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Database Analyst at Talbots
Real User
Good performance, stability, and scalability, but the documentation needs to be improved
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution has the best performance, bar none."
  • "The documentation needs improvement because as it is now, providing support is a headache."

What is our primary use case?

I use this solution as a DBA on AIX and Linux.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution was great for a while until Oracle became adversarial with its customers and the professionals who support their products.

What is most valuable?

This solution has the best performance, bar none.

What needs improvement?

Oracle needs to stop suing users.

The documentation needs improvement because as it is now, providing support is a headache.

Buyer's Guide
Oracle Database
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Oracle Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
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For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for twenty years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is extremely scalable.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Technical Project Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
RAC clustering allowed us to improve performance and provided additional redundancy
Pros and Cons
  • "Significant assistance in tuning both the migration process and the production database was provided by Oracle Consulting Services, which provided excellent and very professional advice."
  • "It provided better insight and diagnostics when data problems were encountered by the application."
  • "RAC clustering allowed us to improve performance and provided additional redundancy."
  • "Initial setup was complex because of the odd way the application used the database, the application vendor's conversion tools, and our stringent requirements."

What is our primary use case?

Most recent involvement was the migration of a large database from a non-relational legacy database requiring redundancy with aggressive recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) for the disaster recovery (DR) environment. We also had a requirement to have the migration completed and the data validated within a single long weekend. 

Significant assistance in tuning both the migration process and the production database was provided by Oracle Consulting Services, which provided excellent and very professional advice.

How has it helped my organization?

Switching to Oracle significantly increased stability of the application, and enabled ongoing growth of the application's data. It also provided better insight and diagnostics when data problems were encountered by the application.

What is most valuable?

RAC clustering allowed us to improve performance and provided additional redundancy. In general, the enterprise-grade features of Oracle are second to none.

What needs improvement?

In the case noted above, the converted legacy data was stored as XML. The 11gR2 version we converted to stored it as a Character Large OBject (CLOB). The next version of Oracle has a native XML data type, which provides better support for indexing the XML data.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Because of the way the application used the database, we found that two data servers increased performance, but a third one decreased it. This was a limitation based on the way the legacy application configured and used their data and how they did their own locking, which made their lock table a hotspot for the clustering, among other issues.

How are customer service and technical support?

There was a bit of a learning experience on how to escalate an issue, but once we got through that, the vendor support was really very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

The previous solution was a non-relational multi-valued database called jBASE.  The database size was exceeding the application vendor's recommended maximum for that database, but their application had the ability to use a number of relational databases with their enterprise features as an alternate data store allowing continued growth.

How was the initial setup?

Initial setup was complex because of the odd way the application used the database, the application vendor's conversion tools, and our stringent requirements.

What about the implementation team?

Implementation was done by a combination of the vendor, the application vendor, and in-house. The vendor teams were exceptionally good.

What was our ROI?

The ability to continue growing and increased stability were our non-negotiable points.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Be prepared to pay for consulting services, and do not underestimate the time required to find and hire good quality database administrators. Also, carefully evaluate your sizing and performance requirements, involving if you can, both the application vendor and Oracle consultants.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

In addition to Oracle, we evaluated SQL Server and DB2.

What other advice do I have?

Do a couple dry runs do thorough testing to ensure that everything will work as expected.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Oracle Database
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Oracle Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
847,959 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Jeremy Lee - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal Consultant at SandFil International
Reseller
Top 20
Enables us to support applications
Pros and Cons
  • "We use Oracle Database to run applications. We use it for our clients' databases and applications."
  • "The product is expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We use Oracle Database to run applications. We use it for our clients' databases and applications.

Whenever a client has problems or requires new implementations, they approach us. We provide training and coaching with application implementations. Currently, one such implementation is underway in the UK.

What is most valuable?

The product is very stable. We use it for supporting applications, including data warehousing.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be cheaper and adopt AI space.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Oracle Database for 25 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is stable.

I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution’s scalability is good. It caters to small and medium enterprises with different products and ranges.

