What does unbreakable kernel mean?

[rosswmcgee]

We use 2 Ubuntu 12.04 and one Debian Squeeze computers. Our Uubntu 12.04

kernel is 3.2. So isn't the higher number more up to date?

I need some education here, just to keep on learning.

Looking at distro watch I saw this:

Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel [kernel-uek-2.6.39-200.24.1.el6uek]
o Installed and booted by default. And this:
Oracle is pleased to announce the general availability of Oracle Linux 6.3 for x86 (32 bit) and x86_64 (64 bit) architectures.

Oracle Linux 6.3 ships with two sets of kernel packages:

* Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel [kernel-uek-2.6.39-200.24.1.el6uek]
o Installed and booted by default
* Red Hat Compatible Kernel [kernel-2.6.32-279.el6]
o Installed by default

By default, both the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel and the Red Hat Compatible Kernel are installed.
Unbreakable Enterprise kernel Release 2 shipped in this update has following driver updates:

So what possible advantage would the Oracle distro provide?

[spikoley]

I think it is just a clever name their marketing team gave it. They probably just customized the kernel for their needs.

http://www.oracle.com/us/technologies/linux/ubreakable-enterprise-kernel-linux-173350.html

[BBQdave]

I think it is just a cleaver name their marketing team gave it. They probably just customized the kernel for their needs.

+1

Yeah, I am curious what an unbreakable kernel is :p

[Redblade20XX]

I wonder if they meant unbreakable in the sense of security or stability. If it's security, I'm skeptical about that. If they mean stability, it might be a micro-kernel or a cluster kernel.

-Red

[jim_24601]

It means "We applied a few security patches and gave it a s00per k00l enterprisey marketing name so management will think it's better. Who cares what the techies think of it; they don't make the buying decisions."

Or am I being too cynical here? ;)

[rosswmcgee]

Is a higher kernel number better than a lower number?

[blackbird34]

Could just be taken from a later kernel build.
In any case as far as i know Oracle has just compiled (and tweaked a little) Red Hat's source code. +1 to jim_24601 (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=561272), higher kernel number is probably more recent but not necessarily more stable.
(http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=561272)

[rosswmcgee]

I am keeping 12.04 never the less what advantage would Oracle provide?