Author: eygle link: http://www.eygle.com/archives/2011/02/oracle_asmlib_support.html
Since the launch of Oracle Linux 6, many users are eager to try. In Linux 6, a change in asmlib has been published on Metalink. See Metalink note1089399.1.
Oracle points out:
For rhel6 Oracle will only provide asmlib software and updates via unbreakable Linux Network (uln). Oracle will no longer provide asmlib packages for Red Hat kernels.
That is to say, in Oracle, asmlib will be provided only through uln. asmlib, which was previously provided for public download through OTN, will no longer be available. Oracle will no longer provide asmlib packages for Redhat kernels. Although asmlib is not essential for Linux ASM, many users may even avoid using it, however, this change will make it inconvenient for many users who are familiar with asmlib.
Oel6 is said to have significantly improved the performance of the database. In the OLTP performance test, compared with the same kernel, Oracle Linux kernel will improve the performance by 75%:
Fast:
More than 75 percent performance gain demonstrated in OLTP performance tests over a red hat compatible Kernel200 percent speedup of InfiniBand messaging; 137 percent faster solid state disk access. modern: Pro VIDES optimizations for large NUMA servers; improved power management and energy efficiency; fine grained CPU and memory resource control. reliable: supports the data integrity extensions and T10 protection information model, to stop copying upt data from being written to storage; hardware fault management enables improved application uptime; low overhead performance counters for tracing.
Optimized for Oracle:Built and tested to run Oracle hardware, databases, and middleware with the best Linux performance and reliability available.
It seems that Oracle will spare no effort to attract Linux users to Oracle Linux. Asmlib is not required. You can also add a bare device to the ASM instance directly.