[Info-vax] OpenSSL CSWS-2.2-1

[Craig A. Berry]

On 4/27/19 5:36 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 4/27/2019 3:51 PM, Craig A. Berry wrote:
>> On 4/27/19 9:09 AM, Kerry Main wrote:
>>> Just look at Oracle license costs alone. Oracle savings alone often
>>> stated as one of the reasons to move Oracle on OpenVMS A64/I64 to Linux
>>> on X86-64.
>>>
>>> Sample licensing for Oracle for small environment: (5 core 
>>> server)using list pricing:
>>> OpenVMS - 5 cores x$50,000 x Oracle  Processor Core Factor (1 for 
>>> Alpha, Integrity) = $250,000
>>> Linux - 5 cores x$50,000 x Oracle Processor Core Factor (0.5 for 
>>> X86-64) = $125,000
>>>
>>> Going fwd with OpenVMS/X86-64:
>>> OpenVMS - - 5 cores x$50,000 x Oracle  Processor Core Factor (0.5 for 
>>> X86-64) = $125,000
>>> Linux - - 5 cores x$50,000 x Oracle  Processor Core Factor (0.5 for 
>>> X86-64) = $125,000
>>
>> Given that no recent version of Oracle database server runs on VMS,
>> those are very expensive client licenses.  Or if you are assuming that
>> at some point they will bring Oracle classic up-to-date on VMS and
>> release it on OpenVMS x64, how do you know they would charge the same
>> price for it that they charge for the Linux version?
> 
> 
> Oracle "Oracle Processor Core Factor Table" is by CPU type.
> 
> It has nothing to do with OS.
> 
> See:
> 
> http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/contracts/processor-core-factor-table-070634.pdf 
> 
> 
> It seems very unlikely that Oracle would make an exception for VMS.

Maybe.  But if the cost per license to them were higher than on other
OSs that have a larger installed base, then I'm sure they could find a
way to charge more for it if they felt they needed to.  It's all
speculative until and unless they decide to port some future version of
the product to some future version of OpenVMS x64.  I do genuinely hope
that happens.

As far as processor count, people might well save more by reducing the
number of cores than by the benefits of the core factor.  A current
8-core Xeon surely wipes the floor with a 32-core AlphaServer GS1280,
for example.  The folks on the oldest hardware would likely benefit the
most, which is a good thing, as they're also likely the ones most in
need of persuading to make a change.