Oracle Database Engine

What types of licensing options are available with Amazon RDS for Oracle?

There are two types of licensing options available for using Amazon RDS for Oracle:

Which Oracle Database Editions are available with Amazon RDS for Oracle?

Amazon RDS currently supports the following Oracle Database Editions under each of the licensing models below:

What are the licensing policies to use Amazon RDS for Oracle?

How will Amazon RDS for Oracle be supported?

Can I change the licensing option for my DB Instance (e.g. from 'BYOL' to 'License Included')?

Yes, you can change your license options. However, you will need to delete your current DB Instance with a final snapshot and create a new DB Instance from that snapshot specifying the new licensing option you need.

What are Amazon RDS DB Engine Versions for Oracle and how do they relate to Oracle Patch Sets?

In the context of Oracle, Amazon RDS DB Engine Versions are organized as follows:

DB Engine Versions for Oracle = X.Y.Z

...where X denotes a major version (for example, 11.2), Y is the release level (for example, 0.2), and Z is the version number within the release series (for example: v2). For example, a DB Engine version for Oracle could be 11.2.0.2.v2

Oracle releases Database Patch Set Updates (PSU) for supported release levels on a quarterly basis. (e.g. 11.2.0.2.1). The PSUs include security fixes and additional non-security fixes recommended by Oracle.

The Amazon RDS DB Engine Versions are built with a given PSU as a baseline and may contain additional fixes beyond it.

For Amazon RDS implementations, a version change would be considered major if either major version or release level is being changed. Example: going from version 11.2.0.2.Z to version 11.2.0.4.Z. A version change would be considered minor if the version number within the release is being changed; for example, going from version 11.2.0.2.v2 to versoin 11.2.0.2.v3.

Amazon RDS currently supports the major version 11.2 (11g Release 2). We plan to support additional major versions in the future.

What is the patch set composition of my DB Engine Version for Oracle?

Refer to the Amazon RDS User Guide for details of the patch set composition of each DB Engine Version of Oracle.

Can I control when my DB Instance could be upgraded to a new DB Engine Version for Oracle?

Amazon RDS allows you to control if and when the relational database software powering your DB Instance is upgraded to new versions supported by Amazon RDS. This provides you with the flexibility to maintain compatibility with specific Oracle database versions, test new versions with your application before deploying in production, and perform version upgrades on your own terms and timelines.

Unless you specify otherwise, your DB Instance will automatically be upgraded to new DB Engine Versions as they are supported by Amazon RDS. This patching will occur during your scheduled maintenance window, and will be announced on the Amazon RDS Community Forum in advance. If you wish to turn off automatic version upgrades, you can do so by setting the "Auto Minor Version Upgrade" field to "No". Since major version upgrades involve some compatibility risk, they will not occur automatically and must be initiated by you.

This approach to database software patching puts you in the driver’s seat of version upgrades, but still offloads the work of patch application to Amazon RDS. You can learn more about version management by reading the FAQ entires that follow. Alternatively, you can reference our Developer Guide.

While DB Engine version management functionality is intended to give you as much control as possible over how patching occurs, Amazon RDS may patch your DB Instance on your behalf in the event of a critical security vulnerability in the database software.

In the "License Included" model, the cost of the "Software Update License" is embedded in the hourly price, enabling access to Oracle Database software updates. However, under the BYOL model, you should have "Software Update License & Support" from Oracle to use Amazon RDS for Oracle Database.

How do I specify which supported DB Engine Version I would like my DB Instance to run?

You can specify any currently supported version (minor and/or major) when creating a new DB Instance via the Launch DB Instance option in the AWS AWS Management Console or the CreateDBInstance API.

If you have opted out of automatically scheduled upgrades by setting the AutoMinorVersionUpgrade parameter to false but wish to manually initiate an upgrade to a supported minor version or major version release, you can do so using the ModifyDBInstance API. Simply specify the version you wish to upgrade to via the EngineVersion parameter. The upgrade will then be applied on your behalf either immediately (if the "Apply Immediately" flag is set) or during the next scheduled maintenance window for your DB Instance.

Can I test my DB Instance against a new version before upgrading?

Yes. You can do so by creating a DB Snapshot of your existing DB Instance, restoring from the DB Snapshot to create a new DB Instance, and then initiating a version upgrade for the new DB Instance. You can then experiment safely on the upgraded clone of your DB Instance before deciding whether or not to upgrade your original DB Instance.

Does Amazon RDS provide guidelines for supporting new DB Engine Versions for Oracle and/or deprecating DB Engine Versions for Oracle that are currently supported?

Over time, we plan to support additional Oracle database versions for Amazon RDS, both minor and major. The number of new version releases supported in a given year will vary based on the frequency and content of the Oracle Patch Set Updates (PSUs) and the outcome of a thorough vetting of the release by our database engineering team. However, as a general guidance, we aim to support new Oracle Database versions within 3-5 months of their General Availability.

In terms of deprecation policy:

Can I scale my DB Instance?

For the BYOL model, you may scale your DB Instances in accordance with the terms of your Oracle license(s).

For the License Included model, DB Instances running Oracle may be scaled up and down at any point, subject to the prevailing hourly pricing for each DB Instance class.

For more information on the scaling implications of Reserved DB Instances, see our Reserved Instances FAQ.

Can I change the Oracle edition I'm running for a DB Instance (for example, from Oracle 11g R2 SE1 to EE)?

For the BYOL model, you can migrate from one edition of Oracle software to another as long as you possess an unused Oracle license appropriate for the edition and class of DB Instance you plan to run. To change the edition and retain your data, you should take a snapshot of your running DB Instance and then create a new DB Instance of the desired edition from that snapshot. You should then delete the old DB Instance, unless you wish to keep it running and have the appropriate Oracle Database licenses.

For the License Included model, currently, only Oracle Standard Edition One is supported.

What types of replication does Amazon RDS support for Oracle?

Amazon RDS for Oracle supports Multi-AZ deployments for both the License Included and Bring Your Own License (BYOL) licensing models.

Does Amazon RDS use Oracle Data Guard for Multi-AZ deployments?

Oracle Data Guard is a high-availability feature for the Enterprise Edition of the Oracle database engine. Amazon RDS currently uses a different synchronous replication technology and automatic failover functinoality to provide Multi-AZ deployments for Oracle DB Instances. Multi-AZ deployments are available for all Oracle database editions that are supported by Amazon RDS.

Will I need additional licenses if I use Multi-AZ deployments for my Oracle DB Instances under the BYOL licensing model?

Yes. We expect that you will need twice as many licenses for multi-AZ deployments as you would for a corresponding Single-AZ deployment to account for the standby DB Instance. You should review your Oracle software licensing agreement and comply with Oracle's licensing policies.

Is Oracle RAC supported on Amazon RDS?

No, RAC is not currently supported.

Which Enterprise Edition Options are supported on Amazon RDS?

The following Enterprise Edition Options are currently supported under the BYOL model:

How do I know if Amazon RDS supports a specific Oracle Database feature?

Oracle Database supports a number of features that vary with the edition of Oracle database you run. Refer to the Amazon RDS User Guide to know about the Oracle features that Amazon RDS currently supports.