oracle enterprise linux

Gartner: Some risk, minimal savings with Oracle Linux

When Oracle decided to fork Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it did so under the banner of offering improved support and lower costs for its customers. Oracle Enterprise Linux has failed to set the world on fire, perhaps in part, as Gartner highlights in a new research report ("Red Hat vs. Oracle Linux Support: When and How Does It Matter?"), because its cost and support advantages appear to be overstated.

While some Oracle customers may disagree, the company wins awards for the quality of its support. But it's hard to see how Oracle can match Red Hat for … Read more

Should Oracle's Linux strategy be...Ubuntu?

Oracle has gone on a buying spree in the past few years, consolidating an impressive portfolio of market-leading technology. But there's one thing it still lacks, despite awkward efforts to fill the void: an operating system. Though Oracle has unsuccessfully courted Red Hat as an acquisition target for years, its affections might be better placed on Ubuntu.

Yes, by acquiring Sun, Oracle is gaining Solaris, but as Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst indicated in the Red Hat earnings call on Wednesday, the exodus of Solaris-to-Linux users continues apace, as Sun's attempt to neutralize Linux's appeal with OpenSolaris … Read more

Oracle contributes Linux code, expands hardware support

Oracle on Tuesday expanded the list of hardware compatible with its Linux distribution and added support for Novell's YAST administration tool.

The company certified six hardware configurations to run Oracle Enterprise Linux. Certified products include those made by Compellent Technologies, Dell, Egenera, EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Pillar Data Systems and Unisys. The announcement was made in conjunction with the LinuxWorld conference this week in San Francisco.

Last year, Oracle launched its own distribution of Linux designed to be compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the leading distribution for corporate customers. Wide hardware compatibility is important to fitting into corporate data centers. … Read more