Oracle Database@Azure: Unmatched Performance with Exascale and Base Services

Oracle Database@Azure Expands with Exascale, Base Services, and Global Reach​

Oracle and Microsoft have partnered to turbocharge Oracle Database@Azure with two powerful new service offerings and a significant expansion in regional availability. Designed to overcome traditional infrastructure challenges, the new Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure and the upcoming Oracle Base Database Service are set to revolutionize how organizations run Oracle databases in the cloud. This development is not only a technical leap forward—it’s a strategy designed to offer unmatched performance, elasticity, and cost efficiency.

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Exascale Infrastructure: Unleashing Elasticity and Performance​

Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure provides a robust alternative to traditional, dedicated database and storage servers. By eliminating the need for such dedicated hardware, customers can now take advantage of elastic, pay-per-use resources that promise up to a 95 percent reduction in minimum infrastructure costs. Imagine being able to scale your Oracle database workload instantaneously without worrying about overprovisioning resources—that’s the promise of Exascale.

Key Features and Benefits:​

• Elastic, Pay-Per-Use Resources: Customers specify the number of database server ECPUs and storage capacity they need. There are no extra charges for IOPS, allowing the deployment to adapt dynamically as workload demands change.
• Intelligent Storage Cloud: The RDMA-capable storage cloud distributes databases across pooled storage servers. This innovative design leverages data-aware “Smart Scan” technology to mobilize thousands of CPU cores, effectively accelerating any database query.
• AI Smart Scan Capabilities: By offloading data and compute-intensive AI vector search operations, the service achieves up to 30X faster vector searches. This enables thousands of concurrent AI processes, a critical advantage in multi-user environments.
• High-Throughput OLTP and Analytics: Ultra-fast RDMA communication allows for high-throughput online transaction processing. Meanwhile, intelligent analytics, bolstered by automatic columnarization, can scale SQL query throughput up to 2,880 GB/s.
• Efficient Cloning: Advanced snapshot capabilities and redirect-on-write technology let users create full copies or thin clones of databases almost instantly. This feature supports agile DevOps practices by drastically reducing application development lag.

This powerful blend of elasticity, performance, and intelligent data management provides large enterprises—and growing mid-sized companies—a highly flexible platform for mission-critical applications without breaking the bank.
In essence, Exascale Infrastructure shifts the paradigm, offering a practical way to transform database management into an agile and cost-effective process.

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Introducing Oracle Base Database Service: Flexibility for All Workloads​

While Exascale is a game-changer for those with performance-demanding workloads, Oracle Base Database Service is poised to provide a more accessible option for organizations looking to run Oracle Database workloads on virtual machines. Announced to be available soon on Oracle Database@Azure, this service is tailored for businesses that prioritize ease of administration and the flexibility of pay-as-you-go pricing.

What to Expect from Oracle Base Database Service:​

• Support for Multiple Editions: The service will run Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2 versions 19c and 23ai. This gives users the freedom to choose the edition that best suits their needs.
• Automated Lifecycle Management: With features that streamline database administration—from deployment to updates and scaling—administrative overhead is effectively minimized.
• Low-Code Capabilities: A boost for developers, low-code application development features reduce the time and effort required to build and deploy cloud-native apps.
• Individually Scalable Resources: Compute and storage resources can be scaled independently, ensuring that resources are perfectly aligned with workload requirements.
• Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: This pricing model allows organizations to only pay for the resources they use, offering tighter budget control and cost transparency.

For Windows system administrators and developers leveraging Microsoft’s integrated services, this expansion means not only keeping up with your evolving database needs but potentially reducing the complexity of cloud migrations. As migration tools like Oracle Zero-Downtime Migration simplify the transition, businesses can remain agile in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

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Expanding Regional Availability: A Truly Global Cloud Offering​

In today’s interconnected digital environment, proximity to data centers is crucial in reducing latency and ensuring a seamless user experience. Oracle Database@Azure has now launched in the Microsoft Azure East U.S. 2 region, increasing its global reach to a total of 14 Azure regions. With plans to expand into 18 additional regions over the next 12 months, organizations around the world will soon have even more flexibility in terms of deployment and performance optimization.

Benefits of Regional Expansion:​

• Improved Latency and Performance: Closer proximity to end-users and data centers means lower latency—a vital factor for applications that require real-time processing.
• Enhanced Redundancy and Reliability: Distributed infrastructure means improved disaster recovery and continuous application availability.
• Global Scale: With expansion into regions like Australia Southeast, Brazil Southeast, and various European and Asian locations, multinational organizations can now synchronize their cloud strategies across all key markets.

This expansion is particularly significant for enterprises using Windows-based infrastructures that already operate across multiple regions. The unified service model provides a consistent and reliable cloud experience, whether your deployments are on-premises, in the public cloud, or across hybrid configurations.
A Windows professional might ask: Why settle for regional limitations when global performance can redefine business continuity?

