I don’t think it is well-known but it proves that Windows Azure is not just a Microsoft platform. Windows Azure supports Oracle and Java! They don’t have pre-configured images yet, though they’re planned to be available in the near future. For now to work with these technologies you have to configure your own images and use your existing licenses. Once the pre-configured images are available you should be able to spin-up at least Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic. My understanding is that there will soon be alternative licenses for use with Windows Azure. The alternative licenses will likely be available when pre-configured options become available.
Microsoft isn’t just saying these technologies are supported and letting you figure out how it works. Java and Oracle will become first class citizens on Windows Azure fully licensed and supported. Take a look at the Oracle partnership article to find out more.
By the way if you need a Windows Azure subscription here is the link for a free trial.
Thoughts on “What, Windows Azure supports Oracle and Java?”
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It seemed like the announcement caused a lot of “ho hum” in the industry, but I think the announcement is more profound than many people think.
As far as I know at this time there aren’t a lot of cloud or virtual technologies that host Oracle as a “first class citizen.” So, if an support from Oracle is required, I believe that Oracle support will ask the user/DBA to reproduce it on a physical machine for confirmation and to receive support from Oracle.
I think once this is more widely known Companies, especially ones that consider themselves “Microsoft shop,” and perhaps have a few Oracle databases will want to take advantage of Azure, especially when hardware refresh time comes around. Azure just keeps looking better and better as a Cloud platform.
At Pythian (www.pythian.com) we recognize this and are ready to help people move their Oracle databases onto Azure.
I think this cooperation is a wise decision for both Oracle and Microsoft and am looking forward to seeing more people take advantage of it.
Chris.