Oracle PeopleSoft

Basic Information

• Model: Oracle PeopleSoft is an enterprise application suite encompassing various modules like Human Capital Management (HCM), Financials and Supply Chain Management (FSCM), Campus Solutions (CS), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
• Latest Stable Application Version: PeopleSoft 9.2, released in 2013.
• Latest Stable PeopleTools Version: PeopleTools 8.62 (released April 2025 for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure) and 8.61 (released April 2024 for on-premise).
• Minimum Requirements (Full-tier environment):
  • RAM: 6 GB.
  • Disk Space: 125 – 135 GB.
  • Operating System: 64-bit Microsoft Windows for Oracle Virtual Box and PeopleTools Clients.
• Supported Operating Systems: PeopleSoft applications and PeopleTools support a wide range of operating systems, including various versions of Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server. PeopleTools 8.53 and higher support 64-bit processing on most platforms.
• End of Support Date: Oracle maintains a rolling 10-year Premier Support commitment for PeopleSoft continuous innovation releases. As of March 2025, Premier Support is extended through at least 2036. This policy is reviewed and extended annually.
• End of Life Date: Oracle has no current plans to end its investment or support for PeopleSoft applications.
• License Type: Primarily perpetual licenses, requiring a one-time purchase of usage rights followed by annual support fees. Licensing models include Application User, Named User Plus (NUP), Employee, FTE Student (for Campus Solutions), and Enterprise Licensing, often bundled as Custom Application Suites (CAS).
• Deployment Model: Traditionally on-premise deployments. Can be deployed on single or multiple physical or virtual servers. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is also a supported deployment option for PeopleTools.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: A minimum of 6 GB RAM is required for a complete (full tier) PeopleSoft environment. For self-service end-users, 256 MB RAM is recommended, with a minimum of 64 MB RAM to run the operating system and a web browser.
• Processor: A 64-bit processor is required for server components. For optimal end-user experience, an 800 MHz Pentium or equivalent processor is recommended, with a minimum of a Pentium 166 MHz.
• Storage: A full PeopleSoft environment requires 125 – 135 GB of disk space. For local installations using a VM image, approximately 150 GB of HDD space is needed for download, extraction, and initialization.
• Display: A VGA controller and display with a minimum resolution of 800x600, and High Color (16-bit) mode, are recommended for best display results. Some pages may utilize higher resolutions like 1024x768 for power users.
• Ports: Not explicitly detailed in general requirements, but standard network connectivity is essential for the distributed PeopleSoft Internet Architecture (PIA).
• Operating System:
  • Server: Supports various 64-bit operating systems including Microsoft Windows Server, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server.
  • Client: 64-bit Microsoft Windows (e.g., Windows 7, 8, 10) is required for installing Oracle Virtual Box and PeopleTools Clients.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

PeopleSoft, as an enterprise-grade application suite, demands significant server-side resources, particularly in RAM and storage, to support its comprehensive functionalities. The platform's ability to run on a variety of 64-bit operating systems and databases offers substantial flexibility for organizations to integrate it into their existing infrastructure. Client-side requirements are relatively modest, primarily focusing on browser compatibility and basic computing power, reflecting its web-based access model. The emphasis on 64-bit processing across server components ensures modern performance capabilities.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: PeopleSoft 9.2 is the latest application version. PeopleTools, the underlying development environment, has more frequent updates, with version 8.62 released for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in April 2025 and 8.61 for on-premise in April 2024.
• OS Support: PeopleSoft offers broad operating system compatibility, including various versions of Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server. PeopleTools 8.53 and newer versions support 64-bit operating systems.
• End of Support Date: Oracle provides a rolling 10-year Premier Support for PeopleSoft continuous innovation releases. This commitment is annually extended, with the current Premier Support date through at least 2036.
• Localization: PeopleTools is designed to provide multilingual support, enabling global deployments and diverse user bases.
• Available Drivers: PeopleSoft integrates with major database systems such as Oracle, IBM DB2, and Microsoft SQL Server, utilizing their respective drivers. Applications with COBOL programs require specific COBOL compilers.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Oracle demonstrates a strong and ongoing commitment to PeopleSoft through its "Applications Unlimited" program and a consistent policy of extending Premier Support, currently ensuring support through at least 2036. This provides long-term predictability for customers. The platform's extensive compatibility with a wide array of operating systems and databases offers significant deployment flexibility, allowing organizations to leverage existing infrastructure investments. Continuous innovation releases ensure that the software remains current with technological advancements and regulatory changes.

Security Status

• Security Features: PeopleSoft incorporates PeopleSoft Encryption Technology to secure critical data in flat files and database tables, supporting a robust set of cryptographic algorithms including symmetric and asymmetric ciphers, password-based encryption, hashes, MACs, and signatures. PSCipher encrypts and decrypts sensitive text, such as user IDs and passwords, stored in configuration files. Oracle Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is supported for encrypting data at rest, covering both column and tablespace encryption. Passwords in the PSOPRDEFN table use SHA-1 for one-way encryption, while other data may use 3DES for two-way encryption.
• Known Vulnerabilities: While specific "known vulnerabilities" are not detailed in general documentation, Oracle regularly releases Critical Patch Updates (CPUs) to address security flaws. Risks are associated with not applying these patches, using default or standard accounts without proper hardening, and misconfigurations.
• Blacklist Status: No information found regarding a blacklist status.
• Certifications: PeopleTools releases 8.46 and higher on Oracle 10gR2 and higher support TDE column encryption. PeopleTools 8.48 and higher on Oracle 11g and higher support TDE tablespace encryption.
• Encryption Support: Comprehensive encryption support is provided through PeopleSoft Encryption Technology, PSCipher, and integration with Oracle Transparent Data Encryption (TDE).
• Authentication Methods: Primarily relies on user ID and password authentication. Enterprise deployments typically integrate with broader identity and access management (IAM) solutions for enhanced authentication.
• General Recommendations: Implement robust firewall rules, network Access Control Lists (ACLs), disable unnecessary services, enable encryption for data in transit (e.g., on JSL), and consistently apply Oracle's Critical Patch Updates (CPUs) for both application and database components.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating

