Simple ways to achieve performance improvements using Linux for enterprise-level databases like Oracle.

"Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead." - Admiral David Farragut

As it does for many people today, the Linux movement enthralls me. I'm interested not only because I'm more of a UNIX-based DBA but also because of the amazing speed with which major vendors, such as HP, Compaq, Dell, IBM and Oracle, have embraced this open-source operating system. Last year Linux server sales accounted for approximately 30% of Compaq's, 13.7% of Dell's and 13.5% of IBM's total server sales, according to eWeek. Moreover, IBM spent a billion dollars on Linux development in 2001, after having ported Linux to all their hardware platforms in 2000. Furthermore, Intel's new 64-bit Itanium CPU lists only four supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, AIX and HP-UX. And let's not forget that Oracle released 9i on Linux months ahead of the Windows port. Then again, maybe I just like the underdog--I mean I'm writing this article on my AMD Athlon-based PC.

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