Oracle Announces Dedicated Linux Test Lab to Further Quality and Stability of Linux

LINUXWORLD, BOSTON, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) today announced the creation of a dedicated Linux Test Lab, providing a rigorous test environment to further the quality, stability and supportability of the operating system. Bringing Linux testing "in house" helps Oracle ensure that the operating system will be as finely tuned and as dependable as commercially available products.

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With continued advancements to Linux, the most recent being the release of the Linux 2.6 Kernel and distribution releases of Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, an increasing number of companies are turning to Linux to run their mission-critical applications. According to market research firm IDC, the overall Linux ecosystem will grow 25.9 percent annually to reach $35.7 billion in 2008. Of that, IDC estimates $14 billion will be packaged software, $10 billion PCs and $11 billion servers.

To assuage customer concerns around the reliability, support and integration of Linux, Oracle has dedicated significant resources -- both staff and hardware -- for the new test center. Oracle will test the Red Hat and Novell SuSE Linux operating systems, as well as the mainline Linux kernel using real-world workloads. As a result of these tests, Oracle will be able to fix operating system issues as they are discovered and provide those fixes back to the Linux community and operating system partners to ensure a stronger Linux release moving forward. Customers can make certain that regardless of which hardware or storage system they choose, the Linux platform will perform at the highest level.

"This test lab will take Linux to the next level, helping ensure that the operating system is as secure and stable as possible," said Wim Coekaerts, director of Linux Engineering, Oracle Corp. "Oracle has been an ardent supporter of Linux since its inception. This lab extends our commitment to the Linux development community, our Linux distribution partners and our customers. This testing lab will help prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Linux can run mission-critical systems today."

With the dedicated Linux Test Lab and with more than 9,000 Oracle developers using Linux infrastructure to develop products, Oracle continues to provide the technology leadership to enable the Linux platform for enterprise applications and grid solutions. Along with more thorough Linux testing, Oracle will continue to provide a single point of contact for front-line technical support of both Oracle(R) and Red Hat and Oracle and SUSE. Oracle's Linux Heritage

Since introducing the first database to run on Linux in 1998, Oracle has been committed to furthering Linux adoption across the enterprise. Support has been a hallmark of the Oracle-Linux organization since June 2002 when Oracle began providing code-level support for the entire software platform, including the operating system. Currently, customers from around the globe tap into Oracle's 6,000-strong global team for 24/7 technical support for Linux. Oracle also has a Linux Kernel Group dedicated to working with Linux vendors to provide fixes and develop new functionality to benefit the Linux community. About Oracle

Oracle is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, visit our Web site at http://www.oracle.com . Trademarks

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.