I rate the solution’s scalability a nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support could get better.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is quite simple. We mostly use the installation pack and code pack. Our setup includes a script center, shell scripts, and commercial Java courses.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

We use database clusters for different clients depending on the SLA. We use Oracle Clusterware and Oracle Advanced Compression. We use These specific options for various clients; however, the selection depends on the client's needs.

We have robust protection measures that are ensured using encryption technologies such as Transparent Database Encryption provided by Oracle. These features are available across all our database offerings, and we have implemented them for our clients accordingly.

We are heavily involved in AI development, and eventually, our products are tailored to fit into the AI space seamlessly.

Integrations are pretty transparent based on the type of solutions and the specific customer requirements. Customer relations between Oracle products are typically straightforward, whereas integrating with third-party products may present some challenges.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
PeerSpot user
reviewer2380635 - PeerSpot reviewer
Storage Solutions Expert at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 10
It enables us to comply with our security guidelines
Pros and Cons
  • "It enables us to comply with our security guidelines, and it is automated."
  • "The product could be cheaper."

What is our primary use case?

Oracle Database is a database for electronic channel. We use the solution to collect transaction data from banks, financial institutions, and potential customers.

How has it helped my organization?

It enables us to comply with our security guidelines, and it is automated.

What needs improvement?

The product could be cheaper.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Oracle Database for 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is like a real application cluster.

I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution’s scalability is good from a technical perspective. We are shifting to other products because of the basic cost.

Around 4,000 users are using this solution.

How are customer service and support?

The organization provide top-notch support.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is neither easy nor complex. With DB experience and product support, it is quite easy. It would be complex for a new guy.

What was our ROI?

Oracle Database is a very expensive solution, but it is very stable. Financial institutions are moving to online channels. It can handle traffic very well.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend leveraging Oracle's logging capabilities, as it can efficiently offload tasks such as reporting, backups, and more. This allows for utilising commodity platforms, reducing reliance on proprietary systems and enabling the adoption of internal IMD platforms.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Irad Dukad - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Ducart
Real User
Top 10
Stable solution for running ERP software
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is very stable."
  • "The solution is not easy to use and maintain."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution to run my ERP software.

What needs improvement?

The solution is not for everyday use. It is not easy to use and maintain. As it is on a Linux server, all its maintenance is outsourced for management as a DBA. 

The interface could be more user-friendly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Oracle Database for 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution could be more scalable. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not use other solutions prior to using Oracle Database.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is complex.

It can take up to 48 hours.

What about the implementation team?

We made use of an integrator. 

I pay to have the deployment and maintenance outsourced.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a need to pay for a license for the solution. This must be done annually. 

The license is inexpensive. 

What other advice do I have?

We use the solution in an organizational setting. There are between 30 and 40 licenses. 

I would not recommend this product to just anyone, only to technical professionals. 

I rate Oracle Database as an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior System Administrator / CyberSecurity Analist / SQL Server DBA at Glintt
Real User
A robust multi-model database management system
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that it's a robust product. It has very good features. One good feature is Oracle REX because, in SQL Server, we don't have that. SQL Server has something similar, but it's not the same stuff."
  • "It's not very user-friendly, and it's a little complex. Another issue that I don't like is the licensing complexity."

What is our primary use case?

We developed some products, and most of them run in Oracle because our company is an Oracle partner. In fact, we're using Oracle and SQL Server, and I have more experience with that (SQL Server). But the main core of the company is more related to Oracle.

How has it helped my organization?

More robust product

What is most valuable?

I like that it's a robust product. It has very good features. One good feature is Oracle RAC because, in SQL Server, we don't have that. SQL Server has something similar (SQL Server AlwaysOn), but it's not the same stuff.

What needs improvement?

It's not very user-friendly, and it's a little complex. Another issue that I don't like is the licensing complexity. It's because of the SQL Server. We have several distinct editions, and I know that if I get the Enterprise Edition, I will have all the products. But with Oracle, I can get the Enterprise Edition, but if I need some kind of encryption, I need to pay more. If I need some kind of replication, I need to pay more, and so on. Every time my team needs some of this stuff, we have to ask Oracle. So, what's the point of the license?

