Oracle launches database as service: Red stack in the cloud
SAN FRANCISCO---Oracle on Tuesday launched its database as a service in a preview as part of a series of platform cloud services.
In a keynote at Oracle's OpenWorld powwow, Thomas Kurian, executive vice president of Oracle's software development, outlined the company's database as a service. Oracle's database is available on other cloud services---notably Amazon Web Services---but the major selling point from the enterprise software giant is that it can manage databases better behind the scenes.
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Kurian, who was standing in for CEO Larry Ellison, capped off what was a cloud-heavy theme for Oracle's conference. Ellison's plan was to show up for the keynote, but stayed with his America's Cup team, which was battling New Zealand to an 8-8 tie in races.
Generally speaking, Oracle looked to leverage its database as its key weapon in the cloud and against rivals. For instance, Oracle's in-memory additions to database 12c means every application can run in-memory. In theory, Oracle could have SAP's HANA effort surrounded. The problem: Oracle's in-memory technologies won't be generally available until next year.
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Offering its database as a service is another attempt to keep similar efforts on the sidelines. Oracle's pitch is that it can run its databases as a service better than any other cloud provider. "Database as a service is the same software you use in your IT department," said Kurian, who said 11g and 12 are supported in multiple configurations. Here's a look at the key slides.
"You can get the standard database in the cloud. We give you management for it, back it up and tune it," said Kurian. "It saves you costs."
In a similar move, Oracle launched Java as a service and infrastructure as a service. The main theme here is that Oracle is pitching its red stack in the cloud. The argument from Kurian is that Oracle's applications and back-end services go together best. Kurian said it just doesn't make sense to offer applications in the cloud and not give customers a platform.
What's unclear is whether customers will go for Oracle's cloud stack or view it as another form of lock-in.