Oracle customers, whose use of Oracle programs such as Database Enterprise Edition has been audited, are only too well aware that Oracle License Management Services (LMS) compliance teams do not limit their evaluations to a natural definition of what is “installed and/or executed.” Instead, LMS applies the concepts described in the partitioning policy to greatly expand the scope of what most computer experts would accept as those words. In particular, LMS uses the directive to support its assertions that only certain types of virtualization technologies (including VMware) can be used to limit the number of licenses required in virtualized environments and that, without strictly complying with these rules, all physical processors on all physical hosts in a virtualization environment must be allowed for full capacity for all Oracle products that are exported throughout the environment. The disadvantages are “putting all the eggs in one basket” and the need to negotiate intelligently and aggressively on advantageous terms. Depending on the language of the contract, the ULA cannot apply in certain situations that do not predict a negligent undertaking and, in this case, the ULA is not really unlimited in the long run. It is customary for software publishers to incorporate different licensing rules and guidelines by reference to regulate the use of publishers` software products. Microsoft`s volume licensing agreements (p.B. MPSA or Enterprise Agreements) include, for example, product terms, online service conditions, and the service level agreement for Microsoft`s online services (among others), which contain a specific reference to these documents, information about document versions for the duration of the agreement, and the URL of websites on which current versions of documents can be found. While Microsoft`s licensing terms can sometimes be somewhat ambiguous or difficult to enforce, the documents included in their reference agreements are comprehensive and serve to reasonably define the respective rights, obligations and expectations of the parties with respect to the use of Microsoft`s products and services. Oracle offers two main mechanisms for enterprise licensing for technology products. In general, they apply to database options, database options and middleware products, but may also apply in some cases to more “opaque” products. The most common term ULA is three years. At the end of this period, the company must provide Oracle with documentation detailing the availability of all Oracle products used. Oracle processes this information to determine the number of regular licenses.
For companies that grow on time, ULA can offer significant cost savings compared to the purchase of individual licenses.