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been dealing with Oracle Database for more than 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I think it's a stable product, but we had to add some special patches in the past because of bugs in the product, especially on Oracle REX. 

How are customer service and technical support?

We always have support from Oracle.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is more complex than SQL Server. SQL Server is very easy to set up and log in. Oracle is a little more complicated.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Oracle Database is expensive. We also need to buy additional products.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Oracle Database to potential users. But I would tell them that it depends on their main goal. It depends on how they want to use the database. They also have to consider the costs because Oracle is more expensive. 

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Oracle Database an eight.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1458435 - PeerSpot reviewer
DBA Dept. Manager at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Flexible, with helpful features such as Application Clusters and Data Guard
Pros and Cons
  • "Oracle Database is very flexible."
  • "The price of the Oracle Database should be cheaper."

What is our primary use case?

You can put any application on Oracle, but it is especially used for financial and billing use cases.

What is most valuable?

Oracle Database is very flexible.

Two of the valuable features are the Application Clusters and Data Guard.

What needs improvement?

The price of the Oracle Database should be cheaper.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Oracle Database for approximately 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good, and we plan to continue using it in the future.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable product. You can grow, and you can add things to do. We have approximately 10,000 users in our organization.

How are customer service and technical support?

I use technical support once in a while and I find that they are improving. Over the years, there has been a big improvement in terms of support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Prior to Oracle, I ran Adabas. Currently, I also use MySQL.

How was the initial setup?

We have done hundreds of installations. Some of them are quick, whereas others take a long time. There is no one answer as to how easy or difficult it is to set up.

What about the implementation team?

We have five database administrations who maintain it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is expensive, which is a major issue. We pay a yearly maintenance fee.

What other advice do I have?

The Oracle Database is a monster, with many faces and many parts. It can be used for everything. I cannot see any room for major improvement, other than perhaps the price.

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1449669 - PeerSpot reviewer
Divisional Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
A robust solution with valuable concurrency, consistency, and security features
Pros and Cons
  • "The concurrency, consistency, and security features are the most valuable. It is also a very robust solution."
  • "There are plenty of options and features in this solution, but they are, somehow, not being used very well. Therefore, training and support should be increased and improved for this solution. They can make people aware of how to make proper use of their server so that people can optimize it because its cost is just too much. They can provide training on the policies and procedures to be used for archiving and all such things. There should be some kind of segregation in licensing. With a full license, all options should be available. There should also be a basic license with limited functionalities. This kind of basic license would be useful for us because we don't use most of the functionalities."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for our business purposes.

What is most valuable?

The concurrency, consistency, and security features are the most valuable. It is also a very robust solution.

What needs improvement?

There are plenty of options and features in this solution, but they are, somehow, not being used very well. Therefore, training and support should be increased and improved for this solution. 

They can make people aware of how to make proper use of their server so that people can optimize it because its cost is just too much. They can provide training on the policies and procedures to be used for archiving and all such things.

There should be some kind of segregation in licensing. With a full license, all options should be available. There should also be a basic license with limited functionalities. This kind of basic license would be useful for us because we don't use most of the functionalities.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Oracle Database since 1988. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is absolutely stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. We have around 2,000 users, and they use it daily on a 24/7 basis.

How are customer service and technical support?

We don't use Oracle support. There is an administration team, and they get in touch with Oracle. I only get in touch with our administration team.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are also using Microsoft SQL Server. Oracle Database has more advantages, but Microsoft SQL Server provides value for money.

How was the initial setup?

I don't set it up, but from what I know, it is not very difficult.

What about the implementation team?

We take the help of the agents from whom we buy the support. For its maintenance, we have two people. One person is from our company, and the other person is provided by Oracle.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is very expensive. We pay in dollars, so the inflation and conversion cost is also there for us. They charge on a yearly basis for the license.

What other advice do I have?

They are coming up with lots of features that will allow a lot of work to be done with respect to the database. They are going to give JSON storage, where JSON objects can be directly stored.

I would rate Oracle Database an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: March 2025
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