How to Run Oracle DB on Microsoft Azure
Find out how to run Oracle Database on Microsoft Azure along with Oracle on Azure benefits.
Oracle database with Microsoft Azure cloud is one of the best combinations for the corresponding IT solutions as both the platforms lead their respective arenas. While Oracle provides the best database solutions, Azure the cloud. The high interoperability between Azure and OCI has unlocked doors for those who already had the Oracle database and wanted to leverage the power of Azure cloud. In this post, we will precisely discuss:
- Oracle on Azure Benefits (Link to article-medium- 7 Ways Oracle to Azure Migration Can Help Your Enterprise)
- How to run Oracle DB on MS Azure
So, let’s break it all one by one.
The Oracle on Azure Benefits
#1: Oracle on Azure Pricing:
Oracle on Azure deployment follows the bring-your-own-license model. If you already have the license to use the Oracle software you can move your Oracle applications to Azure without buying an additional one. The other two ways you can save big through Oracle on Azure pricing are:
- You get a rebate of up to 72 percent compared to pay-as-you-go prices if you reserve resources in advance for your predictable workloads through Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances.
- You get a rebate of up to 80 percent if you reuse your on-premises licenses for running Windows Server VMs on Azure through Azure Hybrid Benefit and combine the Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances with Azure Hybrid Benefit.
#2: Seamless Migration and Application Support
With simple licensing models due to the high interoperability between Azure and OCI, you can now deploy the enterprise Oracle applications on Azure through the same processor mapping you were using in the case of on-premise deployments. Not just that, it also enables you to easily migrate Oracle enterprise applications and databases like JD Edwards, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Retail, PeopleSoft, etc., and run them on various supported operating systems like Windows Server, Oracle Linux, etc. in Azure.
#3: Integrated Identity & Access Management
With Microsoft Active Directory power extended to the Azure users and the cross-cloud connectivity between Azure & OCI, you only need a single sign-on for your Oracle applications in Azure.
#4: Hybrid Deployment Models
Users of Oracle on Azure can also get benefitted from IoT, AI, and Blockchain services offered by Azure. They can create reports through Power BI or can run some of the AI models on their data. In short, they can integrate extra services for building great applications and utilizing their data even more.
How to run Oracle DB on MS Azure
#1: Oracle Databases on Azure Infrastructure
Oracle databases can be run on Azure infrastructure via Oracle Database on Oracle Linux images that are available in the Azure Marketplace, such as:
- Oracle Database 12.1, 12.2, and 18.3 Enterprise Edition
- Oracle Database 12.1, 12.2, and 18.3 Standard Edition
- Oracle Database 19.3
Not just that, Oracle Database can also be set up on a non-Oracle Linux image available in Azure. A solution can be based on a new custom image that you create in Azure or a custom image can be uploaded from your on-premises environment.
Optionally, multiple attached disks can be configured, and that the database performance can be improved by installing Oracle Automated Storage Management (ASM).
#2: WebLogic Server with Azure Service Integrations
You can speed up your cloud journey by picking from a range of WebLogic Server Azure Applications. Besides, many pre-configured Azure service integrations are there for you that includes Azure Active Directory, Azure App Gateway, and the database.
#3: Applications on Oracle Linux & WebLogic Server
Enterprise applications can be run in Azure on various supported Oracle Linux images. Given below are the virtual machines images that are available for you:
- Oracle WebLogic Server 12.1.2
- Oracle Linux with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 7.3 through 7.7, 8.0, 8.1.
#4: High Availability and Efficient Disaster Recovery
Sharding or Golden Gate, Active Data Guard with FSFO or Oracle Data Guard can be configured on Azure infrastructure together with Availability Zones to achieve high availability in-region. These configurations can also be set up across multiple Azure regions to achieve disaster recovery and extra availability.
Azure Site Recovery can be used for orchestrating and managing disaster recovery for your physical servers as well as your Oracle Linux Virtual Machines in Azure.
Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) can be enabled in Azure through Azure VMware Solution or FlashGrid SkyCluster.
#5: Backing Up Oracle Workloads
Your oracle Virtual Machines can be backed up through Azure Back up. You can employ RMAN for backing up your Oracle Database. As an option, you can also make use of Azure Blob Fuse for mounting an Azure Blob Storage account, which is highly redundant. Your RMAN backups can be written to it to have extra resiliency.
Wrap Up
We just learned about the benefits and process of running Oracle on Azure. However, if you are finding it difficult to meet the prerequisites of running Oracle on Azure and feel the need for some supplemental support, you can collaborate with an Azure trusted partner or a Managed Services Provider (MSP). With their years of rich experience managing database migration & other cloud services and troubleshooting different projects across industries, they help you achieve your cloud goals quite easily and nimbly.
If you are looking for Azure Cloud Services in Dubai, several MSPs provide effective solutions. They also provide Oracle services in Dubai along it. By conducting an audit of your Oracle database and evaluating the cloud readiness, the MSPs easily figure out the migration opportunities for you. They even help you save big on Oracle on Azure pricing. With a reliable MSP, you can achieve scalability, flexibility, and a high level of performance; get end-to-end support; reduce licensing spend considerably; drive actionable insights.
