Possible Issues with Duplicate Training Database?

Question

Hello everyone!
First off, please forgive my ignorance! I've only been working with databases lightly over the last couple of years, and thus far only with MySQL and MS SQL.
Recently the company I work for purchased a new software package that required Oracle. We purchased a copy of Oracle 10.2 as part of the deal and the company that sold it to us, and set it up for us, has denied us dev access to the database, on our server, because it would expose their underlying data schema. I wasn't in change when the decision was made and we spent the money on a crippled copy of Oracle, but that's in the past.
Because we don't have dev access to Oracle we're unable to create a training database for this new software in house. We have to pay this company to create a test environment for us. I was told it would cost $500, until the tech said he was going to install Oracle on our training server.
At this point I stopped him and said at $500 they'll either be breaching their licensing agreement, or giving us a free copy! The other possibility is that they were going to install this and then just bill us for Oracle later on, despite quoting the job at $500.
The tech who was about to do the installation went to check with someone more senior and then returned to inform me that installing the second copy of Oracle would indeed require more licensing fees.
This verified what I already had told him, and I said we want a training database on our existing Oracle server, and then training copies of the new software can just point to that training database.
He now needs to take time with the more senior technicians while they're "analyzing the existing database server/environment". He was trying to talk me out of installing a training database on the existing server, and instead buying another copy of Oracle, which I believe to be a total cash grab. He had no solid reason why he couldn't do it, but refused to anyway and said he needs to talk to a more senior tech (the same one who said that yes, we'll need to purchase a second copy of Oracle rather than use a second database on the existing server).
So, these two databases, one live data and one a duplicate of that live data used in a training environment where changes won't be reported against, should be able to exist peacefully should they not? The same version of the same software accessing the same data from the same server, just a different database, shouldn't present any problems with my limited knowledge of Oracle! There will only ever be maybe 5 connections to the training environment at a time, and the server should be able to currently handle twice as many users connected as it's current maximum (edit: expected) load.
I know this wouldn't be a problem with MySQL, or MS SQL, and Oracle is a superior database package, so can anyone think of any legitimate reason that might back up the claim that having that duplicate database will be a problem?
Thanks in advance for any guidance here!

Answer 1

Thank you very much John!
We have a per user license and I don't expect our training needs to exceed even a half dozen people at a time to start (A small, significant, fraction of the initial user base). In the future we can easily recommission other resources, or purchase more. The whole project is in the earlier stages anyway, so the needs are smaller now (but the money we spend on licensing could be recurring).
I understand the requirements angle from a server perspective, but those points you brought up drill down into what I need to know a bit more.
I doubt rollback segments would be necessary, I was thinking more along the lines of scheduled replication/duplication of the production database on a weekly or monthly basis, just to keep the material at least somewhat up to date.
I also don't think temporary table space would put much load on storage either, at least in the long run.
RAM isn't much an issue with a 64 bit version running either, for our needs now at least.
My instinct, and what you mention about even potential impact of altering the existing database schema enforces this, is that it's basically safer to create a separate database, but less resource intensive to alter the schema of an existing Oracle database to suit training needs (in this situation, maybe, making some vague assumptions about software probably), if done correctly (although still carrying risks).
I do wish I had the time to read up on this more now, and I will as soon as I have the time.
I probably will download 10g express edition to familiarize myself a bit more now, as soon as I come up with an application for it, to at least try out whatever I read.
Thanks for the advice