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Oracle XE vs Oracle Lite

January 7th, 2007 · 4 Comments

So, you are planning on downloading one of these two databases and aren’t quite sure which one suits your needs.

Oracle XE is a scaled down version of Oracle’s flagship enterprise database. Some of the limitations are:

  • 4GB database
  • Maximum of 1GB of memory
  • Cannot perform parallel processing of queries

This is ideal for students, developers and a practice spot for DBAs. It could be used for small applications and is upgradeable to the Enterprise Database if the size of the application grows.

Oracle Lite is a database with a small footprint designed to fit on hand held devices and laptops. Primary use is for replication of an enterprise database.  This is a completely different product than EE or XE.  It does however require EE for the replication.  You can use it as a standalone.  If this is the case though, I would recommend XE over the Lite.
Some of the limitations are:

  • PL/SQL function/procedures and most triggers are not supported. Only stored procedures are Java stored procedures.
  • 4GB limit.
  • Supports most but not all of Oracle’s SQL (SQL92).

Both good products that fulfill different needs.  Be sure you know what you want before committing to either.

Tags: Oracle Lite

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    We have a application we deploy on laptops used in the field. Currently we are using an open source db and we need to move to something with better security. The app is used to enter/update data and then sent via wireless (if in range) and the main database is updated accordingly. Since the main db is a flavor of Oracle we are looking at that for the smaller mobile one.

    Can you expand on pros and cons of both Lite and Express? Or point me in the direction of some easy to read documentation?

    Thanks

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  • 2 rekounas wrote on Jun 19, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Oracle Lite sounds like the solution that you require although it is costs more then Oracle XE, it has a lower TCO for the life of your application.

    Oracle Lite handles:
    data and schema replication
    application management(device manager)
    Come with Webtogo and OC4J (for J2EE and Java web based applications)

    Oracle XE is more for stand-alone and development use. I have both on my desktop and I use them both for various development and conceptual work. Oracle XE is just a toned down version of the enterprise database.

    As far as better databases are concerned, Oracle XE is the better database. But as for replication and distributed applications, Oracle Lite is the better choice.

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  • 3 Mukunthan wrote on Jul 10, 2008 at 9:37 am

    Hi,

    Can you please get me what is the basic
    sys configuration required for installing
    DB Lite -10g on Win XP??

    Thanks very much in advance…

    Regards,
    Mukunthan L

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  • 4 rekounas wrote on Jul 10, 2008 at 10:05 am

    Have you read through the Getting Started Guide? That should list everything you need for a Windows XP install. It’s pretty straight forward to install on XP.

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