Edition offers the most comprehensive features, including advanced tools and capabilities for large-scale, mission-critical applications.

Understanding the differences between these editions will help you choose the one that best suits your organization’s requirements and budget.

WebLogic License Costs

Licensing Oracle WebLogic Server varies by edition. Here’s a breakdown of the costs and licensing methods:

WebLogic Basic

  • Availability: Not available for purchase. Only provided with certain Oracle products.
  • Usage: Restricted-use license that ships with other Oracle products.

WebLogic Standard Edition

  • Licensing Method: Per occupied CPU socket, with a minimum of 10 users per processor.
  • Example: If you run WebLogic SE on a server with two processors, you need either:
    • Two processor licenses, or
    • Twenty-user licenses (if fewer than 20 users).
  • Cost:
    • $10,000 per processor license (do not count cores).
    • $200 per user (minimum 10 users per processor).

WebLogic Enterprise Edition

  • Licensing Method: Based on Oracle’s core factor calculation.
  • Cost:
    • $25,000 per processor license (count cores).
    • $500 per user (minimum 10 users per processor, count cores).

WebLogic Suite

  • Licensing Method: Based on Oracle’s core factor calculation.
  • Cost:
    • $45,000 per processor license (count cores).
    • $900 per user (minimum ten users per processor, count cores).

Summary of Costs

EditionCost Per Processor LicenseCost Per UserMinimum Users per Processor
Standard Edition$10,000$20010
Enterprise Edition$25,000$50010
WebLogic Suite$45,000$90010

Understanding these licensing costs and methods will help you budget effectively and ensure compliance with Oracle’s licensing requirements.

What is Weblogic Basic?

What is Weblogic Basic?
  • WebLogic Basic is an Oracle software component that cannot be purchased individually. It is only available as part of existing Oracle middleware products.
  • Some enterprise software asset management tools may show WebLogic as installed but may not accurately reflect which version of WebLogic needs to be licensed.
  • WebLogic Basic is not on Oracle’s price list and is a restricted and limited version of another licensable product.

Which products is WebLogic Basic part of?

  • Oracle Internet Application Server, Standard Edition
  • Oracle Internet Application Server Standard Edition One
  • Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition
  • Oracle Forms and Reports
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Standard Edition

If you have any of the above Oracle licenses, you also have the right to use the basic version of WebLogic. However, you can only use this version to run certain components of the listed products.

What is WebLogic Basic?

WebLogic Basic is an Oracle software component that cannot be purchased individually. It is only available as part of existing Oracle middleware products.

Key Points

  • Availability: Not available for individual purchase; included with certain Oracle products.
  • Visibility: Some enterprise software asset management tools may show WebLogic as installed but may not accurately reflect which version needs to be licensed.
  • Pricing: It is not listed in Oracle’s price list; it is a restricted and limited version included with other licensable products.

Which Products Include WebLogic Basic?

WebLogic Basic is included with several Oracle products:

  • Oracle Internet Application Server, Standard Edition
  • Oracle Internet Application Server Standard Edition One
  • Oracle Internet Application Server Enterprise Edition
  • Oracle Forms and Reports
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Standard Edition

If you hold any of the above Oracle licenses, you have the right to use the basic version of WebLogic. However, its use is limited to the features and restrictions defined within these bundled products.

Oracle WebLogic Licensing

Oracle WebLogic Licensing

Oracle WebLogic Application Server comes in two editions: Standard and Enterprise. Each edition offers different features and licensing models to meet varying business needs.

Differences between WebLogic SE and Enterprise

  • WebLogic Standard Edition (SE): Does not include clustering functionality.
  • WebLogic Enterprise Edition (EE): Includes the OEM Diagnostic Pack for Oracle Middleware and additional licensable features like Coherence and the WebLogic Management Pack.
  • Advanced Java SE Support: The Enterprise Edition includes Oracle Java SE Advanced for servers and clients.

Oracle WebLogic License Differences

  • Standard Edition Licensing: Licensed per occupied socket.
  • Enterprise Edition Licensing: Licensed per core using the Oracle core factor table.

Comparison Table

FeatureWebLogic SEWebLogic EE
Clustering FunctionalityNot IncludedIncluded
OEM Diagnostic Pack for MiddlewareNot IncludedIncluded
Additional Licensable FeaturesNot RequiredRequired for features like Coherence and WebLogic Management Pack
Oracle Java SE AdvancedNot IncludedIncluded for servers and clients
Licensing ModelPer occupied socketPer core using core factor table

WebLogic – Named User Plus Licensing

WebLogic - Named User Plus Licensing

Oracle WebLogic License – Named User Plus

Named User Plus (NUP) licensing sets minimums for each edition of WebLogic Server.

Licensing Minimums

  • WebLogic Server Standard Edition (SE):
    • Minimum of 10 Named User Plus per processor (do not count cores).
  • WebLogic Server Enterprise Edition (EE):
    • Minimum of 10 Named User Plus per processor (count cores using the Oracle core factor table).
  • WebLogic Suite:
    • Minimum of 10 Named User Plus per processor (core licensing is the same as Oracle Database EE).

Licensing Calculation

To license WebLogic EE, calculate 10 Named User Plus per Oracle processor. Use the Oracle core factor table to determine the correct number of processors.

Example:

EditionLicensing ModelMinimum Users per Processor
WebLogic SE10 Named User Plus per processor10
WebLogic EE10 Named User Plus per processor (count cores)10
WebLogic Suite10 Named User Plus per processor (count cores)10

Understanding these licensing models and requirements helps ensure compliance and optimal use of Oracle WebLogic Server in your environment.

