[NTLUG:Discuss] server hardware/software recommendations - linux/oracle

[MontyS@videopost.com]

Greetings.

I am planning on installing a database solution at our company.  This will
be the first time I have deployed Linux in a "critical" area of the company.
Other deployments have been web and mail servers.

I plan to run either RedHat AS or ES, and Oracle 9i standard.  Which RedHat
version do you recommend?  (Don't need/can't justify the enterprise level
Oracle.)

Which platform would you all recommend?  I am not looking for hardware
configuration help (although if you are offering...).  I am wondering which
manufacturer is the best choice.

We have an IBM Netfinity server that has been online for around 5 years.  It
has performed flawlessly.  I do hear good things about Dell also...

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Monty