Oracle, SUSE and others caught up in RHEL drama hit back with OpenELA
- Reference: 1692007208
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/08/14/oracle_suse_ciq_openela/
- Source link:
The OpenELA [1]homepage opens with some strong, even confrontational words: "No subscriptions. No passwords. No barriers. Freeloaders welcome." That's a reference to the [2]drama around RHEL and the recently erected paywall around its source code.
RHEL drama, ChromeOS and more ... Our vultures speak freely about the latest in Linux [3]READ MORE
The non-profit's primary backers naturally all issued statements: [4]Oracle , [5]SUSE , and [6]CIQ .
CIQ is the smallest of the trio, though it is the [7]corporate sponsor of Rocky Linux. It's worth noting CIQ does not directly run the Rocky Linux project: that is done by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation.
OpenELA is a [8]501(c)6 organization: a league or association of businesses with a common interest. It's very subtle in its [9]messaging :
Absolutely everyone is welcome to join! From Enterprise Linux downstream derivatives, to organizations that depend on Enterprise Linux, to vendors, and individuals who just love being part of something amazing, YOU ARE INVITED!
The Reg FOSS Desk is reminded strongly of UnitedLinux, an organization [10]founded in 2002 to offer an enterprise Linux distro mainly distinguished by being, well, not Red Hat. A year later, [11]it offered certification, but after emitting a SUSE-based version 1.0 product, it disappeared.
What is chiefly notable by its absence from the OpenELA membership list is the main other modern RHEL rebuild [12]AlmaLinux , which is backed by CloudLinux – as well as AMD and some others. AlmaLinux is also notable because it's also [13]endorsed by CERN and FermiLab, although the latter formerly had their own RHEL rebuild, the now-dormant Scientific Linux. Another AlmaLinux backer, Sine Nomina Associates, formerly offered the ClefOS rebuild of CentOS for IBM z.
[14]
The other academic-sponsored RHEL rebuild whose name is thus far missing from the list is Springdale Linux, formerly if less euphoniously known as PUIAS Linux, after its parent organizations, Princeton University and the Institute of Advanced Studies. After issuing a cautious [15]comment about Red Hat's source code distribution changes, it has gone quiet.
[16]
[17]
There are numerous other CentOS Linux downstream projects out there, all of which would seem to be potential candidates. Some, such as the Polish EuroLinux, are not so well known but were current until IBM-owned Red Hat's recent moves. The Japanese Miracle Linux [日本語] from Cybertrust Japan seems to have stopped after releasing version 9.0 on November 1, 2022.
[18]SUSE announces its own RHEL-compatible distro... again
[19]Red Hat's open source rot took root when IBM walked in
[20]Red Hat at 30: Biggest Linux company of them all still pushing to become cloud power
[21]Unix is dead. Long live Unix!
Others have large corporate backers. Many years ago, this vulture looked at two CentOS-based ready-rolled on-prem server distros, ClarkConnect descendant [22]ClearOS and [23]SME Server , formerly known as e-Smith. Both are still very much around. SME Server is now sponsored by Koozali, while ClearOS is now backed by HPE.
Meanwhile, Huawei develops EulerOS and sponsors its free offshoot OpenEuler. Targeting a similar market to ClearOS and SME Server is the CentOS Linux-based NethServer.
Other lower-profile projects include <Circle Linux – also sponsored by Huawei – and Groupe Bull's BAS. Ones that have gone quiet in recent years include RedSleeve, which targeted Arm hardware, so its thunder has been somewhat stolen as Red Hat now supports that directly. Virtuozzo's VzLinux also hasn't tracked recent releases of its upstream; nor has Rocks. Another CentOS downstream is redpesk.
