You can run an enterprise Oracle database on a variety of platforms and operating systems. Customers can choose to deploy Oracle on Windows, Unix, and Linux machines. All will adequately serve as the foundation of an Oracle database environment, but most businesses are not satisfied with just an adequate solution.
Multiple factors go into choosing the operating system that will support an important part of an IT environment such as an Oracle database. Let’s look at why your company should strongly consider Oracle Linux as the operating system for your Oracle database.
Linux or Windows?
Before looking at specific Linux solutions, it’s instructive to look at the advantages and disadvantages a company can expect when implementing Oracle on a Linux or Windows platform. The differences can play a critical role in determining which one is the best choice for an organization.
Windows platform
Pros:
- Easier to deploy and support than Linux;
- Interfaces nicely with Microsoft tools;
- Requires minimal staff training;
- More user-friendly than Linux.
Cons:
- Inferior performance speed compared to Linux;
- Misconfigured systems can provide poor security;
- Limited scalability;
- Concerns over OS stability;
- Can be a more expensive option than Linux.
Linux platform
Pros:
- Substantial improvement in performance and availability;
- Provides open source code and valuable system utilities;
- Considered a superior option by Oracle professionals.
Cons:
- More technical expertise is required compared to Windows;
- Misconfiguration can leave security holes;
- Can be vulnerable to rootkit attacks;
- Specialized skills are necessary to use system utilities or modify source code.
Linux offers better performance at the cost of additional complexity in the implementation and management of the Oracle environment. If possible, most businesses will benefit by running Oracle on a Linux platform.
Advantages of Oracle Linux
Developing an operating system is no trivial matter. Oracle would not have undertaken this endeavor unless they had compelling reasons to do so. The company believes that its Oracle Linux operating system provides the optimal platform for running Oracle databases.
Let’s look at some specific features of Oracle Linux that make it the right operating system for your Oracle databases.
Oracle Linux is Oracle’s standard development platform
Oracle Database and all other Oracle software and services are developed on Oracle Linux. This enables the developers to address issues throughout the entire stack. They can resolve bottlenecks and issues originating in the operating system to promote enhanced performance and reliability.
Formal stress tests are performed on the OS before any database or application software is made available. The tight coupling of the database and operating system results in better functionality and exposes any weaknesses that developers need to address.
Oracle Linux includes the optimized Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel to obtain the best performance from Oracle software. The innovative performance improvements made to Oracle Linux are not immediately available in other Linux distributions. Though the open source nature of the OS means they eventually will be incorporated into other flavors of Linux, Oracle Linux delivers the improvements first.
Optimized transaction performance
Oracle’s engineers improved transaction performance with Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS), a low-latency connectionless protocol that reliably delivers datagrams to thousands of endpoints. Additional performance benefits are achieved by allowing Oracle Linux to take the lead in database communication, simplifying the database code for increased execution speed.
Reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS)
Oracle Linux supports zero-downtime updates using the company’s proprietary Ksplice technology. No reboot is necessary when applying fixes, eliminating downtime and enabling updates to be applied promptly. Ksplice simplifies server maintenance and provides continuous availability of business-critical database applications.
Enhanced resiliency is provided by Oracle Clusterware which lets multiple Oracle Linux servers operate as a single system. This provides redundancy in the event of hardware or software failures and ensures that mission-critical systems remain operational.
Enhanced security and data protection
Security is essential in an Oracle Database environment and Oracle Linux furnishes advanced enterprise features to protect data and secure access to the system. The OS includes strong encryption and IP filtering for firewalls.
Specific Oracle Database options designed to provide enhanced security are extensively tested and supported by Oracle Linux. These include:
- Oracle Advanced Security Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) to enforce data-at-rest encryption;
- Oracle Advanced Security Data Redaction to furnish on-the-fly redaction of sensitive data in SQL query results;
- Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall.
Full-stack management tools
Instead of using a collection of third-party management solutions, Oracle Linux offers an integrated and consistent set of tools. These tools facilitate managing an Oracle Database environment on-premises or in the cloud with a single-pane-of-glass interface for exceptional visibility.
Rapid deployment
Oracle Linux offers multiple deployment options designed to simplify the process and quickly get the system up and operational. Oracle Database can be installed using a single RPM, saving time for the technical staff.
Cloud-ready services
Customers interested in deploying Oracle Database in the cloud can use the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Oracle Linux for a fully-integrated solution. Oracle Linux facilitates the deployment and migration of Oracle databases and applications to the cloud.
Let VAST Lend a Helping Hand
VAST can help your company make a smooth transition to Oracle Linux from whatever operating system you are currently running. If it’s a new Oracle Database installation, VAST will help you address the complexities of implementing and managing the environment to provide optimized performance and availability.
VAST has extensive experience with Oracle Linux and was named Oracle Linux North American Partner of the Year for 2018 and 2019. As an Oracle partner, they have an excellent handle on the various ways the enterprise database can be implemented. Whether you are looking to migrate an existing environment to the cloud, optimize your on-premises Oracle Database, or are implementing Oracle for the first time, VAST will help you get it done right. The combination of VAST’s knowledge and the advantages of Oracle Linux will have your database environment producing optimal results that meet your business objectives.
