Oracle Linux or Redhat Linux -- for an Oracle DB Farm Implementation

[Alzhy]

Howdy!

We're exploring "Big Iron Linux" as large DB servers. Ya knmow -- those 4 to 8 socket X86 servers of late sporting anywhere from 48 to 64 cores?


What would be the best choice? RedHat Linux or Oracle Linux? What are the differences between the two? I am leaning towards Oracle Linux so we've a single vendor solution for OS and Database Software. But my client's standard is Redhat Linux.

Premium support costs appear to be similar though.

Oracle Linux ISO image is freely downloadable. But it appears nit is not so for the RedHat Advanced Server.

[Ivan Ferreira · Accepted solution]

When problem starts, is common to have problems getting two different support companies to agree.

Based on that, I think that is best of you get support only from Oracle, if the server will be a strict database server.

You can see the "value add" software that OEL provides:

http://www.oracle.com/technologies/linux/technical.html

For example, YaST is an excelent tool.

You won't get the ISO for Red Hat without an RHN suscription.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Oracle Linux was based on Centos with tweaks.

Centos IS based on Red Hat.

I'd go with Red Hat. Oracle support for the database, their core application is variable from mediocre to awful.

I've had my problems with Red Hat Support in Israel, escalated once to the US and got good support.

So if the costs are similar go for the better support organization.

SEP

[Nuwan Alwis]

Hi,
I agree with both Ivan and Portter.

Regarding the operations both Oracle and rdehat linux is identical. This is plus for your administrators if they been working with redhat.
Also oracle linux have whole set of Oracle related tools and also YAST

http://www.oracle.com/technologies/linux/technical.html

Regarding the cost,
Yes Redhat linux is more expencive than Oracle Linux

Support Advantage,
Just one single point of contact and no passing ball from one provider to other.
But i have no idea about how good the support is. Any way its a good thing that you get directly support from oracle with out any 3rd party.

By taking count all above i guess for oracle related deployment going with oracle linux would be a wise idea.

[dirk dierickx]

It's a hard and difficult question. It all boils down to support ofcourse, and who will be able to give best support?

RedHat created the distro (Oracle Linux is just a clone with some extra bits), so they know best. RedHat is also one of the biggest contributors, not only to kernel but many tools & utilities too. You also can get access to stuff like RH Network, which Oracle has no equivalent of (i think).

Oracle will ofcourse have their support in place for the database. But everybody is asking the question about how their linux support is, nobody seems to know for sure and argue it will most probably be of a lesser quality then RH's. Simply because of the fact that it is not really theirs.

On a personal level, i have nothing but good expierence with RH support, for the very few times we did need it, they always came through faster then any other support organisation (HP, SUN - i'm pointing at you).

[Heironimus]

If the client's standard is Red Hat, I would let them use that. I think that a place big enough to need (and pay for) a large Linux/Oracle farm is probably big enough to benefit from sticking with one standard platform. Let the database servers be just like any other server - you wouldn't even have this question for any other OS/app combination.

For what it's worth, I haven't seen too much support trouble with Oracle and Red Hat. Most of the Oracle-related problems were resolved by one side or the other. Sadly, HP and Red Hat is a very different story....

[Court Campbell]

As SEP has mentioned OEL is just a rebranded RHEL. I would say "six of one, half a dozen of the other". There is not much difference between the two. The only big difference I have noticed is with patching. OEL patches would come from Oracle, and RHEL patches form Red Hat. Of course they do provide the patched binaries, libraries, etc to each other.

What I am really curious about is where Oracle is headed now with it's acquisition of Sun.