Managing Oracle Database 12c with Enterprise Manager Part III

We are discussing the management of Oracle Database 12c in Oracle Enterprise Manager 12c. In our previous blog posts on this topic, we came to the Provision Pluggable Databases page as seen below. This is accessible via the Container Database Home Page in Enterprise Manager 12c, from the Oracle Database menu.

When it comes to licensing for this page, it needs to be clearly understood. The licensing requirements for the Enterprise Manager Database Lifecycle Management Pack (DBLM) are explained in the Enterprise Manager Licensing information guide here.  This mentions that “On the Provision Pluggable Databases page, all operations are licensed except for those explicitly mentioned in the Base Database Management Features section.” Section 2.3.1 of the same licensing guide mentions that the following PDB provisioning features require the DBLM license:

• Pluggable Database (PDB) Create/Plug/Unplug:   
  • Create PDB from seed, plug PDB from unplugged PDB, and unplug PDB (multiple targets operations or performed using a customized deployment procedure).
  • PDB Clone:        Create a clone of an existing PDB.
  • PDB Migrate:     Migrate Non-Container Databases (CDB) database to a PDB.

The Base Database Management Features section specifies that the following PDB operations are included in the base database management functionality of Enterprise Manager (i.e. these operations do not require the EM DBLM license):

• Pluggable Database (PDB) Create/Plug/Unplug     
  • Create PDB from seed, plug PDB from unplugged PDB and unplug PDB (single target operations only using non-customized deployment procedure).

So in plain words, PDB cloning and migration definitely require the DBLM license. For PDB Create/Plug/Unplug, if you specify more than 1 PDB, then you need the DBLM license, or if you change (customize) the EM-supplied OOTB (out-of-the-box) deployment procedure, then you need the license.

On the other hand, if you use the standard OOTB procedure, and if you specify only 1 PDB in your operation, then the DBLM license is not needed.  

Note that these are general guidelines to give you an idea of your licensing requirements for PDB provisioning via Enterprise Manager.  For specific needs and details of Oracle software licensing for your situation and company, please be sure to verify with your local Oracle Sales contact.

In the next blog post, we will look at more ways in which Enterprise Manager 12c can help you to manage Oracle 12c Pluggable and Container Databases. Stay tuned.