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Oracle, like many other vendors, increasingly audit their clients (see also www.oracle.com/corporate/lms). Usually scripting is used to identify and quantify the use of Oracle software. A relatively new script in the audit processis a script that measures the use of Database Options. This is understandable, since many DBAs start using these options for the sake of performance, uptime guarantee and troubleshooting without knowing that additional licenses are required when doing so. The script used by Oracle even looks beyond the question if an option is installed. And this is understandable, because during a normal installation procedure most options are being installed by default. Waiting to be used. The script ir particularly aimed to determine whether an option is actually used: In that case a license is required.

The script also targets Oracle Spatial. TOracle Spatial gives those customers the ability to enable a wide variety of advanced geographic / spatial functions. Only the Spatial function ‘Locator’ is available for every Oracle database without a license is necessary, even in the free Oracle database XE. With the Oracle Locator feature allows systems GIS (Geographic Information System) built: Consider directions other location-based applications.

To determine whether a customer uses Oracle Spatial is the customer asked for a script to run with the next selection is made:

Select count (*) “ALL_SDO_GEOM_METADATA”
From ALL_SDO_GEOM_METADATA;
PROMPT
PROMPT If no rows are returned, then SPATIAL is NOT being used.
PROMPT If rows are returned then SPATIAL IS being used.
PROMPT

Through this script it is checked whether metadata exists for a layer with a SDO_GEOMETRY column: For a spatial index to exist, metadata needs to be created. Also Oracle Locator has such an index, but Locator is a function of the Oracle database that does not need additional license. It has been verified what happens if the script is run on a database that truly use advanced Spatial features, and what happened when the script is used on a database that only the Oracle Locator. It has resulted in the return of rows….in both cases. Even in the case of Oracle XE, a database where it is technically impossible to use (and thus buy) the Spatial option.

We therefore propose that it is too premature to argue that there Spatial is used, by only looking at the results of Oracle’s own audit script. When rows are returned as a result, it can be because the popular “Locator” function rather than the optional (and rarely used) Spatial option. To truly know whether Locator or Spatial is used, the use of packeges must be analysed. Otherwise you’ll likely pay for a feature that you don’t use.

Looking for more information on this subject? Read on.

PROMPT If rows are returned then SPATIAL IS being used.
PROMPT If rows are returned then SPATIAL MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN USE, BUT YOU CAN NOT REALLY TELL BY RUNNING THIS QUERY.

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UPDATE JULY 24TH 2008: Recent audit scripts submitted to clients rectify this wording in accordance with our opinion. However, some other privacy issues arise when deploying them. Stay tuned for more on this subject!

This work, is beschermd door de Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Netherlands License.

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