Marianne: This announcement only affects ASMLib, not the use of ASM generally on Linux. Since just about everyone I speak to avoids using ASMLib anyway (on RHEL and OL), this has no impact on ASM usage on Linux. I think this announcement is more about Oracle pulling away from ASMLib, than about trying to scupper RHEL, although I'm sure they would like to do that too. :) If you have any concerns, do a test install using UDEV (the Linux device manager) to control ownership and permissions on your disks, rather than ASMLib. Here is a simple example without multi-pathing: http://www.oracle-base.com/articles/linux/UdevScsiRulesConfigurationInOracleLinux5.php Personally, I don;t mind using ASMLib, but I will probably never use it again because it seems so unpopular. Why get locked in to something that is gradually moving to end-of-life status? :) Cheers Tim... On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 7:56 PM, Kevin Closson <ora_kclosson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > That writing has been on the wall since the inception of Unbreakable Linux. > Is anyone surprised? Is anyone short of ideas on what the next obvious such > moves will be? > > > > > kevinclosson.wordpress.com > > ________________________________ > From: "CRISLER, JON A (ATTCORP)" <JC1706@xxxxxxx> > To: "Marianne.Gillfillan@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <Marianne.Gillfillan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; > "oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wed, April 20, 2011 1:40:10 PM > Subject: RE: ASM on Linux 6 > > This seems to be a very serious situation for us: I think a call to my > Oracle Sales Rep for a strongly worded protest is in order. > > -----Original Message----- > From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Gillfillan, Marianne J. > Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 7:54 AM > To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: ASM on Linux 6 > > Did anyone else see the announcement from Oracle that they will not be > providing ASMlib for kernels distributed by RH as part of RHEL 6, only for > Oracle kernels? See Metalink Note 1089399.1: > > "For RHEL6, Oracle will only provide ASMLib software and updates when > configured with a kernel distributed by Oracle. Oracle will not provide > ASMLib packages for kernels distributed by Red Hat as part of RHEL6. ASMLib > updates will be delivered via Unbreakable Linux Network(ULN) which is > available to customers with Oracle Linux support. ULN works with both Oracle > Linux or Red Hat Linux installations, but ASMlib usage will require > replacing any Red Hat kernel with a kernel provided by Oracle." > > To me, this sounds like Oracle is forcing all ASM Linux sites to buy into > their support structure and drop RH support. When we investigated the cost > between RH and Oracle Linux support, we found Oracle Linux to be more > expensive than RH (when comparing apples to apples). For those on an > already tight budget, this is not going to sit well. > > I had also heard that this may have something to do with RedHat's decision > to pre-bundle patches in the kernel, making it more difficult for Oracle to > provide Red Hat support (and take away customers from Red Hat support): > > http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/72012.html?wlc=1303298360 > > If that's the reason, it's going to backfire on RedHat as all those running > ASM on Linux will have to flip to Oracle Support just to be able to download > ASMlib updates. They'll end up losing customers anyway. The only other > option is for ASM customers to drop the use of ASM and lose all the great > functionality it provides. Tough decisions ahead, I believe. > > Marianne > > Marianne Gillfillan, OCA > CAIS Technical DBA > Marianne.Gillfillan@xxxxxxxxxxxx > -- > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l > > > -- > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l > > > -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l