This was answered on Search Oracle.com.
“After reading the Oracle Software Investment Guide, it is still not very clear to me whether a license is required if the disaster recovery solution is based on backup tapes. If I back up my production Oracle database to tape and store offsite and in the disaster recovery server, I pre-installed the Oracle binary there. When DR strikes, I restore the database backup from tape and bring up the database. In this case, do I need to purchase an Oracle license for the DR server? If I plan to use the server to perform DR testing once a year for about a month, do I need to purchase an Oracle license? ”
You’d think not. Assuming that the database is not actually running and you are not utilizing Oracle Software, why should you pay a licence ? Apparently you require to pay a licence if you so much as install the software…..
“When a backup file is created for an Oracle Database, not a copy but an actual backup file, the backup file can then be copied to tape or some other storage spot without requiring any additional Oracle licensing for the database that it contains. However, you cannot pre-install the Oracle binaries onto a disaster recovery server without requiring additional licensing. Oracle typically includes language in their contracts that indicate “For the purpose of testing physical copies of backups, your license for the Oracle Database (Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition or Standard Edition One) includes the right to run the database on an unlicensed computer for up to four times, not exceeding 2 days per testing, in any given calendar year.” If you need to test for a month of time then you will need additional licensing.”
Ok, so what should you do ? According to this (bearing in mind that oracle allow you to download for evaluation purposes assuming you are running no production systems with the software) you are able to test your restore 4 times a year, or once every three months, and it cannot exceed more than 2 days.
That also means you have to install the software on the system each time, and have to uninstall it every time you complete the testing within 2 days.
This is where it all falls down. The DR server testing is a non-production system, for evaluation only, to evaluate the backup, so surely you can pre-install the software and have it sitting there with no licence since that is non-production. Also the restored database is a non-production system, not like using a physical or logical standby database where it is up and running, or open even. Is that included in the terminology to get around this, allowing Oracle to charge you for a system which may not even be powered up ? Seems it does and Oracle only want your money.
Oracle sucks on the licencing (even as a Oracle DBA, I’ve conceded this point), and is only looking to maximize profits. Bad on you Oracle, sort out your licencing.
