In a move that has taken many by surprise, Oracle Corp. recently announced a limited preview of its Exadata Database offering on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, marking a significant shift from their long-standing rivalry. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison previously criticized AWS for being technologically inferior, a claim that AWS countered. However, this new collaboration enables AWS customers to operate Oracle’s Exadata Database Service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure within AWS’s infrastructure, starting with the US East Region. Previously, similar capabilities had been made available on Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform, signaling a new era of collaboration between major cloud providers.
Integrating Oracle’s powerful database services within AWS’s robust infrastructure offers several key benefits for customers. Users will be able to perform seamless migrations of their Oracle Database workloads, including Exadata and Oracle Real Application Cluster, to AWS with low-latency network connections. This enhanced connectivity facilitates easier integration between Oracle databases and AWS services, allowing customers to leverage AWS’s advanced AI capabilities, such as Amazon Bedrock, which provides access to various foundation models. This setup ensures a seamless experience, as Oracle will manage the Exadata Database Service and offer unified administration, billing, and support through the AWS Management Console.
Enhanced Data Management and Migration Capabilities
One of the standout features of this collaboration is the enhanced data management capabilities it brings. Customers can now experience unified data management across Oracle and AWS platforms, significantly aiding their analytics, machine learning, and AI processes. By combining Oracle Database 23c AI features like AI Vector Search with AWS services, including Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service and Amazon Elastic Compute Service, users can create an integrated, highly efficient ecosystem for their data needs. This convergence of powerful tools from both Oracle and AWS will streamline operations and provide more robust support for advanced applications, making it a compelling option for enterprises.
Furthermore, the migration process itself has been made considerably easier. With Oracle’s Zero Downtime Migration tools, users can rapidly transition their workloads to the cloud with minimal disruption. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that require continuous operation and cannot afford significant downtime. Additionally, customers have the option to apply their existing Oracle software licenses to cloud services under the Bring Your Own License program, providing financial flexibility and potentially reducing the overall cost of migrating to the cloud. By simplifying both the technical and economic aspects of migration, Oracle and AWS are poised to attract a large number of enterprises looking to modernize their IT infrastructure.
A Shift Towards Cooperative Cloud Ecosystems
Oracle Corp. made headlines by announcing a limited preview of its Exadata Database offering on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This marks a notable change in their traditionally competitive relationship. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison had criticized AWS as technologically inferior, a claim AWS rebutted. However, this new partnership lets AWS customers use Oracle’s Exadata Database Service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure within AWS’s infrastructure, beginning in the US East Region. Similar integrations have been available on Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform, hinting at increased cooperation among leading cloud providers.
This integration offers significant benefits. Users can smoothly migrate Oracle Database workloads, like Exadata and Oracle Real Application Cluster, to AWS with low-latency connections. This better connectivity makes it easier to integrate Oracle databases with AWS services, leveraging AWS’s AI features, such as Amazon Bedrock. Oracle will oversee the Exadata Database Service and provide unified administration, billing, and support through the AWS Management Console, ensuring a cohesive user experience. This move signifies a new era of collaboration, yielding enhanced technological capabilities and options for customers.