[24]
We note with some amusement that Microsoft's Linux container distro [25]CBL Mariner , version 2.0.2 of which appeared [26]Thursday , is also RPM-based. Perhaps the Seattle giant might like to join the OpenELA, too. ®
Get our [27]Tech Resources
[1] https://openela.org/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/23/red_hat_centos_move/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/20/kettle_linux_rhel/
[4] https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/ciq-oracle-and-suse-create-open-enterprise-linux-association-for-a-collaborative-and-open-future-2023-08-10/
[5] https://www.suse.com/news/OpenELA-for-a-Collaborative-and-Open-Future/
[6] https://ciq.com/press-release/ciq-oracle-and-suse-create-open-enterprise-linux-association-for-a-collaborative-and-open-future/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/11/rocky_linux_ciq/
[8] https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/business-leagues
[9] https://openela.org/join/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2002/06/05/unitedlinux_agrees_to_differ/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2003/06/25/were_unitedlinux_are_you_ready/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/17/almalinux_project_switches_focus/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/08/cern_fermilab_almalinux/
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZNpPrhIqrvBbRSrG232TpgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[15] https://groups.google.com/g/springdale-users/c/53hFsR7oLEQ
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZNpPrhIqrvBbRSrG232TpgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZNpPrhIqrvBbRSrG232TpgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/12/suse_announces_rhel_fork/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/07/red_hat_open_source/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/14/column/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/17/unix_is_dead/
[22] https://www.theregister.com/2010/11/19/clear_os_review/
[23] https://www.theregister.com/2010/11/17/review_sme_server/
[24] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZNpPrhIqrvBbRSrG232TpgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[25] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/17/microsoft_updates_its_inhouse_linux/
[26] https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/releases/tag/2.0.20230805-2.0
[27] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Great to see Oracle in there.
Why has the Molotov - Ribbentrop pact suddenly popped into my mind?
I'd never heard of CIQ, but their [1]Open Source Ethos says:
"We believe that open source is a development and community model around software and sharing for the greater benefit. It is NOT a marketing switch to be enabled or disabled based on corporate and business needs behind closed doors."
Just so.
[1] https://ciq.com/company/open-source-ethos/
founded to create continuity for all Enterprise Linux downstream distributions
They didn't quite dare go with the slogan "Taking the Red Hat out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux" did they, but it's close enough to almost be that. It's unsurprising that this has happened in response to IBM's attempt at control, but what happens next is sure to be interesting.
Will IBM attempt to try and stop this by restricting source access to Oracle, SUSE, etc? Or even try and sue them? Maybe they'll just give in to the pressure this will apply, and just say "OK, everyone can just have the source for free again".Or maybe all 3 options in that order.
Whatever happens, I imagine the scenes in IBM / Red Hat boardrooms were quite entertaining when they got this news.
Re: founded to create continuity for all Enterprise Linux downstream distributions
Alternatively "Taking the Big Blue out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
Re: founded to create continuity for all Enterprise Linux downstream distributions
Red Hat have already restricted RHEL source access to Oracle, Suse, etc. This is why the latter have formed this organization.
At this point it's still not clear what it was that Red Hat were hoping to accomplish. Was this a reaction to loss of market share to Alma, Rocky, Oracle, and the like? Or do they have plans for big price increases and want to make it a bit more difficult for existing customers to jump ship (or threaten to jump ship) to the alternatives?
Somehow this has to be connected to money, but I'm still not sure just how.
Overall though this Red Hat plan has to be related to distros which are exact clones of specific RHEL releases and not ones which are Fedora or Centos derivatives, because the latter haven't changed policies.
Re: founded to create continuity for all Enterprise Linux downstream distributions
I wonder if just a directive from their corporate Daddy to increase profits after they splurged on buying Red Hat. This will likely come back to bite them, but those C levels will have had their bonuses by then and moved on. RH themselves used to say if we make money from bits we aren't doing it properly....
While I understand and support the goals of open source, I can also understand why a big distribution gets ticked off by all the rebuilds and remixes downstream of their hard work.
Sure it is a community effort, but if you take a look at the statistics, the majority of code contributions are by the employees and contractors for the "big players", not "the little guys."
I'm against this, but wait...
...before you punish me with down votes, let me explain. All this is doing is legitimising RHEL as some sort of perfect, un-corruptable standard. This actually helps Blue Hat, both by enhancing the reputation of RHEL as some sort of perfect product AND training people to use RHEL. All this effort should, in my view, go into development of an equivalent product, outside the control of predatory corporations. Right, that's it, feel free to put the boot in.
Re: I'm against this, but wait...
The same could be said for developing an alternative to iOS and Android.
LINUX King compute tech.
That today battle for absolute control modern O.S. in world enterprise I seem bolshevik battle on Russia for overthrow Czar (windows of Microsoft), waiting nothing good. Please dont another monopoly.
"No subscriptions. No passwords. No barriers. Freeloaders welcome."
And Oracle backs it!
> Freeloaders welcome
So Red Hat themselves are welcome. That will be strange to see how they try to weasel their way into it when it hits off.