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Next-Generation Platforms: Oracle Exadata X11M Support​

Another noteworthy enhancement is the support for the next-generation Exadata X11M platform on Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure. This development ensures that customers experience significant performance enhancements in artificial intelligence, analytics, and online transaction processing compared to previous generations.

Highlights of Exadata X11M Support:​

• Superior Performance Enhancements: With AI, analytics, and OLTP capabilities boosted by new hardware architecture, the platform prepares organizations for future workload demands.
• Versatile Deployment Options: The support extends across on-premises, hybrid cloud, public cloud, and multicloud environments, providing businesses with the flexibility needed for diverse operational strategies.
• Unified Customer Experience: Customers can leverage Oracle license benefits, discount programs, and bring-your-own-license options, further enhancing the cost effectiveness of their investments.

For IT managers overseeing Windows-centric environments, such as those integrating enterprise applications with on-premises Active Directory and cloud services, this advancement means a more robust, future-proofed database infrastructure. The improved performance on Oracle Exadata X11M provides enhanced reliability for mission-critical applications, ensuring they can meet the increasing demands of modern workloads.

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The Implications for Windows Users and IT Professionals​

Even if you’re primarily a Windows user or manage a Windows-based infrastructure, these developments on Oracle Database@Azure are highly relevant. Microsoft Azure’s integration of Oracle databases opens up new avenues for hybrid and multicloud environments where Microsoft’s AI, analytics, security, and other Azure services come into play.
Consider these points:

• Cross-Platform Synergies: The collaboration between Oracle and Microsoft enables seamless integration of Oracle database services with familiar Windows and Azure tools. This creates a unified platform for application development, data analytics, and enterprise resource planning.
• Simplified Migration: Organizations can leverage proven tools like Oracle Zero-Downtime Migration to shift workloads with little to no disruption, particularly valuable for Windows shops looking to modernize legacy database systems.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: With integrated support for Oracle Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) tiers—Silver, Gold, and Platinum—enterprise databases running on Azure meet rigorous availability and security standards.
• Cost Efficiency: With a flexible pricing model and up to 95 percent reduction in infrastructure costs on entry-level deployments, even smaller organizations using Windows-based environments can leverage high-performance database technologies without overshooting their budgets.

For IT professionals and system administrators on WindowsForum.com, these innovations signal a step change in how database services can be leveraged to streamline operations, reduce costs, and bolster performance across diverse environments.
A natural question arises: Will your next major Windows-based disruptive application run on this new, high-performance Oracle Database@Azure, unlocking unprecedented efficiencies for your enterprise?

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Oracle Distributed Cloud: The Broader Vision​

The evolution of Oracle Database@Azure is part of Oracle’s broader distributed cloud strategy. This multi-faceted approach includes:

• Public Cloud Offerings: Hyperscale public cloud regions tailored for organizations of any size, even those with strict data sovereignty requirements.
• Dedicated Cloud Options: For businesses that demand control and security, Oracle’s dedicated cloud solutions provide a customizable experience.
• Hybrid Cloud Solutions: OCI functions on-premises through Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer and Compute Cloud@Customer, ensuring continuity and integration with existing infrastructures.
• Multicloud Deployments: Oracle’s deployment across all major hyperscale cloud providers—including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure—offers low latency and robust performance across diverse operational scenarios.

These distributed cloud capabilities mean that whether you’re running applications on Windows servers or leveraging the latest in cloud-native technologies, Oracle’s comprehensive cloud ecosystem is designed to support a wide range of enterprise needs.

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In Summary​

Oracle’s announcements mark a significant boost in the capabilities of Oracle Database@Azure, ensuring that both technology giants—Oracle and Microsoft—deliver a platform that’s as flexible as it is powerful. From the innovative Exascale Infrastructure that slashes entry costs to upcoming Oracle Base Database Service simplifying administration on VMs, these upgrades demonstrate a keen understanding of today’s enterprise challenges in an era of digital transformation.
Key takeaways include:

• Massive cost reductions and elastic scaling with Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure.
• An imminent launch of Oracle Base Database Service, designed for simplified administration and pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Global expansion of Oracle Database@Azure, now reaching 14 regions with plans for 18 more.
• Introduction of next-generation performance on the Exadata X11M platform, enhancing AI, analytics, and OLTP.
• A comprehensive distributed cloud vision that aligns with the needs of Windows users and IT professionals across hybrid and multicloud environments.

For businesses operating on Windows or leveraging Microsoft’s Azure ecosystem, these enhancements not only streamline database management but also open new opportunities for innovation. The continuous collaboration between Oracle and Microsoft ensures that enterprise IT continues to evolve, delivering the performance and flexibility required to maintain competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.
As always, staying informed and adapting to these technological advances will be crucial—so keep your eyes open for more updates on how Oracle Database@Azure and related services can propel your organization forward in this exciting new era.
Happy computing, and may your databases always be as agile and resilient as your business!

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Source: Oracle https://www.oracle.com/ma/news/announcement/oracle-and-microsoft-add-new-services-to-oracle-database-at-azure-2025-03-20/