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Multi-Core Chips And Software Licensing

Posted by timothy on from the now-waitaminute-there dept.

i_r_sensitive writes "NetworkWorldFusion has an article on the interaction between multi-core processors and software licensed and charged on a per-processor basis. Interesting to see how/if Oracle and others using this pricing model react. Can multi-core processors put the final nail in per-processor licensing?"

5 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. Per Processor -- Per Core by Iesus_Christus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the efforts of other corporations bent on protecting their intellectual property (RIAA) are any indication, per-processor licensing will move to per-core licensing. If the RIAA can force you to pay multiple times for the same song (which you, unfortunately, cannot move between preferred mediums), then it would make sense that software companies bent on collecting money would make you pay multiple times for one processor. On the other hand, they are somewhat different issues: usage of music would be governed under fair use (in theory), while usage of software (at in terms of licensing per processor) would be governed by the EULA or another contract between the corporation and customer.

  2. Microsoft still does it by the physical processor by millisa · · Score: 5, Informative

    A recent example would be the Hyperthreaded CPUs. SQL Server can be licensed per CPU and with Hyperthreading, the software does for all intents and purposes treat it as a second CPU. However, Microsoft's stance is surprisingly that you only license per the physical processor. Page has doc with more info on MS specifics

  3. no by dark404 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most likely per-"Physical Processor" will be changed to per-"Physical Processor Die" since the multi-cores still share a die.

  4. Re:I doubt it by jarich · · Score: 5, Interesting
    "Can multi-core processors put the final nail in per processor licensing?"

    no, but i bet linux can.

    Oracle runs on Linux.

    Oracle charges per CPU.

    Your point was?

    --
    Agile Artisans
  5. Re:Oracle 9i RAC doesn't charge for HT by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's because HyperThreading is a neat and very low level trick that makes it appear like there are two processors. A dual-core processor doesn't use any tricks and physically contains two processing cores on one chip. Of course, this could lead to some very interesting things such as an dual core AMD proc using one shared on-chip memory controller or Intel procs with dual-cores AND hyperthreading for a total of 4 procs.

    I'm looking forward to dual-cores.

    --
    Hate me!