In this article we will be taking a quick look at the Oracle Processor and Named User Plus metrics, what they mean, the main differences between them and which one is more appropriate to use in your environment.
Before we get into the details, let’s start off by understanding what the Processor and NUP metrics are.
What are the Processor and NUP metrics and how are they calculated?
Oracle Database licensing uses two main metrics – Processor and Named User Plus – to accommodate diverse business needs and deployment scenarios. These two metrics allow Oracle to offer flexible licensing options that align with varying usage patterns and organizational requirements, ensuring both scalability and cost efficiency.
Processor Metric
The Processor metric is based on the number of cores/sockets in the server where the Oracle software is installed and/or running. Unlike metrics that count individual users, this model focuses on the total processing power available to Oracle software, allowing organizations to scale their deployments without worrying about the number of individual users accessing the system.
The number of Processors is calculated by taking into account both physical and virtual cores, depending on the server’s architecture. For Database Enterprise Edition, Oracle uses a Processor Core Factor Table to calculate the required number of Processor licenses based on the chip vendor and processor type.
Named User Plus Metric
The Named User Plus metric is a method for licensing Oracle software based on the number of unique users or non-human operated devices that have access to the Oracle software. Each user or non-human operated device, referred to as a "Named User Plus," requires a separate license. This model ensures that every individual or device accessing the software is taken into account and licensed accordingly.
Licensing under the Named User Plus metric involves counting the total number of individuals or devices that directly or indirectly access the Oracle software, regardless of whether they are active users at any given time.
- User Count: Each person with access counts as one Named User Plus, irrespective of the number of devices they use.
- Non-human operated device Count: Each device accessing the software is counted if the device itself, rather than a person, is the licensed entity.
If multiplexing hardware or software (e.g., a TP monitor or a web server product) is used, then all users at the multiplexing front end must be counted. In addition to older Named User metric, the Named User Plus also permits batching of data from computer to computer.
What are the minimums required for Database NUP metric licensing?
When licensing Oracle Database products under the NUP metric, Oracle specifies minimum requirements which may vary based on the specific edition of the database and the hardware configuration.
By adding minimums, Oracle ensures that a minimum base monetary value is set for the Oracle product regardless of where a customer might deploy it, thus even in low-user scenarios, there is a correlation between the license requirements and the processing power of the server, preventing significant under-licensing in powerful hardware environments.
Here is a more detailed look at these minimums:
Minimums per Processor:
- For Oracle Database Enterprise Edition, the required minimum is usually 25 NUP licenses per Processor (Processor as defined in the Processor metric definition). There can be exceptions to this rule, but they must be clearly mentioned in the Oracle Agreements and may be related to environment type, application specific usage etc.
Minimums per Server or Network:
- For Oracle Database Standard Edition 2, the minimum is usually set at 10 NUP licenses per server.
- For Oracle Database Standard Edition / One, the minimum is in most cases set at 5 NUP per customer. This product is not part of Oracle’s Database current offering.
Which metric is more appropriate to use?
The Processor metric is ideal for organizations or environments where applications are accessed by a large, uncountable or continuously fluctuating user population. An environment with web-based services is a very good example where the Processor metric is most suitable.
On the other hand, the Named User Plus metric is suited for environments with a stable, easily countable and identifiable user base, providing a clear and predictable future evolution of the user population.
For those environments where the actual number of users is below the minimums required by Oracle and where the allocation of Named User Plus metric is possible, the license cost would be half the cost of Processor licenses. Named User Plus is the ideal lower cost answer for development or test environments.
Get Oracle licensing advice from Livingstone
Livingstone can provide help in choosing the most appropriate Oracle licensing metric, by offering deep knowledge of Oracle’s complex licensing rules and expert guidance tailored to customer’s specific business needs.
Livingstone can support in accurately evaluating the licensing requirements for current or future environment configurations, ensuring optimal license metric selection for compliance, cost efficiency, avoidance of expensive penalties and maximization of software investments.
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About the Author
Alex Ionescu is a senior consultant at Livingstone. He has deep knowledge of Oracle having previously worked in Global Licensing and Advisory at Oracle.
