Is Oracle A Real Alternative To CentOS?

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Is Oracle a real alternative to CentOS? I’m asking because genuinely don’t know; I’ve never paid any attention to Oracle’s Linux offering before now.

But today I’ve seen a couple of the folks here mention Oracle Linux and I see that Oracle even offers a script to convert CentOS 7 to Oracle. Nothing about CentOS 8 in that script, though.

https://linux.oracle.com/switch/CentOS/

That page seems to say that Oracle Linux is everything that CentOS was prior to today’s announcement.

But someone else here just said that the first thing Oracle Linux does is to sign you up for an Oracle account.

So, for people who know a lot more about these things than I do, what’s the downside of using Oracle Linux versus CentOS? I assume that things like epel/rpmfusion/etc will work just as they do under CentOS since it’s supposed to be bit-for-bit compatible like CentOS was. What does the “sign up with Oracle” stuff actually do, and can you cancel, avoid, or strip it out if you don’t want it?

Based on my extremely limited knowledge around Oracle Linux, it sounds like that might be a go-to solution for CentOS refugees.

But is it, really?

33 thoughts on - Is Oracle A Real Alternative To CentOS?

  • F> Is Oracle a real alternative to CentOS? I’m asking because genuinely F> don’t know; I’ve never paid any attention to Oracle’s Linux offering F> before now.

    I’ve used Unix/Linux at Wright-Patterson AFB, USA since 1988 — this includes Solaris starting at 2.5.1 up to 11, FreeBSD, and Linux. I used CentOS for several years and I’m a refugee simply because it was easier to get something containing the name “Oracle” approved for use on base.
    (All the stupid sh*t you’ve heard about gov’t procurement is true.)

    I *despise* Oracle the company, but I ran Oracle Linux as both a server for an Oracle DB and as my workstation starting Jan 2018 after a drive failure knocked my machine out of the park. Occasionally I had to dork around looking for a source RPM, but other than that I was fine with it. You use “yum” like anywhere else.

    FWIW, my 6.10 installation had this in /etc/redhat-release:
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 6.10 (Santiago)

    Go to https://linux.oracle.com/switch/CentOS/, poke around a bit, and you end up here:
    https://yum.oracle.com/oracle-linux-downloads.html

    I just went to the ISO page and I can grab whatever I like without signing up for anything, so nothing’s changed since I first used it.

    I use FreeBSD on my home systems to avoid precisely this kind of crap, so this is *NOT* a recommendation for Oracle in general — be ready for them to change the rules at any time.

    Finally, I’ve been on this list for many years — Johnny H. is the most responsive and least arrogant person I’ve ever seen, so please don’t pee in his Wheaties.

  • [snip]

    Only to point out that while in CentOS (8.3, but the same in 7.x) the situation is like this:

    [g.cecchi@skull8 ~]$ ll /etc/redhat-release /etc/CentOS-release
    -rw-r–r– 1 root root 30 Nov 10 16:49 /etc/CentOS-release lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 14 Nov 10 16:49 /etc/redhat-release -> CentOS-release
    [g.cecchi@skull8 ~]$

    [g.cecchi@skull8 ~]$ cat /etc/CentOS-release CentOS Linux release 8.3.2011

    in Oracle Linux (eg 7.7) you get two different files:

    $ ll /etc/redhat-release /etc/oracle-release
    -rw-r–r– 1 root root 32 Aug 8 2019 /etc/oracle-release
    -rw-r–r– 1 root root 52 Aug 8 2019 /etc/redhat-release

    $ cat /etc/redhat-release Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 7.7 (Maipo)

    $ cat /etc/oracle-release Oracle Linux Server release 7.7

    This is generally done so that sw pieces officially certified only on upstream enterprise vendor and that test contents of the redhat-release file are satisfied. Using the lsb_release command on an Oracle Linux 7.6 machine:

    # lsb_release -a LSB Version: :core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch Distributor ID: OracleServer Description: Oracle Linux Server release 7.6
    Release: 7.6
    Codename: n/a
    #

    Gianluca

  • Am 08.12.20 um 18:54 schrieb Frank Cox:

    Yes, it is better than CentOS and in some aspects better than RHEL:

    – faster security updates than CentOS, directly behind RHEl
    – better kernels than RHEL and CentOS (UEKs) wih more features
    – free to download (no subscription needed):
    https://yum.oracle.com/oracle-linux-isos.html
    – free to use:
    https://yum.oracle.com/oracle-linux-8.html
    – massive amount of extra packes and full rebuild of EPEL (same link):
    https://yum.oracle.com/oracle-linux-8.html

  • You sound like you know what’s what with Oracle Linux, so here are a few follow-up questions.

