Understanding Oracle Advanced Compression in Oracle EE
Oracle Advanced Compression is an add-on option for Oracle Database Enterprise Edition (EE) that provides enhanced data compression capabilities across the database environment.
It’s designed to minimize storage and improve efficiency by compressing data in tables, indexes, backups, network transfers, and more.
Advanced Compression forms part of Oracle’s Information Lifecycle Management features (like Heat Map and Automatic Data Optimization), enabling organizations to automatically compress and tier data based on usage.
Importantly, Advanced Compression is not included in the standard EE license – it must be purchased separately. Oracle does include some “basic” compression features in the base database (for example, simple table compression during bulk loads),.
Still, the advanced capabilities (often anything beyond basic, such as OLTP table compression or high-level backup compression) require this extra license.
Enterprises are drawn to Advanced Compression for its potential benefits, including reduced storage costs, improved I/O performance for large datasets, and more efficient backup/restore processes.
However, these benefits must be weighed against the hefty licensing fees and compliance risks associated with using the option without proper licensing.
Key insight: Advanced Compression can deliver real value in managing data growth, but it opens a new front in license management. ITAM professionals need to understand where Oracle draws the line between free vs. licensable compression features to avoid accidental usage. In the sections below, we’ll break down the licensing model, a major hidden trap with Data Pump, other common triggers of non-compliance, and how to stay on safe ground.
Licensing Model and Cost Implications
Oracle licenses Advanced Compression in the same way as its database licenses – typically per processor (core) or per named user, aligned with your Oracle Database EE licensing.
This means if CPU cores license your database, you must license the Advanced Compression option for all those same cores on any server where you use the feature. The cost is significant: the list price for the Advanced Compression Option is approximately 25% of the base Database EE’s cost.
For example, if an Oracle Database EE license costs approximately $47,500 per processor, Advanced Compression adds around $11,000–$12,000 per processor, based on the list price.
Additionally, annual support fees (~22% of the license cost) are applicable, which quickly adds thousands more per year.
In practice, this pricing can translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars for a large server or cluster.
For instance, enabling Advanced Compression on a 16-core database server could incur a list price of approximately $184,000 in licenses, plus approximately $40,000 per year in support – just for this option alone.
Organizations often negotiate discounts, especially when bundling Advanced Compression as part of a larger Enterprise Agreement or an Oracle Unlimited License Agreement (ULA). Even so, it remains a substantial cost line item.
Table: Oracle Database EE vs. Advanced Compression Licensing Costs (Example)
| License Component | List Price per Processor | Annual Support (22%) per Proc | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Database Enterprise Edition (Base DB) | ~$47,500 | ~$10,450 | Core database license (full use) |
| Advanced Compression Option | ~$11,500 | ~$2,530 | Add-on option (about 25% of DB cost) |
Note: Actual prices may vary; Oracle’s list prices are often discounted in enterprise deals. Support costs are calculated based on the net license fee.
Posted from: https://redresscompliance.com/oracle-advanced-compression-licensing-and-datapump/