It is no secret by now that Oracle is now charging for the use of Java, a program that used to be “free”. But what if you don’t pay attention to articles and reports? What if you are a technician in charge of desktops and don’t talk with a rep or even look at the information that comes in? You are just doing your job and go to the download page so that you can keep your environment safe and when you go there you see a note that says “Terms and Conditions have changed” and you should probably read those right? How many people actually do though and what are the consequences if you don’t?
So, you download the updates and deploy them to every desktop you have and you are good to go! That is until Oracle comes knocking and says that they noticed you downloaded the latest version which is now licensable and ask where you have it installed. Like a good client you might even tell them and then receive a bill for usage which is also a subscription. Who is going to go to the CFO and explain why you have this new bill you have to pay? Do you really need java on every desktop?
I just helped a client who did read the fine print and proactively contacted us for an evaluation and they are glad they did. Turned out that they did have Java installed throughout the environment including on their virtual desktops and VMware servers. Total initial risk was just under a million dollars a year. The money adds up quickly – here is how it works:
Servers – $25 per month for each licensable core. Average server could be 2 Processors with 10 Cores each for a total of 20 cores. Multiply that by the Oracle core factor of .5 in most cases and you are left with 10 licensable cores for that server or $250 per month. How much would that be if you have 100 servers? $25,000 per month just for servers. Then add in all of the desktops in the organization at $2.50 per month and it adds up quickly.
