If you're the poor sap stuck with the data transfer project, my first thought is that I'm so sorry. My second thought is that you can turn it to your advantage and become a hero. You can be the person who saves the company from having to cough up hundreds of thousands -if not millions- of dollars.

 

The first and most important point in understanding Oracle licensing is that it is as adaptive as the changing nature of business and its IT environment. The second point - specific to data transferring within the Oracle database environment and licensing - is that metrics and methods make a difference in licensing scenarios. 

 

If you're using batch processing to import data, Oracle licensing can be complicated by the data metrics situation. While both the Processor and Named User Plus license metrics can be used in licensing batch processing, there are differences in licensing structure. In the Processor environment - in most cases - processors* where Oracle database is installed must be licensed. In a Named User Plus environment, the automated process is limited to batching data from computer to computer where the Oracle database resides. And, in a manual batch processing environment, anyone creating data included in the batch feed is considered an actual user; therefore, each user must be licensed.

 

Even the importing and exporting of data from flat files such as Microsoft Excel or CSV have licensing rules. Similar to batch processing, each Processor* - in most cases - must be licensed where Oracle database is installed and each user adding data to the flat file must be licensed as an actual user under the license metric, Named User Plus.

 

Licensing in a multiplexing environment is much more complex and unique based on the milieu. It is best to assess each situation based on Oracle licensing rules.

 

It is important to note that activity as mundane (not to mention painful) as data integration is an important consideration when negotiating Oracle contracts. Building flexibility into the Oracle license and services agreement (OSLA) will give your IT group the room they need to meet the needs of their business units and the enterprise as a whole.

*As defined by each of your ordering documents including the database program in question.