Oracle Teams With Emulex

Delivering on its commitment to advance Linux for the enterprise, Oracle announced the contribution of data integrity protection code to the Linux community.

The contributed open source code helps ensure comprehensive data integrity is maintained as data moves from application to database, and from Linux operating system to disk storage. The new code enables Linux to provide additional check points and helps eliminate silent data corruption by reducing the potential for incorrect data to be written to the disk, decreasing application and database errors and system down-time. For Linux customers, this contribution helps provide comprehensive data integrity capabilities across the entire software stack, allowing customers to reduce costs and increase efficiencies and uptime.

Developed in part with Emulex, the new data integrity protection code is based on existing storage standards and allows key data protection information to be utilized by the Linux kernel for the first time. Oracle and Emulex are also working together to conduct an early adopter program, whereby a select group of customers can test the new data integrity features in real world environments.

Additional Details

• The Oracle code contribution has been accepted into the 2.6.27 Linux kernel.
• This code contribution includes generic support for data integrity at the block and file system layers, as well as support for the T10 Protection Information Model (formerly known as DIF) and the Data Integrity Extensions.
• The Data Integrity Extensions, developed in collaboration with Emulex, augment the T10 standard by allowing protection information to be transferred to and from host memory, enabling comprehensive data integrity protection.
• The Oracle-developed code is the first implementation of the T10 Protection Information Model standard for an operating system.

"For more than a decade, Oracle has been an integral member of the Linux community and this latest work with Emulex, to bring enterprise-class data integrity capabilities to Linux, is another example of Oracle’s on-going contributions to better Linux for all users," said Andrew Morton, Linux 2.6 kernel maintainer.

"Oracle and Emulex have been fully committed to the Linux data integrity initiative, working to build industry standards and developing solutions for end-to-end data integrity and today’s news marks a significant milestone in this effort," said Scott McIntyre, vice president of product marketing, Emulex Corporation. "Data integrity is vital to any business that relies on critical records and information to function successfully. Our work with Oracle is designed to help data center administrators quickly identify and remediate corrupted data, thereby protecting their business’ assets, while also helping prevent lengthy server downtime and associated costs."

"Enterprise Linux organizations want to improve data center uptime, reduce data corruption events and improve system-wide stability," said Subbu Vempati, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Server and Storage Solution Alliances, HP. "Oracle and Emulex’s efforts are a welcome addition to HP’s industry leading Linux portfolio and also complement our robust data center computing solutions."

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