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Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

linux.oracle.com

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Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#101

Post by fusiongyro »

SwellJoe wrote: post #26

I'm pleased to see that evil deeds have consequences, though I'd like to see Oracle suffer a little (OK, a lot) more before getting over the hump. People don't use Oracle Linux because the Open Source community doesn't trust Oracle (and they shouldn't; that mistrust has been well-earned over a couple of decades). There's a lot of reasons not to use Oracle Linux, most of them non-technical. Oracle is simply not an eth…

I have a technical reason for not using Oracle Linux: it's easier to install Oracle on RHEL than Oracle Linux.

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#102

Post by andrewcooke »

wdaher wrote: post #84
andrewcooke wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

or we could stick with the guys who have given us centos. i am not sure why your compassion is so selective. people who work for fucking oracle are misunderstood saints, while the poor sods that put centos together - who have never done anyone any harm - should be thrown to the wolves.

I don't think I've ever espoused that opinion! I like CentOS a lot. I had a beer with Karanbir in London in 2009, and I'm totally impressed that they're able to put out an incredibly popular Linux distribution with next to nothing, resource-wise. But if I were a sysadmin, would I run CentOS in production? Is CentOS perfect? I'd say no on both counts, and I think there's nothing wrong with saying "There's room for imp…

but at what price? at the price of losing centos because oracle are a predatory monster driven solely by greed?

put it another, more constructive way: wouldn't it be better to help centos rather than try to kill them? why not take that route?

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#104

Post by druiid »

wdaher wrote: post #60
sciurus wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because with Red Hat you have to pay for access to updates.

Agreed. And I think "lock-in" is an unfair characterization. It's not like you can't switch back to CentOS or Scientific Linux.

How so? You guys are providing a script to switch from CentOS to OL, but I don't see a comparable script to switch back to CentOS.

Where is the script to easily switch back when Oracle decides to screw everyone over as many have already brought up?

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#106

Post by uiri »

sciurus wrote: post #33

The advantage of Oracle Linux that I see is the newer supported kernel version, On both Oracle Linux 5 and 6 you get 3.0, compared to 2.6.18 for RHEL5 and 2.6.32 for RHEL6.

Debian Squeeze is on 2.6.32 and, in my opinion, it is solid as a rock. If your hardware works, I don't see why you would want to upgrade the kernel (besides potential security fixes).

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#107

Post by skorgu »

hammersend wrote: post #96
bdunbar wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Oracle actually is evil. Evil is stomping a kitten to death. Evil is the gulag, the concentration camp, the cultural revolution. Oracle is just a business.

And the GP was giving his honest opinion. An opinion that is held by many people I've interacted with in the open source community regarding Oracle. Maybe instead of browbeating him over it you could consider encouraging Oracle to pay attention to things like this and do something about recovering their image. BTW, it isn't illegal in any jurisdiction I am aware of to harbor personal feelings towards brands and compa…

For a large segment of us (presumably the target market) there's no point in Oracle trying to recover their image. Based on direct personal experience I will fight tooth and nail against giving Oracle one red cent or one idle second. I can't think of anything they could do in the short or medium term that would change my mind so why waste time trying? Buying purchasing managers steak dinners and lapdances has a much better return on investment.

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#108

Post by davidw »

andrewcooke wrote: post #102
wdaher wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think I've ever espoused that opinion! I like CentOS a lot. I had a beer with Karanbir in London in 2009, and I'm totally impressed that they're able to put out an incredibly popular Linux distribution with next to nothing, resource-wise. But if I were a sysadmin, would I run CentOS in production? Is CentOS perfect? I'd say no on both counts, and I think there's nothing wrong with saying "There's room for imp…

but at what price? at the price of losing centos because oracle are a predatory monster driven solely by greed? put it another, more constructive way: wouldn't it be better to help centos rather than try to kill them? why not take that route?

Most users of either one will likely not contribute anything at all back besides simply being part of the "network effects". I'm not a fan of Oracle either, but your rhetoric is in the red zone...

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#109

Post by rch »

wdaher wrote: post #73
vtanase wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the exact same feeling that I'm getting from this announcement. To me this just feels like a publicity stunt, where Oracle is aiming to get a slice of the CentOS/RHEL market with very little investment. As far as I'm concerned this isn't even a valid attempt on their behalf to earn the trust of the Open Source Community. Taking something that already works and touting your own horn about how you can provide f…

I was trying to go for a "for linux nerds, by linux nerds" vibe, so I'm amused that your complaint is "This doesn't sound corporate enough". At the end of the day, my view here is that Oracle has actually produced something useful, but lots of people are blind to it, in no small part because of what ultimately boils down to zealotry (which doesn't seem like an awesome reason to me). Hence the point of trying to get t…

So, my question is: What's the story on ZFS and DTrace?

I realize I could answer my own question with a little searching, but the main reason I would consider an Oracle branded Linux distribution would be for a reasonably 'official' way of getting some of what made Open Solaris compelling. Whatever the story is, I think my curiosity is predictable and common enough to warrant a mention in your article.

I should note that I am completely uninformed, and only have a passing interest in these things. What little I know is second-hand and years out of date. Although I just did just do a 'sudo yum search zfs' on RHEL 6, which is the only search I should need.

Re: Oracle launches "a better alternative to CentOS"

#110

Post by ascendant »

wdaher wrote: post #73
vtanase wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the exact same feeling that I'm getting from this announcement. To me this just feels like a publicity stunt, where Oracle is aiming to get a slice of the CentOS/RHEL market with very little investment. As far as I'm concerned this isn't even a valid attempt on their behalf to earn the trust of the Open Source Community. Taking something that already works and touting your own horn about how you can provide f…

I was trying to go for a "for linux nerds, by linux nerds" vibe, so I'm amused that your complaint is "This doesn't sound corporate enough". At the end of the day, my view here is that Oracle has actually produced something useful, but lots of people are blind to it, in no small part because of what ultimately boils down to zealotry (which doesn't seem like an awesome reason to me). Hence the point of trying to get t…

Or pragmatism borne out of watching Oracle be a slimy, evil steaming pile of douchebaggery that has only been recently surpassed by Apple in the corporate warmongering department. It's like CentOS, with a heaping helping of evil in every bite.
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