What is WebLogic Suite?

What is WebLogic Suite?

Oracle WebLogic Suite is a comprehensive platform that combines Oracle WebLogic Server Enterprise Edition with additional advanced features to support complex enterprise applications.

Components of WebLogic Suite

  • Oracle WebLogic Server Enterprise Edition
  • Oracle Coherence Enterprise Edition: Provides distributed caching and data grid solutions.
  • Oracle Forms, Reports, Portal, and Discoverer: Tools for developing and managing enterprise applications.
  • Oracle OEM Management Pack for Coherence: Tools for managing and monitoring Coherence environments.
  • Oracle Java SE Suite for Servers and Clients: Advanced Java SE features for server and client environments.

Features Overview

FeatureDescription
Oracle WebLogic Server Enterprise EditionCore application server with advanced features
Oracle Coherence Enterprise EditionDistributed caching and data grid solutions
Oracle Forms, Reports, Portal, and DiscovererDevelopment and management tools
OEM Management Pack for CoherenceManagement and monitoring tools
Oracle Java SE SuiteAdvanced Java SE features for servers and clients

WebLogic Suite Licensing

Oracle WebLogic Suite licensing is core-based. To ensure compliance and accurate cost estimation, it’s essential to count the number of physical cores in the server and apply the Oracle Core Factor.

Licensing Calculation

  1. Count Physical Cores: Determine the server’s total number of physical cores.
  2. Apply Oracle Core Factor: Multiply the number of physical cores by the Oracle Core Factor to get the required licenses.

Example Calculation:

Physical CoresOracle Core FactorRequired Licenses
80.54

Named User Plus Licensing

The minimum requirement is ten users per Oracle processor when licensing Oracle WebLogic Suite with Named User Plus. Use the core factor to determine the processor count and then apply the user minimums.

Example:

EditionLicensing ModelMinimum Users per Processor
WebLogic SuiteCore-based licensing10 Named User Plus per processor (count cores)

Summary

  • Core-Based Licensing: Multiply physical cores by Oracle Core Factor.
  • Named User Plus: Minimum of ten users per Oracle processor, calculated using core factor.

Understanding these licensing requirements is crucial for ensuring compliance and managing costs effectively.

Top 6 WebLogic License Compliance Problems

Top 6 WebLogic License Compliance Problems

Ensuring compliance with Oracle WebLogic licensing can be challenging. Here are the top six common issues that organizations face:

1. Incorrect Cluster Support Licensing

Issue: Oracle customers using cluster support, which requires Enterprise Licenses, but are only licensed for WebLogic Standard Edition.

Solution: Verify the edition requirements for cluster support and ensure proper licensing to avoid compliance issues.

2. Overuse of WebLogic Basic

Issue: Oracle customers use Oracle WebLogic Basic (a restricted-use license that is part of other Oracle products) beyond their license grants.

Solution: Regularly review usage against license grants to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

3. Miscalculating Licensing Factors

Issue: Oracle licensing is miscalculated based on core factors or licensing minimums.

Solution: Use accurate core factor calculations and adhere to licensing minimums to maintain compliance.

4. Wrong Version Installation

Issue: Customers install the wrong version of Oracle WebLogic and then need to license a more expensive version.

Solution: Verify the correct version before installation and ensure appropriate licensing for the installed version.

5. Misuse of Java SE Advanced Licenses

Issue: WebLogic editions include Java SE Advanced licenses, but Java can only run WebLogic-based applications, not third-party Java applications.

Solution: Ensure Java SE Advanced is only used for WebLogic-based applications to comply with licensing terms.

6. Issues with Oracle ULA

Issue: Including WebLogic in an Oracle ULA (Unlimited License Agreement) often causes compliance issues.

Solution: Understand the terms of the ULA and ensure all WebLogic usage is covered under the agreement.

How We Can Help

How We Can Help

We specialize in helping organizations review and optimize their Oracle WebLogic licensing. Our services include:

Review and Optimize Deployment

  • Current Deployment Review: Analyze Oracle WebLogic deployment and usage to identify potential compliance issues.
  • Usage Analysis: Based on your needs and usage patterns, determine the most appropriate and cost-effective Oracle WebLogic edition and licensing model.

Assess and Ensure Compliance

  • License Assessment: Evaluate current Oracle WebLogic licenses to ensure compliance with the agreement terms.
  • Optimization Strategies: Recommend strategies for optimizing Oracle WebLogic licenses, such as consolidating licenses, upgrading to a more cost-effective edition, or implementing efficient license management processes.

Provide Expert Guidance

  • Avoiding Pitfalls: Offer guidance on avoiding common Oracle WebLogic licensing pitfalls, such as over-licensing or using unlicensed components.
  • Negotiating Terms: Assist in negotiating more favorable licensing terms with Oracle, if necessary.
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Author

  • Fredrik Filipsson

    Fredrik Filipsson brings two decades of Oracle license management experience, including a nine-year tenure at Oracle and 11 years in Oracle license consulting. His expertise extends across leading IT corporations like IBM, enriching his profile with a broad spectrum of software and cloud projects. Filipsson's proficiency encompasses IBM, SAP, Microsoft, and Salesforce platforms, alongside significant involvement in Microsoft Copilot and AI initiatives, improving organizational efficiency.

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