While you should have no problem with a large database on Linux w/Oracle, some of Oracle's features might give it the upper hand in your decision. Considering your database is mission critical and presumably 24/7, your backup strategy is crucial. Oracle will allow you to do online hot-backups while the database is running. A definite advantage over the cold-backups. Also if using large tables, consider Oracle's table partitioning option, which allows a table to be spread across several files (tablespaces) and be queried either individually (by partition) or as a whole. On very large databases this can help reduce query time significantly.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, cold backups are the best, however, in a true 24/7 database that would be impossible
While you should have no problem with a large database on Linux w/Oracle, some of Oracle's features might give it the upper hand in your decision. Considering your database is mission critical and presumably 24/7, your backup strategy is crucial. Oracle will allow you to do online hot-backups while the database is running. A definite advantage over the cold-backups. Also if using large tables, consider Oracle's table partitioning option, which allows a table to be spread across several files (tablespaces) and be queried either individually (by partition) or as a whole. On very large databases this can help reduce query time significantly.
C Bradley
NCycles, LLC