I have a talk I give at OUGs around the country about database automation that makes a few general points on this subject: - Oracle's database is getting closer to an OS all the time. We can look at some of the features that Oracle has internally like: --- Cluster framework (CRS) --- IP and network management (VIPs - yes, part of the CRS, I know) --- Built-in memory management (automatic SGA, etc. tuning) --- Built-in storage/volume management (ASM) --- Filesystem structures (tablespaces, OCFS, etc.) With all of these things, Oracle starts to wonder why the OS is there, and starts trying to figure out how to get the OS out of the way as much as possible. I am sure they kicked around the idea of an OS, but this way, they get the best of both worlds. The OS vendor gets to deal with the hassle of device drivers and the like without Oracle having to try to implement that in the database, and Oracle gets a generic hardware access layer. I think that the idea of Oracle having the full stack really drives from the perception that the database will become increasingly commoditized. There's folks from places like Forrester that argue that eventually the database will be completely automated. If you believe that to be true, or even that things are going to trend that way, it makes sense to try to own more pieces of the puzzle to maintain market share. Thanks, Matt -- Matthew Zito Chief Scientist GridApp Systems P: 646-452-4090 mzito@xxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of ryan_gaffuri@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Mon 4/17/2006 2:59 PM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Oracle ventures into the O/S market.....? Oracle has ventured into the Java IDE market and java developers barely noticed. I thought some people stated that with the direction oracle is going that they are trying to turn the Oracle database into an OS all by itself?