Oracle databases head to Microsoft's Hyper-V, Azure

Oracle and Microsoft rolled out a partnership where Oracle's software, notably Java and database, will run on Windows Server Hyper-V as well as Azure.

Details about the deal weren't initially available. Microsoft customers will be able to deploy Oracle's software and get support from Oracle.

The move was plugged last week by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who also noted deals would be announced with Salesforce and NetSuite. The win for Oracle is showing that its databases will be available or running various clouds.

Under the pact, Oracle will certify and support its software on Azure and Microsoft's virtualization tools. Microsoft will offer Oracle wares to customers.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said:

"Our customers will be able to take advantage of the flexibility our unique hybrid cloud solutions offer for their Oracle applications, middleware and databases, just like they have been able to do on Windows Server for years."

Oracle president Mark Hurd touted choice in deploying customer clouds.

During a press conference, Microsoft said the Oracle deal highlights how the company is developing new partnerships to "get the right solutions in the hands of our customers." The Ballmer said the Microsoft deal should resonate with enterprises and illustrates how the software giant will work in a new "constructive" way with Oracle.

Ballmer added that it's critical that software vendors work together in cloud computing, specifically in hybrid cloud deployments. 

Via a blog post, Oracle and Microsoft outlined the following:

• Microsoft customers can run Oracle software on Windows Server Hyper-V and Windows Azure. 
• Oracle will allow license mobility on Azure. 
• Microsoft will add infrastructure instances with Oracle's Java, database and WebLogic Server. 
• Microsoft will support and offer fully licensed Java in Azure. 
• Oracle will offer Oracle Linux on preconfigured instances.

In its Oracle licensing terms, the company said that Azure is a platform that is certified along with Amazon Web Services:

This policy applies to cloud computing environments from the following vendors: Amazon Web Services – Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Microsoft Windows Azure Platform (collectively, the ‘Authorized Cloud Environments’).

Holger Mueller, an analyst at Constellation Research, said Microsoft is addressing the shortfall of its SQL Server in terms of scalability. Mueller added that the partnership, which doesn't mention Oracle 12c directly, is larger than expected with the additions of WebLogic and Java.

Mueller added:

Microsoft jumps over its shadow and brings in a formerly competitive technology stack as a partner. It will give Azure customers more deployment options, but also allow Microsoft to use the Oracle tech stack. We would not be surprised if Dynamics apps will run Oracle under the hood in the near future. Oracle is true to it’s technology partner DNA from early RDBMS days. And Oracle is good at supporting partners – which the track record of SAP running on Oracle proves.