Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel • Hacker News Board

Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#1

Post by senki » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 8:35 PM UTC

Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel
oracle.com

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#2

Post by ax0n » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 8:54 PM UTC

I predict this thing lasts no more than 2 weeks before someone finds a way to break the "unbreakable"

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#3

Post by zdw » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 9:01 PM UTC

Basically, it's a more-current version of the Linux kernel added to their distro (which is a clone of RHEL5).

Surprise surprise... the newer kernel has more performance optimizations and is somewhat faster/featureful.

There are a few new features - see here for more on one of the data integrity ones:

http://www.c0t0d0s0.org/archives/6919-About-this-data-integr...

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#4

Post by hvs » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 9:26 PM UTC

Can't the other distros (and the kernel developers) just take these patches and apply them upstream if they are so wonderful? I'm not sure how having patches to a GPL'ed kernel gives you a competitive advantage..

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#5

Post by nailer » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 9:27 PM UTC

zdw wrote: post #3

Basically, it's a more-current version of the Linux kernel added to their distro (which is a clone of RHEL5). Surprise surprise... the newer kernel has more performance optimizations and is somewhat faster/featureful. There are a few new features - see here for more on one of the data integrity ones: http://www.c0t0d0s0.org/archives/6919-About-this-data-integr...

Yep. And RHEL MRG already includes a 2.6.32 kernel on top of regular RHEL 5. This probably even uses the same .config file.

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#6

Post by krschultz » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 9:38 PM UTC

ax0n wrote: post #2

I predict this thing lasts no more than 2 weeks before someone finds a way to break the "unbreakable"

Seems to me like you are inviting trouble with a name like that.

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#7

Post by sliverstorm » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 10:01 PM UTC

That sure sounds like biting the hand that feeds you. When you are (essentially) a re-distributor of RHEL5, why on earth would you bash on RHEL5!?

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#8

Post by recampbell » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 10:46 PM UTC

So they have a two pronged approach:

1. Encourage customers to adopt this kernel to run Oracle workloads. Saying it's the only "recommended" kernel for Oracle software helps greatly. Oh and it's 75% faster.

"The Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel is now the only Linux kernel Oracle recommends for use with Oracle software."

2. Still "support" Red Hat's older kernel for other ISV workloads (really Red Hat is supporting it anyway).

"Oracle Linux continues to include Oracle’s existing Red Hat Compatible Kernel. Customers can choose to run the Red Hat Compatible Kernel if they prefer strict Red Hat compatibility over a system optimized to run Oracle and other enterprise software."

Unbreakable Linux didn't really present any huge advantages before. Now it does. Why wouldn't you choose it now?

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#9

Post by recampbell » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 10:48 PM UTC

sliverstorm wrote: post #7

That sure sounds like biting the hand that feeds you. When you are (essentially) a re-distributor of RHEL5, why on earth would you bash on RHEL5!?

Because they compete with Red Hat and want to steal their customers. And now they can claim they have a superior product because they are using a modern kernel. Red Hat needs to release RHEL 6 ASAP.

Re: Oracle Linux - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel

#10

Post by recampbell » Tue, Oct 12, 2010, 10:49 PM UTC

hvs wrote: post #4

Can't the other distros (and the kernel developers) just take these patches and apply them upstream if they are so wonderful? I'm not sure how having patches to a GPL'ed kernel gives you a competitive advantage..

RHEL doesn't follow mainline, so Oracle will almost always have a more modern kernel. As another commenter pointed out, most of the improvments are just from this one point.