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Oracle to Microsoft: Drop Dead?

You've got to wonder how the thought of an Oracle-branded Linux distribution might be curdling the cream this morning in the executive suites at Microsoft (and other OS vendors). You don't threaten Microsoft's bread-and-butter server customer base lightly; just ask the folks at Netscape.

But according to this article, Will Oracle offer a Linux package? at CNNMoney.com, Larry Ellison is talking about having Oracle distribute and support its own version of Linux.

According to the report, Ellison also said that Oracle looked at Novell, publisher of the popular SUSE Linux distribution, as a potential entry point into the Linux market. Oddly enough, Novell itself acquired SUSE Linux just over two years ago in a major shift for the former leading networking software company.

Apparently, Ellison and Oracle were jolted by last week's announcement of Red Hat's deal to purchase JBoss. If a Linux company like Red Hat, already competing with Microsoft, could branch into the database business, then why shouldn't Oracle jump into the fray?

Hijinx will undoubtedly ensue. Stay tuned!

  Posted by Pete Loshin on April 17, 2006 7:09 AM |

Comments

is there an IBM version of linux?

Posted by: frumple | April 17, 2006 9:57 AM

IBM offers a product to get Linux running on your IBM mainframe, called "Linux on System z9 and zSeries", but they don't have their own branded distribution. They distribute the mainframe product through partners like Red Hat and Novell (SUSE).

IBM has made a long-term, ongoing commitment to open source software. The IBM Linux Portal (http://www-1.ibm.com/linux/) is a good place to find out more about Linux in general as well as IBM's Linux activities.

Posted by: Pete Loshin | April 17, 2006 10:37 AM

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