Tivoli TSM works on Oracle Linux? (Or: Arguments to choose Oracle Linux :-)
We're in the process of phasing out our HP-UX Itanium boxes for running Oracle databases. We have chosen x86_64 platform with Linux O/S - so far we have agreed :-)
The consultants we use for DBAs state that Oracle Linux is the obvious choice - Oracle database is developed on that O/S (not ported), it is basically a redhat, but Oracle can make small fixes/tweaks particularly to support the database.
Our server guys are mainly windows people but they have "talked to friends", who claim SUSE is the best choice. (And we get some free SUSE licences with VMWare.)
The unix/linux consultant we often use has a great worry that IBM Tivoli TSM agent is not supported on Oracle Linux. He deems it highly questionable to run business critical databases on an O/S that our backup system does not support, so he prefers Redhat (or alternatively SUSE.) And he worries too that with Oracle Linux we bind ourselves to a commercial platform.
I'm the SQL developer/architect and no O/S expert - I try to mediate :-) I am not the decision maker, but my word carries weight on the decision - I don't claim anything without having researched it.
So I have researched OTN and IBM sites and googled a lot. I have not found anything that states TSM will work on Oracle Linux (except a university that claimed - with no source - that IBM has certified OEL for TSM use, and I think I found clues on IBM site on a document history that seemed like IBM used to have mentioned OEL in a paper of theirs but have removed it.)
On the other hand I have not found anything that states it won't work - and a lot of whitepapers and FAQ on Oracle Linux site that states that any binary that will run on Redhat will run on OEL. But is that the same as stating that because TSM is certified for Redhat, then it is also "certified" for OEL because it is really a Redhat?
I now try to ask here:
- Are there known installations of OEL that use TSM agent for RMAN backups successfully?
- Is there any document/whitepaper I can quote that calms the server guys worries about TSM backup on OEL?
- I have Oracles [url http://www.oracle.com/us/technologies/linux/product/comparisons/index.html]comparison of OEL and Redhat, but what is usually the deciding factor for choosing OEL, Redhat or SUSE?
Thank you for any insight you may bring to help us stop arguing and make a decision ;-)