Oracle DBA

The Oracle database is by far the leading commercial database product. For demanding applications that require top performance and the ability to handle huge quantities of data, it is the system of choice.

For less demanding, price sensitive situations we also recommend the open source MySQL database.

If you are looking for an experienced Oracle DBA, database designer or senior developer then you have come to the right place. We have extensive experience of the full software development cycle, from initial analysis, through to database design, development, disaster-recovery (DR) planning, tuning and on-going support.

Our Oracle expertise covers all versions from 6 through to 11g. We can perform database installs on any MS Windows or Unix / Linux hardware. We are experts at database design, PL/SQL coding, tuning and all database administration (DBA) tasks. We have particular experience of "multi-master" database replication and the designing of high performance database systems.

Oracle licensing is notoriously complex. For a fairly typical 2xQuad CPU server you can end up paying Oracle up to £100,000 (or more)! In many cases we are able to reduce this fee down to just £6,000 or less, with no reduction in system speed or functionality. How is this possible? The key is to understand the complex Oracle license options and their technical implications. Unlike some other Oracle consulting companies, we do not make *any* commission on your Oracle license fees. That means we have no incentive to make you pay too much. You can therefore be confident that we will ensure that you get the best possible value for your money.

As an example of the complexity, consider the following: Oracle comes in 3 main editions (Enterprise, Standard and Standard ONE) all with different features and hardware restrictions. Each of these is currently available in 3 versions: 10gR2 (10.2), 11g (11.1) and 11gR2 (11.2). Then there are multiple supported operating systems (eg Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, IBM-AIX etc), and often a further choice between 32bit and 64bit. You can opt for a per-CPU or per-user license. The duration can be perpetual or for a set term (eg 1, 2 or 3 years). There are literally hundreds of possible combinations. Which is best for you? That will depend on your specific requirements.

Even if you know exactly what combination you need, it is very easy to accidentally install or use some unlicensed features. The database records all such usage and this data *is* available to Oracle. The Oracle license agreement states that you will allow them to audit your system at any time. If you have been using unlicensed features, the potential liability could be in excess of £100,000 per server.

You can avoid this risk by having us do the Oracle install & configuration for you. We will ensure that the correct software is installed and that any unlicensed features are disabled. We will also configure an automated & reliable database backup solution using the Oracle-approved RMAN (Recovery MANager) software.

To show how confident we are that we can save you money, we are currently offering a risk-free "no saving, no fee" license review service. This is subject to our standard terms of business, and an advance payment of a half day's consultancy fee at our current rate. If we can not find a way to reduce your Oracle license fee, you will get a full refund. Please contact us for more details.