Database Services
What to know
Oracle offers Autonomous Database (ATP for transactions, ADW for analytics, plus JSON and APEX variants), co-managed Base Database systems, MySQL HeatWave, NoSQL, and Exadata. Autonomous Database comes serverless (shared infrastructure, automatic scaling, ECPU or OCPU billing) or dedicated (Exadata infrastructure in your compartment with private endpoints). Base Database runs on a DB system - VM or bare metal - with options for RAC, Data Guard, and BYOL.
Know the operational differences: Autonomous handles patching, backups, and tuning; Base Database leaves patching, backup schedules, and Data Guard configuration to you. Private endpoints, network access control lists, Transparent Data Encryption, and Autonomous Data Guard are common test points.
Traps
- Choosing Autonomous serverless when the requirement is isolation on dedicated Exadata infrastructure.
- Forgetting that a private endpoint requires VCN and subnet design, and that public access is an explicit setting.
- Assuming a DB system automatically has a standby - Data Guard must be configured, or Autonomous Data Guard enabled.
- Mixing ECPU and OCPU sizing when comparing shapes.
Rule of thumb
If the requirement says 'least operational overhead', choose Autonomous Database; if it says 'OS-level access, custom patching, or RAC', choose a Base Database system. For disaster recovery, ask whether the standby must be in another region - that decides between local and cross-region Data Guard.