Blog Michael Schwalm Overview of Oracle Linux releases and kernels
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Overview of Oracle Linux releases and kernels
As everybody knows, Linux regroups several operating system families. The most popular Linux OS are Debian, Red Hat, or Suse. But each family has many derived Linux distributions. In November 2006, Oracle released the first version of its operating system, totally based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Enterprise Linux.
Up to release 5, the system came with two kernels:
- A customized kernel with bug fixes, based on Red Hat kernel, installed and started by default
- An unmodified Red Hat kernel for manual installation, identical to the one released on Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems
From Enterprise Linux 5 to Enterprise Linux 5 Update 4, the unmodified Red Hat kernel was installed by default and the kernel with bug fixes had to be installed manually.
In Oracle Linux 5 Update 5, Oracle introduced a new Kernel: the UEK (for Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel). This kernel consists in an upgraded kernel, with specific features or enhancements for Oracle software. In Oracle Linux 5.5, the Red Hat kernel was still installed and started by default, the UEK and the kernel with bug fixes had both to be installed manually.
Since Oracle Linux 5 Update 6, the Oracle UEK has replaced the Red Hat kernel. It is installed and started by default, and the Red Hat kernel is just installed, but not enabled. The kernel with bug fixes remains uninstalled but still available for a manual install.
The following table lists all Oracle Linux releases, associated to the corresponding kernel(s) and release date (dates are approximations from information displayed on oss.oracle.com and wikipedia.org):
| Release name | Release date | Default kernel | Optionnal kernel |
| Enterprise Linux 4.4 | 10/2006 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.9-42.0.0.0.1.EL | n/c |
|
Enterprise Linux 4.5 |
05/2007 | Kernel with buf fixes 2.6.9-55.0.0.0.2.EL | n/c |
|
Enterprise Linux 4.6 |
04/2008 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.9-67.0.0.0.1.EL | n/c |
|
Enterprise Linux 4.7 |
07/2008 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-78.0.0.0.1.EL | 2.6.18-78 (manually) |
|
Enterprise Linux 4.8 |
05/2009 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.9-89.0.0.0.1.EL | 2.6.9-89 (manually) |
|
Enterprise Linux 4.9 |
02/2011 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.9-100.0.0.0.1.EL | 2.6.9-100.EL |
|
Enterprise Linux 5 |
06/2007 | 2.6.18-8.el5 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-8.0.0.4.1.el5 (manually) |
|
Enterprise Linux 5.1 |
04/2008 | 2.6.18-53.el5 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-53.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
|
Enterprise Linux 5.2 |
06/2008 | 2.6.18-92.el5 | Kernel with big fixes 2.6.18-92.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.3 (OEL) | 01/2009 | 2.6.18-128.el5 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-128.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.4 (OEL) | 09/2009 | 2.6.18-164.el5 | Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-164.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Linux 5.5 | 09/2010 | 2.6.18-194.el5 |
Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-194.0.0.0.3.el5 (manually) UEK 2.6.32-100.0.19.el5 (via uln) |
| Oracle Linux 5.6 | 06/2011 | UEK 2.6.32-100.26.2.el5 |
2.6.18-238.el5 (disabled) Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-238.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Linux 5.7 | 07/2011 | UEK 2.6.32-200.13.1.el5uek |
2.6.18-274.el5 (disabled) Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-274.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Linux 5.8 | 02/2012 | UEK 2.6.32-300.10.1.el5uek |
2.6.18-308.el5 (disabled) Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-308.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Linux 5.9 | 01/2013 | UEKR2 QU2 2.6.39-300.26.1.el5uek |
2.6.18-348.el5 (disabled) Kernel with bug fixes 2.6.18-348.0.0.0.1.el5 (manually) |
| Oracle Linux 6 | 02/2011 | UEK 2.6.32-100.28.5.el6 | 2.6.32-71.el6 (disabled) |
| Oracle Linux 6.1 | 06/2011 | UEK 2.6.32-100.34.1.el6 | 2.6.32-131.0.15.el6 (disabled) |
| Oracle Linux 6.2 | 12/2011 | UEK 2.6.32-300.3.1.el6uek | 2.6.32-220.el6 (disabled) |
| Oracle Linux 6.3 | 06/2012 | UEK R2 2.6.39-200.24.1.el6uek | 2.6.32-279.el6 (disabled) |
| Oracle Linux 6.4 | 02/2013 | UEK R2 QU3 2.6.39-400.17.1.el6uek |
2.6.32-358.el6 (disabled) |
I will regulary update this table with new releases of Oracle Linux.
UPDATE
In february 28th, Oracle released Oracle Linux 6 Update 4 with the third Quarterly Update of the UEK R2.
You can find the release note on the Oracle website:
- Florian Haas' blog
- Dirk Nachbar's blog on Oracle Fusion Middleware & Application Server
- Oracle Scratchpad - Jonathan Lewis' blog
- Martin Bach's blog
- Striving for optimal performance - Chris Antognini's blog
- The Tom Kyte Blog (Ask Tom)
- Blog of Adar-Consult
- Alex Gorbachev's blog
- Marcus Mönnig's Oracle & Mumbai Blog
I wish someone would demonstrate how they generated the graphs - seems to be a well-kept secret
Hi Arnaud,
Can I hav english version of these document.
Rgds
Raffi