Business Problem

The institution faced challenges in optimizing costs associated with its existing database hosting infrastructure:

• High operating expenses due to reliance on HP compute servers and Pure Storage.

• Performance inefficiencies and the need for additional resources to manage bad queries.

• Increasing data storage requirements, leading to escalating costs.

• The need to maintain stability and performance while exploring cost-saving opportunities.

Evaluation of Alternative Solutions

A comparative analysis was conducted across multiple storage and compute solutions. Key observations included:

• Traditional storage solutions lacked Oracle-specific optimizations, leading to inefficiencies in data processing and query performance.

• Compute-intensive operations required significant hardware investments to sustain performance.

• Exadata was initially considered expensive; however, PoC results demonstrated its unique advantages:

  • Optimized for Oracle Workloads: Exadata’s intelligent storage layer improves data processing efficiency.

  • Database Block Compression: Exadata is the only solution capable of compressing Oracle database blocks, resulting in reduced storage costs.

  • Query Performance Optimization: Exadata handles bad queries more efficiently, reducing resource consumption.

Cost Analysis & Savings Realization

A comprehensive financial analysis revealed that Exadata’s total cost per GB was lower than any alternative storage solution. Additionally, Exadata eliminates the need for separate compute servers, leading to substantial cost reductions.

Key Savings & Benefits:

✅ $200 million in annual cost savings achieved through:

• • Reduced dependency on separate compute servers.

  • Optimized storage efficiency reducing overall storage requirements.

  • Improved application performance leading to operational efficiency.

✅ Performance Enhancements:

• • Faster query execution and database operations.
    
    
  • Reduced latency and improved system responsiveness
    
    
  • Enhanced stability and scalability for future growth.

Overview Implementation & Next Steps

The Exadata deployment is currently in progress with a structured implementation plan:

1. Migration Planning: Establishing a phased approach to transition databases with minimal disruption.

2. Infrastructure Optimization: Decommissioning HP compute servers and integrating Exadata storage.

3. Performance Monitoring: Ensuring continuous assessment and fine-tuning for optimal efficiency.

4. Cost Monitoring & Reporting: Tracking realized savings and operational improvements post-implementation.

Conclusion