Oracles Linux Push: Mozilla Browser to Front Oracle Apps - ' Oracles Linux Pledge ' (
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This move is the latest in Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracles push to embrace the open-source Linux platform. At LinuxWorld San Francisco 2002, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison pledged to run the companys entire business on the Linux operating system. In August, Chuck Rozwat said that Oracle is committed to running basic development platforms on Linux for all products.
In embracing Linux, Oracles goal is to enable customers to retain the Unix skill sets theyve built over the past decade while enabling them to take advantage of low-cost, high-performance processors from Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Dargo said. Those low-cost, commodity processors in turn form the basis of the clustering technology Oracles pushing in its forthcoming Oracle Database 10g technology.
"Linux serves as a great base platform for grid," Dargo said. "Its inexpensive, and it enables the use of Intel servers that allow us to drive commoditization into these standard building blocks that can be configured together in a grid environment."
All of Oracles 5,000 internal application developers are now working off of Linux platforms, Dargo said. As soon as Oracle Database 10g is released as a production product—a move that is "imminent," Dargo said—the companys database developers will also be moved to Linux as a development platform. That will make a total of between 8,000 and 9,000 Oracle developers on Linux. The companys support and outsourcing business are already on Linux as well.
It is widely believed that another primary motivation behind Oracles embrace of Linux is to push archrival Microsoft Corp. out of its position of power. In pursuit of that goal, Oracle will enable its customers to opt for Mozilla over Microsofts Internet Explorer browser, just as they have enabled customers to opt out of Microsoft operating systems in favor of Linux.
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft declined to comment.
