What is Oracle Linux?

Introduction

Oracle Linux is a distribution of the Linux operating system that has been customized and explicitly tuned for running Oracle Database and other Oracle products. It is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and shares many of the same features, but has Oracle's customizations and enhancements.

Oracle Linux vs. RHEL

One key difference between Oracle Linux and RHEL is the kernel.

Oracle Linux uses what is known as the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK), which is a custom-built, optimized kernel designed specifically for running Oracle software. The UEK is based on the mainline Linux kernel and includes additional bug fixes and security enhancements that are missing in the mainline kernel.

Another key difference is the package repository. Oracle Linux uses the Oracle Public Yum Server, which contains a complete set of Oracle software, including both the UEK kernel and Oracle database and applications. The Oracle Yum Server is updated regularly with the latest bug fixes and security patches. In contrast, the RHEL uses the Red Hat Network (RHN) which requires a subscription to access the latest software and security updates.

Oracle Linux is certified by major hardware vendors, including IBM, HP, and Dell, and many software vendors such as SAP. This certification ensures that Oracle Linux will run on their hardware and their software will run on Oracle Linux.

Oracle Linux is free to download and use, and we can redistribute it and/or modify it under the GNU General Public License (GPLv2) terms. Oracle Linux is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Why use Oracle Linux?

There are several reasons why we might want to use Oracle Linux over other distributions of Linux, such as RHEL or Ubuntu. Here are some of the key reasons:

• Oracle Linux is specifically designed to run Oracle software, providing better performance and stability than other distributions.
• Oracle Linux is based on RHEL, which is compatible with all major hardware and software vendors.
• Oracle Linux uses the UEK kernel, which is specifically tuned for running Oracle software.
• The Oracle Yum Server provides access to the latest bug fixes and security patches.
• Oracle Linux is certified by major hardware and software vendors.
• Oracle Linux is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Conclusion

This article looked at Oracle Linux and some key reasons we might want to use it. Oracle Linux is an excellent choice for running Oracle software due to its performance, stability, and compatibility.