Cloud Slice: Oracle Cloud

Earlier this month in San Francisco, Oracle announced their Cloud platform in Oracle Open World 2012. Though a late entrant to Cloud game, Oracle decided to enter with a fully baked platform ranging from Infrastructure as a Service to Software as a Service. Oracle cloud also comes in flavors of private cloud and Oracle managed cloud. Though we don’t have hands on experience at the moment on the platform, this edition of Cloud Slice will quickly overview the Oracle Cloud platform

Oracle Cloud: Infrastructure as a Service

Oracle offers messaging and storage as two services in infrastructure space. Oracle storage can store and manage objects which are grouped in containers. The data can be accessed through a web UI, REST interface or through Java SDK. The storage service can be accessed through any of Oracle Cloud products. While messaging addresses need of applications to integrate with each other. Messaging supports both JMS and REST and claims non blocking operations for efficient workflow.

Oracle Cloud: Platform As a Service

Java

Java platform runs on J2EE standards and can as well host other frameworks like Spring and the container for Java applications is WebLogic server . Java service provides a good integration with databases, SSO for identity management and also a cloud console is provided to monitor and manage the platform.

Database

Oracle Cloud database runs on Oracle 11g using Exdata, Exalogic and Real Application Clusters (RAC). The schema is isolated from other users and is encrypted for security. The data can be exposed through various means such as REST protocol and through some built in productivity apps.

Developer

Developer is still in preview mode, but claims to offer a complete development environment for developers. Source code is stored in Git repositories which is connected to Continuous Integration (CI) tool Hudson. Issue tracker and Wiki are integrated for a complete package.

Oracle Cloud: Software as a Service and Social connection

Oracle Cloud offers a bunch of softwares as a service for various industry sectors ranging from Enterprise resource planning (ERP) to Human Capital Management (HCM). In addition to various application services, Oracle cloud also offers integration and insights into social media, which are termed as Oracle Social Services

Oracle Cloud: Private Cloud vs. Oracle managed cloud

All cloud services offered by Oracle are available as a private cloud managed by an enterprise so you have complete control over data centres and regulatory compliance. Second option being Oracle managed cloud in which case Oracle will manage and maintain the cloud, while you reaping benefits of it.

Closing thoughts

Oracle has entered late but with a portfolio spanning across the spectrum. Organizations with existing investment in Oracle products have much to cheer with management being handled by external party if they decide to move to cloud. Though there is much to be explored and proven for Oracle cloud yet!