Oracle Database@AWS: A Comprehensive Guide to the New Offering
In an exciting development for businesses relying on Oracle Exadata workloads, Oracle Database@AWS has been officially launched for general availability. This innovative service allows users to manage Oracle Exadata workloads, including Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC), directly within the AWS ecosystem. This marks a significant expansion in cloud database management options, providing a streamlined approach for Oracle database migration and management.
Understanding Oracle Database@AWS
For the past 14 years, Oracle database users have had limited options for cloud management. They could either independently manage Oracle database workloads through Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) or leverage the fully managed Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for Oracle. Now, with the introduction of Oracle Database@AWS, users have a new pathway that accommodates workloads requiring Oracle RAC or Oracle Exadata. This service promises faster and simpler cloud migrations while providing a consolidated billing experience through AWS Marketplace. This includes compatibility with Oracle license benefits, such as the Bring Your Own License (BYOL) program and various discount schemes like Oracle Support Rewards.
Seamless Integration and Management
Oracle Database@AWS offers the flexibility to migrate Oracle Exadata workloads to either the Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure or the Oracle Autonomous Database on Dedicated Exadata Infrastructure within AWS. This migration requires minimal changes, allowing for a smoother transition to cloud infrastructure. Users can manage their Oracle Database@AWS deployments using familiar AWS tools, including the AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), and AWS APIs. These tools interact with the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) APIs to provision and manage necessary resources effectively.
Enhanced Features for Production Workloads
Since its initial preview in December, Oracle Database@AWS has seen several enhancements that support the execution of production workloads. These include:
- Regional Expansion: Oracle Database@AWS is now available in the U.S. East (N. Virginia) and U.S. West (Oregon) Regions. There are plans to expand to 20 more AWS Regions globally, catering to the diverse needs of enterprises across various geographical locations. Users can select different Exadata system sizes to match their specific workload requirements.
- Zero-ETL and S3 Backups: The service now supports zero-ETL integration with Amazon Redshift for analytics, eliminating the need to create and manage data pipelines for extract, transform, and load operations. Additionally, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) backups are offered with exceptionally high data durability.
- Autonomous VM Cluster: Users can now provision an Autonomous VM Cluster in addition to an Exadata VM cluster on the Exadata Dedicated Infrastructure, providing a fully managed database environment with committed resources.
Integration with AWS Services
Oracle Database@AWS integrates seamlessly with various AWS services to enhance functionality and security. These include:
- Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Lattice: For configuring network paths to AWS services like S3 and Redshift directly.
- AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): For authentication and authorization.
- Amazon EventBridge: For monitoring database lifecycle events.
- AWS CloudFormation: For infrastructure automation.
- Amazon CloudWatch: For collecting and monitoring metrics.
- AWS CloudTrail: For logging API operations.
Getting Started with Oracle Database@AWS
Oracle Database@AWS supports two primary services: Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure and Oracle Autonomous Database on Dedicated Exadata Infrastructure. These services are physically located within an AWS Availability Zone and logically within an OCI region, allowing seamless integration with AWS services through high-speed, low-latency connections.
To start using Oracle Database@AWS, users can visit the AWS console or request a private offer through the AWS Marketplace. This process enables users to explore the best options for their workloads with assistance from AWS and Oracle sales teams.
Creating an ODB Network
An ODB network is essentially a private, isolated network that hosts Oracle Exadata VM Clusters within an Availability Zone. Users can create an ODB network via the Dashboard, specifying details such as network name, Availability Zone, and CIDR ranges. This network serves as a communication channel between AWS and OCI.
Setting Up Exadata Infrastructure
The Oracle Exadata infrastructure forms the backbone of the database servers, storage servers, and networking that support Oracle Exadata databases. Users can configure system maintenance preferences, such as scheduling and patching, upon creating this infrastructure.
Deploying VM Clusters
Users can deploy VM clusters on Exadata infrastructure, choosing between Exadata VM clusters and Autonomous VM clusters. Exadata VM clusters provide a complete Oracle database installation, while Autonomous VM clusters offer fully managed databases that automate key management tasks.
Creating and Managing Oracle Databases
Once a VM cluster is established, users can proceed to create and manage Oracle Exadata databases in the OCI console. This involves selecting Oracle Database versions and enabling automated backups through S3 or OCI Object Storage.
Monitoring, Security, and Compliance
Oracle Database@AWS offers robust monitoring capabilities through Amazon CloudWatch, capturing metrics for VM clusters, container databases, and pluggable databases. AWS CloudTrail logs provide insights into API calls, ensuring security and traceability. IAM can be used to assign permissions for managing resources, while SSL/TLS encrypted connections secure data.
Compliance with industry standards is crucial for Oracle Database@AWS users. The service adheres to various compliance frameworks, including SOC, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and more, depending on data sensitivity and legal requirements.
Support and Expansion Plans
AWS and Oracle sales teams are available to assist organizations in evaluating their existing database infrastructure and developing tailored migration strategies. AWS Oracle Competency Partners offer specialized support for architecting, deploying, and managing Oracle-based workloads in the AWS Cloud.
Oracle Database@AWS is currently available in select AWS Regions and will soon expand to 20 more regions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Users can explore specific pricing details on Oracle’s pricing page.
For those interested in getting started, the AWS console provides access to Oracle Database@AWS. Additional resources, such as the Oracle Database@AWS User Guide and OCI documentation, offer further guidance.
In conclusion, Oracle Database@AWS represents a significant advancement in cloud database management, providing users with enhanced flexibility, integration, and efficiency. As the service expands globally, businesses can look forward to improved database management capabilities, ensuring they remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
For more information, you can visit the official Oracle Database@AWS page.
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