Sun
Microsystems is to subsidise customers using Oracle database
software on its high-end Unix servers.
Oracle's
Enterprise Edition database software will now be an option when
customers buy Sun’s four-processor Sun Fire V490 systems or
higher-end platforms. The platforms run Sun’s new UltraSparc IV or
IV+ processors. Sun will pay the Oracle software licence fee, which
comes with a year of support, although customers will be
responsible for paying Oracle for further annual support and
maintenance fees.
As Oracle licence
fees are based on the number of processors a server is equipped
with, Sun's subsidy could be potentially significant for customers.
The Sun E25K, for instance, has 72 dual-core processors. An Oracle
licence fee for this system would be around £500,000, said Sun.
