Posted on 04/16/2006 9:08:10 PM PDT by N3WBI3
Oracle is studying whether to launch its own version of the Linux operating system and has looked at buying one of the two companies currently dominating the Linux world, according to Larry Ellison, the software companys chief executive officer.
Such a move would redraw the software landscape and open a new front in Oracles long rivalry with US rival Microsoft.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Ellison said that Oracle wanted to sell a full stack of software that, like Microsoft, included both operating system and applications.
Id like to have a complete stack, he said. Were missing an operating system. You could argue that it makes a lot of sense for us to look at distributing and supporting Linux.
Like IBM, Oracle has counted on Linux an open source system whose code is open to anyone to view and adapt to act as a counterweight to Microsofts Windows, which has expanded rapidly from desktop PCs into corporate IT systems.
As part of a recent study of the open source software market, Mr Ellison said that Oracle had considered buying Novell, which after Red Hat is the biggest distributor of Linux. We look at everything, play this thing out, he added.
Red Hats own acquisition last week of JBoss another open source company whose products compete with Oracle and IBM could shake up alliances in the Linux world and provide another reason to act, said Mr Ellison.
FT Ellison interview
oracle logo Sitting in a sparse Japanese pavilion beside a private lake hidden among the wooded hills of northern California, the software industrys second-richest man seems fully in command of his domain. Go there
Now that Red Hat . . . competes with us in middleware, we have to re-look at the relationship so does IBM, he said.
On Red Hats growing influence and its ambitions to reach beyond the Linux operating system, he added: I dont think Oracle and IBM want another Microsoft in Red Hat.
Mr Ellison also said he was pushing Oracle further into hosting software on behalf of customers, relying on regular subscription payments rather than upfront revenue.
OSS PING
If you are interested in the OSS ping list please mail me
Go for it Larry!!!
Selling free software is a great business model!!
Muhahahahahaha!!!
Keep in mind Oracle wont be selling 'free' software, they will be offering software stack including the closed source Oracle Database. This in and of itself would take a good long while to hurt RedHat, unless Oracle decides to yank Red Hat as a supported OS. Oracle is one of those things you don't use in a non supported configuration..
Good morning Incorrigible,
I don't really think the idea here is so much to be selling a distribution, but rather to have an in-house distribution that oracle can use as a 'supported' linux stack on which to run oracle.
There are tons of parameters that can be tuned in the kernel, some of which can have positive or negative effects on how an Oracle database might perform.
It's kind of like the way that Oracle implements Apache support today. When you install Oracle Apache, it is their own version, compiled their way, with their own funky file locations (and I do mean really funky file locations). They know how their installer sets up apache to work with their product, and they will support that. Can you use a generic Apache with Oracle? Sure, but don't ask Oracle anything about it if it doesn't work.
This is *H*U*G*E*.
Quote: Oracle is studying whether to launch its own version of the Linux operating system.
Oracle Linux? I'd use it.
I dont know that that is such a huge deal the kernel parameters oracle needs changed are run time tunable. you could use a script with cat, or modules.conf to set them up. But youre right in that if they dont get done its trouble.
This has less to do with Oracle needing a more compliant Linux and more to do with sticking it to RedHat
IB4GE
:-P
Wow, so all these companies that supposedly hate Microsoft actually just envy them. Who would have ever thought?
As the the whole 'hate MS thing' youll be hard pressed to find anyone who says MS should not sell a database, browser, email server, groupware server, operating system, office suite, or any other package they can get out the door. The problem is when they told dell not to use Netscape Navigator, or when they told IBM that they could not sell OS2 and windows at the same time.
For someone who hates the fact IBM is moving towards Linux I would thing just maybe you would be a little more pissed at MS for bullying OS2 out of the market...
Market necessity sounds more correct...
Either Red Hat or Novell would be a good purchase for Oracle. I just hope Oracle doesn't fsck them up.
LOL not me, but obviously the emotions of those like Ellison who thought open source would damage Microsoft but instead find it reaking havoc on everyone BUT Microsoft.
I think hate, hates, and pissed reflects your opinion of OpenSource my point was IBM is only involved now because of slimy market practices by MS..
Microsoft marketed their product just like IBM did, and the customers obviously chose Microsoft. It's time you grew up and accepted it.
IBM is only involved now because of slimy market practices by MS..
Like IBM is some sort of Angel LOL. They made a huge mistake legitimizing open source and are now suffering for it. Oracle no different.
Can you show me where IBM told OEM's that if they sold another Operating system that they would have to pay more for OS2?
They made a huge mistake legitimizing open source and are now suffering for it.
IBM's Biggest mistake *ever* was teaming up with MS...
If true, how come no one switched to IBM's software? Obviously because they trusted IBM even less.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.