Oracle Enterprise Linux - Make your bets

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

A close look at Oracle Enterprise Linux is that it IS a Centos clone. The size of the iso images are almost exactly the same, the difference is probably due to the fact that the graphics they stick in the release are not the same size as what they replace.

Centos is a wonderful distribution, I use it interchangably with RH ES 4. As to why I'd go Oracle versus supporting the Centos community, I can't think of a single reason.

Larry Ellison is suddenly complaining that Red Hat doesn't release bug fixes fast enough for Oracle. Though this is BS, lets say Oracle starts releasing bug fixes on its own.

If it to maintain binary compatability with RedHat, every time three is a major Red Hat Release, Oracle is going to have to build their fixes from the last release into the new one and re-release.

The average RedHat or CentOS user can do this just as fast by installing errata after the major release hits the market.

RedHat has found some very creative ways to violate GNU and charge for the operating system. They call it support, but lets be honest about it. The license agreement requires you have support if you use the software. Do you really think I need support for a personal copy of RedHat? RHCE baby, not. But if I use a copy of RedHat without support I'm violating the license agreement and if I buy support I'm not using it so I'm really paying for software.

The above is why I use CentOS when I have a choice. yum is easier than RHN anyway and I'm not in to paying for GNU software.

So think about Oracle. Who sell the unlimiteduser license to their database for $40,000 per CPU and have declared publically that each Core on a dual Core or quad Core CPU is a CPU for license purposes.

That means by the way that your two chip quad core server that is dancing around in your head will cost you 10,000 for hardware and $320,000 for Oracle licensing.

Do you really think if I have a choice I'm going to start buying repackaged Linux from a company like that?

This play is simple. Oracle is retaliating for RedHat purchasing a company they wanted to buy. The intent is to harm RedHat's business until they cry uncle and give up the goods.

My plan for the few systems I own is to go CentOS. I'm going to get it a few weeks after RedHat Releases, I get the bug fixes and if I stay with the official repo's I get 100% binary compatability and I'm not even forced to donate to centos.org every year.

SEP
RHCE