Linux leader: Oracle-Sun good news for Linux
Summary
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The acquisition is good for Linux because business-software leader Oracle is strategically aligned with Linux, as well as a Linux distributor and a major user of the open-source operating system, Zemlin wrote in a blog post on Wednesday.
The purchase of Sun, announced on Monday, means Oracle will take over the Solaris Unix-based operating system, as well as two key open-source products: the Java programming language and the MySQL database. In its announcement, Oracle said Solaris was the "best Unix technology available in the market" and that it would optimize its database software for the operating system.
See also: Special Report: Oracle buys Sun - and Java
"While Oracle specifically is calling out the software assets and upside in this deal, specially [sic] the acquisition of Java and Solaris, this does not mean they will lessen their support for Linux," Zemlin wrote, noting that the company had said it was as committed as ever to Linux in its announcement about the purchase.
"Much like IBM or HP, who continue to build out their Linux businesses while sustaining their Unix investments, it's about granting customers choice and making sure your software is optimized to run on the OS of their choice," Zemlin said.
While the Linux Foundation pointed to the close ties Oracle has with Linux and open source, others have noted the failure of Oracle's Unbreakable Linux campaign and have highlighted the problems the company had trying to offer its own version of Linux.
This article was originally posted on ZDNet Uk.
Talkback Most Recent of 9 Talkback(s)
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Oracle does not have its own OS
After this transaction it will. Do we not think that could change things?
Michael Kelly22nd Apr 2009 -
Unbreakable Linux
Never really caught on, so yeah, I think it could.
urbandk22nd Apr 2009 -
RE: Linux leader: Oracle-Sun good news for Linux
I think so, yes. It's a radically better OS in just about every way that
matters for them as well.
Also, Zemlin has always struck me as being a bit of a tool.
That is all.
enigmaforce22nd Apr 2009 -
Platinum
Oracle is a platinum member of the Linux Foundation.
Zemlin works for Oracle and the other corporations which comprise the Linux Foundation's membership.
Of course he's not really an objective bystander.
Oracle will let MySQL die. They have no interest in supporting a competing product. Especially one which can be had for free.
Tim Patterson22nd Apr 2009 -
On the contrary...
...Oracle needs MySQL, because the alternative for most is MS SQL. Oracle is trying to prevent Microsoft from making inroads into the data center. And once you've started developing in .NET there is no migration path to any open standard, you are locked in to Microsoft. If people develop for MySQL using Java, at least there's a migration path to 11g, etc.
914four23rd Apr 2009 -
Wait a year...
I'm pretty sure someone will quote this in April 2010 and it won't be in favor of Jim Zemlin.
mkill22nd Apr 2009 -
RE: Linux leader: Oracle-Sun good news for Linux
MySQL isn't a competing product any longer since they own it. I would suspect they will dumb down MySQL as sort of an "express" version of their DBMS, but who knows for sure? MySQL has a large following now, so it would be a very bad move on Oracle's part to completely kill it. Community backlash would be pretty awful.
SippyCup23rd Apr 2009 -
RE: Linux leader: Oracle-Sun good news for Linux
To be honest this should have happened sooner.
A.Bailey23rd Apr 2009 -
RE: Linux leader: Oracle-Sun good news for Linux
You have a much better upgrade path from PostgreSQL to Oracle than from MySQL to anything. PostgreSQL's dialect of SQL follows Oracle's. MySQL's does not. It's in ORCL's best interest (and that of anyone writing database apps) to either rewrite MySQL's frontend or let the product wither.
marxmarv23rd Apr 2009
Talkback - Tell Us What You Think
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