Reporter: Why does Oracle, a company that prides itself on high margins, want to get into the low-margin hardware business? Are you going to exit the hardware business?
记者：甲骨文公司，一个以其高利润率 著称的公司，为什么想进入低利润的硬 件行业？你打算退出硬件业务吗？
Ellison: No, we are definitely not going to exit the hardware business. While most hardware businesses are low-margin, companies like Apple and Cisco enjoy very high-margins because they do a good job of designing their hardware and software to work together. If a company designs both hardware and software, it can build much better systems than if they only design the software. That’s why Apple’s iPhone is so much better than Microsoft phones.
埃里森：不，我们绝对不会退出硬件业 务。虽然大多数硬件企业是低利润的公 司，但像苹果电脑和思科等都有非常高 的利润，因为他们以良好的设计让硬件 和软件协调运作。如果一个公司同时设 计硬件和软件，它会比只设计软件的公 司建立更好的系统。这就是为什么苹果 的iPhone如此明显地优于微软手机的原 因。
Reporter: OK, Apple and Cisco have proven that they can do it, but what experience does Oracle have designing hardware and software to work together?
记者：嗯，苹果和思科公司已经证明他 们能做到这一点，但什么能让甲骨文硬件和软件配合运作？
Ellison: Oracle started designing hardware and software to work together a few years ago when we began our Exadata database machine development project. Some of our competitors, Teradata and Netezza for example, were delivering preconfigured hardware/software systems, while we were just delivering software. The combination of hardware and software has significant performance advantages for data warehousing applications. We had to respond with our own hardware/software combination， the Exadata database machine. Oracle’s Exadata database machine runs data warehousing applications much faster~at least ten-times faster than Oracle software running on conventional hardware. All the hardware and software pieces, database to disk，are included. You just plug it in and go—no systems integration required.
埃里森：几年前，在我们开始Exadata 数据库装置开发项目时，甲骨文就开始 设计让硬件和软件一起工作。我们的一 些竞争对手，比如Teradata和Netezza 公司，提供预配置的硬件或软件系统， 而我们只是提供软件。在数据仓库应 用中，集成的硬件和软件有着显著的性 能优势。作为回应，我们已推出自己 的硬件/软件组合，即 Exadata数据库装置。 甲骨文Exadata数据库 在数据仓库应用程序将 运行得更快，至少比甲 骨文软件在常规硬件中 快10倍。包括所有的 硬件和软件、数据库、 光盘在内。您只需将其插入——无须系 统集成。
Reporter: Alright, Oracle’s done integrated hardware and software design with the Exadata database machine. But Exadata uses standard Intel chips. Are you going to discontinue the SPARC chip?
记者：甲骨文做集成的硬件和软件设计 与Exadata数据库装置3但是Exadata 使用的是标准的英特尔芯片。你要放弃 SPARC芯片吗？
Ellison: No. Once we own Sun we’re going to increase the investment in SPARC. We think designing our own chips is very, very important. Even Apple is designing its own chips these days. Right now, SPARC chips do some things better than Intel chips and vice-versa. For example, SPARC is much more energy efficient than Intel while delivering the same performance on a per socket basis. This is not just a green issue, it’s an economic issue. Today, database centers are paying as much for electricity to run their computers as they pay to buy their computers. SPARC machines are much less expensive to run than Intel machines.
埃里森：不。一旦我们拥有了 Sim，我 们就会增加SPARC的投资。我们认为 自己的芯片设计是非常非常重要的。即 便是苹果现在也在设计自己的芯片。现 在，SPARC芯片在某些方面优于英特 尔芯片，反之亦然。举例来说，SPARC 比英特尔在每插槽提供相同的性能时有 更高的能源效率。这不仅是一个环保的 问题，也是一个经济问题。今天，数据 库中心支付高额电力费用来运行自己的计算机。运行SPARC的机器比英特尔 更便宜。
Reporter: So is that your plan, to use SPARC to compete by lowering a data center’s electricity bills?
记者：所以，你的计划是使用SPARC 的竞争力来降低数据中心的电费？
Ellison: No, our primary reason for designing our own chips is to build computers with the very best performance, reliability and security available in the market. Some system features work much better if they are implemented in silicon rather than software. Once we own Sun, we’ll be able to plan and synchronize new features from silicon to software, just like IBM and the other big system suppliers. We want to work with Fujitsu to design advanced features into the SPARC microprocessor aimed at improving Oracle database performance. In my opinion，this will enable SPARC Solaris open-system mainframes and servers to challenge IBM’s dominance in the data center. Sun was very successful for a very long time selling computer systems based on the SPARC chip and the Solaris operating system. Now, with the added power of integrated Oracle software, we think they can be again.
