Linuxworld: Oracle extends Linux validation program

Computerworld - SAN FRANCISCO -- Oracle Corp. today said it has doubled the number of Linux-based hardware packages that it has certified as running its database well.

The company said it has now tested a total of eight systems, which it recommends to potential customers who want to more easily deploy their databases on Linux with fewer problems.

The eight configurations, up from four when Oracle launched its Oracle Validated Configurations program in June, include the Oracle Database 10g running on either Red Hat or SUSE Linux. That's on top of server hardware from IBM, Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. in conjunction with storage gear from EMC Corp., IBM, HP and Network Appliance Inc.

Oracle, which now sells most of its databases to run on Linux, said three of the configurations are based on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 9 with the rest on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.

A validated configuration of Version 10 of SLES, which Novell Inc. released last month, will be available in several months after Novell releases its first update to SLES, said Wim Coekaerts, Oracle's vice president of Linux engineering. "We talk to customers a lot, so we know pretty well what configurations customers are interested in," he said.

According to a June survey by the International Oracle Users Group released last week, about half of Oracle users run at least some of their databases, including Oracle, on Linux-based servers.

While Oracle will also benefit from having to field fewer support calls, Coekaerts said, the company will not offer inducements or penalties to encourage customers to deploy Validated Configurations. "We can't dictate what customers run," he said.

Oracle plans to create Validated Configurations for its application server and other software that run on Linux, Coekaerts said, though he offered no timetable. He also said the company has no plans now to expand its certification program to versions of Linux other than Red Hat or SUSE.

More information about Oracle's plan is available online.