    Someone else on this list said that the reason he stopped installing it was because every time he did, he got snowed under with sales calls from Oracle. Have you found this to be the case?

    Is it necessary to create an Oracle account to do anything with Oracle Linux that can’t be done without creating an account? In other words, does Oracle Linux demand that you log into Oracle to complete an installation, update that installation, install software from their epel-equivalent, or do any other of the regular sysadmin activities that one would expect to be doing? If I start installing Oracle Linux on my machines or my client’s machines, what benefit do I get by signing up for an Oracle account that I don’t have if I don’t sign up for one?

    Does Oracle Linux have a free support and discussion mailing list similar to this one?

  • While the packages may be available, their own FAQ says it’s a subscription feature. I don’t trust Oracle not to come down on users who install it and demand subscription fees. They already do so for Java and VirtualBox Extensions.

  • The image posted at that link is so blurred out that I just can’t manage to read it. Is it just the part at the bottom that says “Free to use, free to download, free to update. Always.” that I’m supposed to see or is there something more there?

  • Le 10/12/2020 à 17:18, Frank Cox a écrit :

    That’s it. I know Oracle’s history, but I think for Oracle Linux, they may be much better than their reputation.

    I’m currently fiddling around with it, and I like it very much. Plus there’s a nice script to turn an existing CentOS installation into an Oracle Linux system.

    Cheers,

    Niki

    —
    Microlinux – Solutions informatiques durables
    7, place de l’église – 30730 Montpezat Site : https://www.microlinux.fr Blog : https://blog.microlinux.fr Mail : info@microlinux.fr Tél. : 04 66 63 10 32
    Mob. : 06 51 80 12 12

  • Ok, thanks!

    I think I’ll play with it in a Virtual Box installation and see what goes on.

    It does look interesting. It’s just, you know… Oracle….

  • Linux Oracle to read it. Is it just the part at the bottom that says “Free to use, free to download, free to update. Always.” that I’m supposed to see or is there something more there?

    I am afraid it’s beyond Oracle’s power to plan for “always”. Such promises are so easily broken.

    Alternately, they should provide local definition of “always” somewhere below, in small print.
    —
    Sincerely,

    Konstantin Boyandin system administrator (ProWide Labs Ltd. – IPHost Network Monitor)

  • Le 10/12/2020 à 17:31, Frank Cox a écrit :

    On a side note, the migration script CentOS2ol.sh currently only works for Oracle Linux 7. On a whim I sent a mail to the address found on the download page and instantly got a reply from a guy with an @oracle.com mail address. I
    asked some more questions, and he answered everything patiently.

    tl;dr: an updated version of the CentOS2ol.sh script will be published very soon, with support for CentOS 8 -> OL 8.

    Cheers,

    Niki

    —
    Microlinux – Solutions informatiques durables
    7, place de l’église – 30730 Montpezat Site : https://www.microlinux.fr Blog : https://blog.microlinux.fr Mail : info@microlinux.fr Tél. : 04 66 63 10 32
    Mob. : 06 51 80 12 12

  • Am 10.12.20 um 19:53 schrieb Ljubomir Ljubojevic:

    I did a conversion of a test webserver from C8 to Springdale. It went smoothly.

  • Le 08/12/2020 à 18:54, Frank Cox a écrit :

    I spent the last three days experimenting with it.

    Here’s my take on it:

    https://blog.microlinux.fr/migration-CentOS-oracle-linux/

    tl;dr: Very nice if you don’t have any qualms about the company.

    Cheers,

    Niki

    —
    Microlinux – Solutions informatiques durables
    7, place de l’église – 30730 Montpezat Site : https://www.microlinux.fr Blog : https://blog.microlinux.fr Mail : info@microlinux.fr Tél. : 04 66 63 10 32
    Mob. : 06 51 80 12 12

  • hi all.

    Just in case, as the third author linked, read the Licence Agreement, everything will be there.

    And a small remark:
    Even if you can take a knife in a shopping mall and stab with it anyone within the same shopping mall, does not say that it is legal. But you can, Please do not try it in anywhere! well if you have no brain and interested in trying it…

    The same way, just fetching ISO without account and install it and patch it. It might be possible and no FBI agent will come to you, BUT if you want to know is it Leagal?
    RTFM! ;) by the way, this translates into F…..ing ;) Each dot represents one char and ‘.’ -ne ‘ ‘ ;)

    —
    Ruslanas Gžibovskis
    +370 6030 7030

  • GPL stuff applies only to GPL parts, but they can have Oracle blob in everything. The same time, TM’s and so on…

    Do you know how one of the biggest cases with torrents and MS products was won against guys who shared it? Because MS TM was used incorrect way, sharing ISO files of ALL MS projects and an executable which generates random codes, accidentally fit to MS producs… is not a problem, but having an MS TM Logo is the “problem”… :D

    Same in Oracle stuff.

