Category Archives: Open Source

open source: more than just a good idea

Open Source

MySQL acquisition by Sun Microsystems good for Open Source?

2 Comments

The Portable Consultant has only now noticed Developer Shed’s good overview of the acquisition of key the open source database company MySQL by Sun Microsystems.

This is certainly good for Sun. It is probably a good place for MySQL, given the alternatives. And it is most likely good for MySQL fans, whether they require the open version or the supported version of the MySQL license.

It also might help Sun figure out how it wishes to structure its own open source licenses in the future. In the past Sun has prevaricated over licensing for key products such as Java and Solaris. Perhaps the MySQL folks, who have successfully structured their own dual-licensing, will assist Sun management in working out future Sun licensing options.

Cheers,
-pmh

New Paradigms, Open Source, YukYuks

Virtual work at Sun Microsystems is a Wonderland

It was the spring of 2006 when The Portable Consultant first posted comments here about Second Life’s virtual world.

That was a playground (umm… for adults, you know – like Vegas).

Now we can go to work in a similar environment.

Sun has recently set up a virtual world for its teleworkers, very much like Second Life.

…and they appear to be giving it away as open source.

Now, I’m sure you will want to think very carefully about the design, and clothing, of your workplace avatar!

Cheers,
-pmh

Infrastructure Architecture, Open Source

Oracle VM solution extends hosting options for Oracle products, but…

Oracle’s announcement of a new free virtual server solution is, at the very least, an extension of those magazine ads that offered greater uptime by running Oracle on top of Linux (the Oracle Unbreakable Linux campaign).

It has been said that Oracle’s main interest in Linux, and Linux support, is to facilitate the hosting of Oracle’s proprietary products. (Oh, and if that cuts Microsoft out of the picture so that customers can spend more with Oracle so much the better!)

The Portable Consultant, whose present work happens to involve infrastructure design including database hosting options, agrees.

Oracle’s VM announcement seems to align with this approach: when hosting Oracle products, consider using Oracle-supported Linux and (New!) Oracle VM.

Whether Oracle’s free VM will challenge VMware in all its roles remains to be seen. My guess it that it is aimed primarily at hosting Oracle products and that is where Oracle development and support will focus.

Cheers,
-pmh