埃里森：不，我们自己设计芯片的首要 原因是实现市场上的电脑最佳性能、可 靠性和安全性。有些功能在硅这个级别 上执行比在软件上执行要好得多。一旦 我们拥有了自己的Sun，我们就可以进 行从硅到软件的新功能的同步规划，就 像IBM和其他大的系 统供应商一样。我们希 望与富士通合作，以先 进的设计融入SPARC 微处理器，旨在改善 甲骨文数据库的性 能。在我看来，这将使 SPARC 的 Solaris 开放 系统主机和服务器，以 挑战IBM在数据中心 的优势。Sim曾在很长 一段时间内非常成功 地销售了 SPARC芯片和Solaris操作系 统。现在，随着功率集成甲骨文软件的 加入，我们认为他们会再次成功。
Reporter: Your management team has no experience with delivering hardware. There is a lot of risk in going into an unfamiliar business.
记者：您的管理团队没有任何硬件经 验。进入不熟悉的业务会有很多风险。
Ellison: Obviously, we want to hold on to Sun’s experienced team of first-rate hardware engineers. For years, Sun has led the industry in building and delivering innovative systems. For example, Sun was the first company to deliver systems built on a multicore processor—what Sun called the Niagara chip—and the industry followed. Oracle has a good track record of retaining the engineering talent from acquired companies; Sun will be no different. In addition, over the last couple of years Oracle gained a lot of experience developing and delivering our first integrated hardware and software system, the Exadata database machine. We have lots of hardware experience inside of Oracle. Hundreds of Oracle’s engineers came from systems companies like IBM and HP. Even I started my Silicon Valley career working for a hardware company that worked with Fujitsu to design and build the first IBM compatible mainframe.
埃里森：显然，我们要保留Sun公司的 经验丰富的一流硬件工程师团队。多年 来，Sim公司在建设和提供创新系统方 面引领业界。例如，Sun公司是第一家 提供多核处理器系统的公司——Sun公 司的Niagara芯片，后来这个业界都开 始做。甲骨文公司有从收购的公司中留住工程技术人才的良好记录；Sun公司 也将会一样。此外，在过去的几年里， 甲骨文得到了丰富的经验，开发并提 供我们的第一个综合硬件和软件系统， Exadata数据库装置。甲骨文在公司内 部也有硬件生产经验。甲骨文有数百名 工程师来自如IBM和惠普这样的系统公 司。就连我自己刚开始工作的时候也是 在硅谷的一家硬件公司，这家公司与富 士通合作设计和建造了第一台IBM的兼 容大型计算机。
Reporter: OK, so you have engineers who are experienced at designing hardware as well as software, but Oracle outsourced the manufacturing of the Exadata machine to HP. You have no experience in manufacturing.
记者：好，你已经有了有经验的硬件 设计以及软件工程师，但甲骨文将 Exadata机的制造外包给了惠普。你们 没有任何的制造经验。
Ellison: Just because we，re buying Sun Oracle is becoming a manufacturer. Sun outsources almost all of its manufacturing to companies like Flextronics and Fujitsu. With one tiny exception, Sun does no manufacturing; neither will we.
埃里森：收购Sun并不意味着甲骨文正 在成为制造商。Sun几乎外包其所有的 制造业，比如外包 给 Flextronics 公司 和富士通。但有 一个小小的例外， Sun公司没有任何 制造历史，我们也 不会有。
Reporter: There has been a lot of speculation in the press that Oracle is going to sell some or all of Sun’s hardware businesses. From your previous answers it certainly seems like you are keeping the SPARC business. Are you keeping the disk backup businesses?
记者：很多媒体猜 测，甲骨文公司将 出售部分或全部的 Sun公司的硬件业 务。你先前的答案是肯定的，好像你是 要保留SPARC Solaris系统业务。你是 否会保留磁盘存储和磁带备份的业务？
Ellison: Yes, definitely. We believe the best user experience is when all the pieces in the system are engineered to work together. Disk storage and tape backup are critical components in high performance， high-reliability, high-security database systems. So, we plan to design and deliver those pieces too. Clearly many Sun customers choose disk and tape systems from other vendors. That’s what open systems are all about: providing customers with a choice. But Oracle expects to continue competing in both the disk and tape storage businesses after we buy Sun.
埃里森：是的，绝对会。我们认为最好 的用户体验是当所有的要素在系统里被 设计成共同工作的时候。磁盘存储和磁 带备份是数据库系统高性能、高可靠 性、高安全性的关键组件。所以，我们 计划设计和提供这些东西。显然，许多Sun的客户选择其他厂商的磁盘和磁 带系统。这就是开放系统：为客户提供 —种选择。但是，甲骨文公司收购Sun 后，预计将继续同时竞争磁盘和磁带存 储业务。
Reporter: Is Exadata moving to Sun SPARC Solaris?
