Using Oracle VM with Exalytics - Trusted Partitioning

It is now possible to get a "limited" Exalytics In-Memory machine. This is achieved by using Oracle VM. Oracle VM can segment (or hard partition, if you will) the Exalytics machine, and limit the number of resources (CPUs) being used. This will also bring down the license prices when using the CPU license metric.

So if you do not need the full power of Exalytics, but are interested in the integrated solution it represents, it has now become cheaper to start up and ramp up resources when needed.

The installation of Oracle VM is described in the official documentation, under "2 Configuring Exalytics Machines for Virtualization":

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E27027_01/bi.1/e24706/install_virtual.htm#CIHBHIGH

The Oracle VM template and base image can be downloaded from the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud (that's eDelivery to us older people):

http://edelivery.oracle.com

After signing in, search for:

Product Pack: Oracle Business Intelligence
Platform: Linux x86-64
Click on “Oracle Exalytics Software Media Pack for Linux x86-64”

Then download the files:
Oracle Exalytics Base Image 2.0.1.1.0 for Exalytics Oracle VM x86-64 (Part# V34491-01)
Oracle Exalytics Oracle VM Template 2.0.1.1.0 for Exalytics Oracle VM x86-64 (Part# V34468-01)

As I do not have hands-on access to an Exalytics machine at the moment, I kind of have to stop here - but I am sure our friends at Rittman Mead will start playing with this soon. ;-)

Two important things to notice, if you are using Oracle VM for Trusted Partition Licensing (that is Oracle-speak for limiting the number of CPUs being used on the Exalytics machine):

1. Oracle VM requires that you install Oracle VM Manager, and this is NOT supported on Exalytics, so you will need to install this on another server
2. Trusted Partition Licensing requires that you monitor the usage of resources by installing Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c Release 2 on another server, when it is available (not yet GA at the time of writing this)

More info in this document (Overview of licensing policies for partitioned environments):

http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/pricing/partitioning-070609.pdf

Happy VM'ing!

Public Demo Site for Oracle Mobile BI iOS App

The latest update to Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition also brought along an updated version of the Oracle Business Intelligence Mobile App for iOS

It can be a hassle to demo Oracle's BI App for iOS, especially when trying to connect an iPad to a laptop computer via an ad-hoc wireless network. It works, but can quickly go wrong.

But there is actually a server out there that can be used to showcase the Oracle Mobile BI App. It is meant for partners, but the connection details and credentials are publicly available. I have used it several times, and works quite well.

Read more about it on the BI & EPM Partner Community EMEA blog (a big thank you to Mike Hallet for sharing this information)

https://blogs.oracle.com/emeapartnerbiepm/entry/run_live_obi_mobile_hd?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+orana+%28OraNA%29

If you want to go directly to the details, here's the PDF:

http://www.oracle.com/ocom/groups/public/@ocom/documents/webcontent/1717949.pdf

And here's the link to the Oracle BI App on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oracle-business-intelligence/id534035015?mt=8

Happy "Mobile BI"'ing.