Dick, Thanks for your response. I am supporting Oracle databases on Windows since 2003 (on other platforms since 1988) and never got a single 'blue screen of deaths' for Windows 2000 / 2003 servers yet. I think credit goes to some excellent US Based Server Admin support. When I joined that client I moved number of Windows databases to Linux but where application was supporting databases on Windows only we had no option. As informed earlier Linux is the preferred platform for this client but if requirement for Window based databases which host application as well as database on Windows server we have no option but to put database on Windows. These databases are mostly smaller in memory requirement so we don't hit 3GB limits. Point still remain the same, they run quite normal without any serious memory or other resources issues on Windows 2000/2003 servers. Due support issues, now Windows 2000 servers either has to be migrated either to 2003 or 2008 servers. Regards Rafiq Subject: RE: Oracle RAC on Win vs. Oracle on Linux Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:02:38 -0500 From: Richard.Goulet@xxxxxxxxxxx To: rafiq9857@xxxxxxxxxxx; robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx; oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Rafiq, As I'm working in one of the premier (top 10) trials companies to the pharma community we are moving all our databases/applications off of Windows for Unix based operating systems. These are validated, no problem. Windows has two basic problems, memory and processes. Without a start up switch your limited to 3GB total memory for Oracle, with the switch you can have another gb, but it uses memory context switches which are a performance killer. The second is that Oracle on Windows is multithreaded within a single executable where as Unix based systems have multiple processes again limiting capacity. Our windows based databases are a real pain in the shorts, they are constantly hitting that "blue screen of death" at least once a week. As it is after 1 June we will no longer support or validate a Windows database. Dick Goulet Senior Oracle DBA/NA Team Lead PAREXEL International From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mohammad Rafiq Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:50 PM To: Robert Freeman; oracle list Subject: RE: Oracle RAC on Win vs. Oracle on Linux Robert, I don't agree that Window is evil. I seen problems with Windows NT (mostly memory leak related) but after handling Oracle databases on Windows 2000 or newer version, it is quite stable. However it depends on SA of Windows server how competent they are to configure and handle Windows server. I am mostly supporting Oracle databases of various versions on HP, RedHat Linux and Windows and did not find serious issues with Windows 2000+ servers. Although it is not a preferred environment but due vendor requirements for their application (specially for pharmceutical industry which needs validated application/databases) we need to put Oracle databases on Windows 2000/2003 servers. Regards Rafiq Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:05:10 -0800 From: robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx Subject: Oracle RAC on Win vs. Oracle on Linux To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Anyone want to jump in on their preferred platform for RAC? Personally I tend to lean towards Linux for stability purposes, but I'd like your thoughts on why you prefer either platform for RAC. Specifically why would you avoid windows (other than the fact that it's evil), or would you? RF Robert G. Freeman Master Principle Consultant, Oracle Corporation Oracle ACE Author: Oracle Database 11g RMAN Backup and Recovery (Oracle Press) - ON ITS WAY SOON! OCP: Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional Study Guide (Sybex) Oracle Database 11g New Features (Oracle Press) Oracle Database 10g New Features (Oracle Press) Other various titles Blog: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get it now. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469228/direct/01/