Oracle PeopleSoft offers a strong foundation for enterprise security, particularly in data encryption and protection mechanisms for data at rest and in transit. The platform's built-in encryption technologies and support for Oracle TDE are significant strengths. However, the overall security posture heavily depends on diligent implementation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance by the customer. Adherence to Oracle's patching schedule and security best practices is crucial to mitigate potential vulnerabilities and ensure a high security rating.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Oracle regularly publishes benchmark papers that demonstrate the performance and scalability of PeopleSoft applications across various solutions and platforms. These benchmarks provide a standard workload for comparison and tuning.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Performance monitoring tools, such as Oracle PeopleSoft Performance Monitor (PM) and third-party solutions like eG Innovations, collect real-time and historical data across web servers, application servers, and process scheduler servers. Key metrics include user session activity, batch job execution times, transaction load, and database connection pool utilization.
• Power Consumption: Power consumption is primarily dependent on the underlying hardware infrastructure and data center efficiency, rather than being a direct metric of the PeopleSoft software itself.
• Carbon Footprint: Similar to power consumption, the carbon footprint is largely determined by the energy efficiency of the hardware and data center operations hosting the PeopleSoft environment.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: In the Human Capital Management (HCM) market, PeopleSoft holds a 13.76% market share, competing with leaders like Workday (23.54%) and SAP HCM (12.54%), and other alternatives such as UKG Pro, Rippling, BambooHR, and Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM. Reviewers sometimes rate PeopleSoft higher than some legacy competitors in areas like service, support, integration, and deployment.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Oracle PeopleSoft is designed for enterprise-level performance and scalability, supported by Oracle's continuous benchmarking and optimization efforts. The availability of comprehensive performance monitoring tools allows organizations to track and fine-tune their specific PeopleSoft implementations. While the software itself does not have direct power consumption or carbon footprint metrics, its performance efficiency can indirectly impact these by optimizing hardware resource utilization. User feedback indicates that while powerful, performance can sometimes be an issue, particularly during peak usage, highlighting the importance of proper system sizing and configuration.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews for Oracle PeopleSoft highlight both significant strengths and notable weaknesses.

• Strengths: Users frequently praise PeopleSoft for its customizable reporting features, which enhance efficiency in tracking expenses and timesheets. Many find it easy to use for managing time and expenses, and for viewing and downloading payslips. The platform is also valued for its ability to efficiently manage employee personal information on a single, integrated platform.
• Weaknesses: A common complaint among users is slow performance and frustrating latency, especially during peak usage times. Many find the system not user-friendly, particularly for those without technical skills, leading to frustration and a steep learning curve. Slow loading times and occasional system glitches are also reported. Some users note that integration capabilities could be improved compared to other ERP solutions, and the system can feel "clunky" due to the large volume of information it handles.
• Recommended Use Cases: PeopleSoft is widely recommended for core enterprise functions such as Human Capital Management (HR, payroll, benefits), Financials (general ledger, procurement), Supply Chain Management, Campus Management, and Customer Relationship Management. It is particularly effective for organizations needing robust, customizable reporting and comprehensive management of employee data and financial processes.

Summary

Oracle PeopleSoft remains a powerful and comprehensive enterprise application suite, offering robust solutions across Human Capital Management, Financials, Supply Chain, and Campus Management. Its strengths lie in its extensive functional depth, highly customizable reporting capabilities, and its ability to manage complex organizational processes on an integrated platform. Oracle's unwavering commitment, demonstrated through its "Applications Unlimited" program and rolling 10-year Premier Support, ensures long-term viability and continuous innovation, including regular updates and enhancements to PeopleTools and application features. The platform boasts broad compatibility with various operating systems and databases, providing flexibility in deployment. Security features are robust, with advanced encryption technologies and support for Oracle TDE, though effective security relies heavily on diligent implementation and patching by the customer.

However, user feedback consistently points to areas for improvement, primarily concerning performance, with reports of slow loading times and latency, especially during peak usage. The system is also often perceived as having a steep learning curve and being less intuitive for non-technical users, potentially leading to frustration. While functionally rich, its integration capabilities are sometimes noted as less seamless compared to newer ERP alternatives.

Overall, PeopleSoft is a mature and reliable choice for large enterprises requiring deep functional breadth and a highly configurable system. Organizations considering PeopleSoft should be prepared for significant investment in implementation, training, and ongoing system administration to optimize performance and user experience. For those already invested, Oracle's commitment to continuous support and innovation provides a clear roadmap for leveraging their existing assets while exploring modernizations.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.