    Also For example, according to RH license. You can install evaluation Version every month on your development system, where sysadmin develops a platform for the developer, but as soon when this platform is ready, it is a production system, but no-one will come to you and check, is it really still under development or it is already prod platform, which is rebuilt every 3 weeks with jerkins job… (yes, Mr. Jerkins) :)

    Legal and “can do” are 2 different things. ;)

    And thanks Nikolas for keeping my advice in mind ;) much appreciated ;)
    hope you will use it wisely ;)

    —
    Ruslanas Gžibovskis
    +370 6030 7030

  • Am Dienstag, den 15.12.2020, 10:14 +0100 schrieb Ruslanas Gžibovskis:
    According to the Oracle license terms and official statements, it is
    “free to download, use and share. There is no license cost, no need for a contract, and no usage audits.”
    Recommendation only: “For business-critical infrastructure, consider Oracle Linux Support.” Only optional, not a mandatory requirement. see: https://www.oracle.com/linux

    No need for such a construct. Oracle Linux can be used on any production system without the legal requirement to obtain a extra commercial license. Same as in CentOS.

    So Oracle Linux can be used free as in “free-beer” currently for any system, even for commercial purposes. Nevertheless, Oracle can change that license terms in the future, but this applies as well to all other company-backed linux distributions.
    —
    Peter Huebner

  • Ruslanas Gžibovskis kirjoitti 15.12.2020 klo 11.14:

    As someone who is considering moving to OL, I wonder if you could elaborate clearly on what specific concerns you have, without the insinuation and analogy? Oracle’s proposition [1] seems pretty straightforward to me.

    [1] https://linux.oracle.com/switch/CentOS/

    —
    Terveisin / Regards, Matti Pulkkinen

  • I think Peter have already spent some time and read around agreement and so on. So the price is understandable. And really, everyone need to keep in mind that anyone can change their licence any time.

    If You ask personally me, Matti, I do not see point using oracleLinux if can use Rocky/fedora out of cost. Same as I do not see any point in using any derivative of Debian if you just can add additional repo and install missing package…

    CentOS was free of charge RedHat Flag. And now their banner/flag do not look so trustful in free area… I still would trust paid version, especially when there is no-cost licence. Also you can connect to RH sales and get real goood discounts. If you are a small business in small country.

    But free flag is in uncertain situation.

    And I have been working with UBK or how is shortened their unbreakable kernel… No good ;)) we managed to break it ;)) and recover DB.

    If you really want you always can just look at config file how kernel is made and rebuild it with your additions or exactly same in exact same place. Also take additional blobs and place them where you need… if needed. But you need to understand if that all you really need? Maybe you just need to shorten tcp.fin_wait to 1 sec ;) and it will work as a charm even with 2.6.18… with all unneeded options off, such as kernel modules, usb, sata123…

    You just need to:
    su -c ‘echo “1” > /proc/enable/brain’

    Without this module either OS will work.

    And choosing OS is like choosing your partner, you need to understand, for how long you have same path and why your partner did that move, did partner prepared all that you would have all cases covered with new WoW…

    Thanks

    CentOS mailing list CentOS@CentOS.org https://lists.CentOS.org/mailman/listinfo/CentOS

  • Ruslanas Gžibovskis kirjoitti 15.12.2020 klo 18.04:

    The main takeaway from this seems to be that your answer to my question is “no”. Oracle can indeed change their terms if they so wish, and this is to be expected for any distro vendor or community. You seemed to be insinuating that there is something specifically in Oracle’s current terms or practices that you find objectionable, but it is reassuring that this does not seem to be the case after all.

    —
    Terveisin / Regards, Matti Pulkkinen

  • make your deployment distro-agnostic. At home I have been trying to make my ansible playbooks so they can work in both redhat
    (specifically CentOS as there are differences) and debian based distros. With that said I do know my playbooks to deploy KVM and docker are a bit weak on the debian side.

  • I would second that. Basically, Oracle has some reputation. But those who consider it insinuations may have chance to learn what can happen on their own hide.

    Valeri

  • That is quite unlikely because JAVA is something they own since they bought SUN. OEL, however, is something they build based on RHELs work. In this respect, they only own the logos and the like, but that’s it. So they might in the future stop the free usage of OEL, but they can’t sue anyone. The only exception would be when you illegitimately use their logos or where else they own the copyright/ trademark.

    Kind regards Thomas

  • Of course, everybody makes one’s own predictions, and suffers from them if they don’t come true.

    I made a prediction that CentOS will last, and did enjoy it to be true for about decade and a half. Which was long.

    Thanks again, guys, for your excellent work in the past. And good luck to you in the future.

    Valeri