This second day at the Oracle Open World is hotter than the previous one! Today, we focused on Oracle Linux. Oracle Linux roadmap, the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) release 3 is coming in summer 2013. Oracle’s strategy consists of developing the new enterprise-class kernel on state of the art hardware, which guarantees to customer to get the most of their hardware (Like Suse for SLES 11).

The Oracle Linux development team is working on many topics. But before, we will review what changed with Oracle Linux 6.x:

  • Oracle-rdbms-server-11gR2-preinstall RPM is a replacement for “oracle-validated”. This RPM aids in the installation of the Oracle Database.
  • The package manager (yum) has been improved with several features like patching your kernel with only CVE updates for fixing security leaks
  • BTRFS as root file system

In combination with the right yum command, you can install kernel security updates online without downtime using Ksplice.

Ksplice is an extension of the Linux kernel which allows applying security patches to a running kernel without having to reboot. It is also available for a 30-day trail. Check the URL http://www.ksplice.com/.

Here are the most interesting features reported during the presentation:

  • Better integration of PCI Flash Drives for Oracle Database smart flash cache
  • Memory hotplug for virtualization (awareness of the guest VM about memory balance operations from host)
  • BTRS will permit rebalance operations for higher RAID level (ie: move from RAID 1 to RAID 5)
  • NFS support for linux containers
  • TCP connection repair, (re-route TCP packets in case a container moves from a physical server to another)
  • Etc.

A few words about the Oracle Linux Support: Oracle tends to become a single point of contact for the full Oracle Stack (starting from hardware up to the application).

The Oracle Linux Support contract contains all basic points like 7×24, access to patch and updates, etc. And also the support of clustering software (Grid Infrastructure) and file system, Ksplice for zero downtime updates. I would also like to mention that the clustering software embeds MySQL DRDB.

Finally, why should I not use Oracle Linux? If you know any drawback, I would be glad about some responses.

Enjoy Oracle Linux!