记者：Exadata是否会被移到Sun公司 的 SPARC Solaris 里呢？
Ellison: Exadata is built by HP using Intel microprocessors. We have no plans for a SPARC Solaris version of Exadata. We have an excellent relationship with HP that we expect to continue. The Exadata database machine delivers record setting database performance at a lower cost than conventional hardware. Customers love the machine. It is the most successful product introduction in Oracle’s 30 year history. The Sun acquisition doesn’t reduce our commitment to Exadata at all.
埃里森：Exadata是由惠普在英特尔 微处理器上构建的。我们没有SPARC Solaris版本的Exadata计划。我们和惠 普有着良好的关系，并将继续下去。那 个Exadata数据库装置比传统的硬件装 置以更低的成本提供了创纪录的数据库 性能。这是客户喜欢的机器。也是甲骨 文公司30年的历史中推出的最成功的 产品。收购Sun不会减少我们Exadata 所有的承诺。
Reporter: Looking back on your childhood, can you see the Larry Ellison of today taking root when you were young?
记者：回顾你的童年，能在小拉里?埃 里森身上看到现在的影子吗？
Ellison: I don’t think my personality has changed much since I was five years old. The most important aspect of my personality, as far as determining my success goes, has been my questioning conventional wisdom, doubting the experts, and questioning authority. While that can be very painful in relationships with your parents and teachers, it’s enormously useful in life. I was born in New York City. My mother was 19, she wasn’t married, and really was unable to care for me. She tried until I was nine months old, and then I was adopted by my maternal aunt and uncle in Chicago. I moved to the south side of Chicago. I’ll never complain again about living in a bad neighborhood, after moving from the lower east side of Manhattan to a still worse neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. After my ninth month, I kept my mouth shut about the neighborhood.
埃里森：5岁以后，我的性格基本没有变 过。其中对我成功最重要的方面是质疑传 统智慧、专家言论和权威。尽管这在处理 与老师和父母的关系时会带来很多令人痛 苦的麻烦，对生活却有巨大的帮助。我 出生在纽约市，当时我母亲19岁，她没 有结婚，确实无法照顾我。我9个月大 的时候，她才放弃了抚养我，之后我被 芝加哥的姨妈和舅舅收养。我搬到了芝 加哥南部。从曼哈顿东部搬到芝加哥南 部一个更差劲的社区，但我从不抱怨。9 个月以后，我对社区的事闭□不谈。
Reporter: How did this affect you?
记者：这对你有何影响？
Ellison: I didn’t know that I was adopted until I was twelve years old. I don’t attribute very much of my personality to my adoption. I attribute an awful lot to my relationship with my father，who was a Russian immigrant. He came here and was very，very poor. He dearly loved this country as only an immigrant can, loved our government as only an immigrant can. He was a bornber pilot in World War II. He really had the philosophy of “my country，right or wrong.” He never questioned the government’s policies, never questioned authority, and he didn’t want me to question authority. I had some teachers when I was very young that I thought were telling me things that weren't true. When I tried to ask questions，they basically wanted me to parrot back what they said. They really weren’t interested in a discourse with a child, or a debate with a child. They said this was true, and “You are smart if you can repeat back to me exactly what I said to you.” I had a real problem with that as well. I had very strong authoritari an figures, both in school and at home, which served as wonderful examples of how not to be.
埃里森：12岁以前我并不知道自己是被收养的。也并不认为被收养的经历影响 了我的性格。我认为这与我跟父亲的关 系有关，他是一个俄罗斯移民。他来到 这里的时候非常非常穷。他深爱这个国 家，深爱这个政府，这是一个移民者能 做到的全部。他曾在二战时作过轰炸机 飞行员。他坚信“不管对错，这都是我 的国家”的哲理。他从不质疑政府的政 策，从不质疑权威，也不希望我质疑权 威。小的时候，我认为一些教师告诉我 的事不是真的。当我想提问时， 他们基本上都 是要求我记住 他们的话。根 本不愿意与小 孩讲道理或辩 论。他们说这 是真的：“如果你能跟我重复 我跟你讲过的 话，你就很聪 明。”这对我来说也是个问题。无论是 在学校还是家里，都有我并不认同的非 常权威的人。
Reporter: Was there anybody who was supportive?
记者：有没有人是你支持的？
Ellison: Oh sure, my Mom was supportive, and I had a mixture of teachers. Some of the teachers were wonderful, and some of the teachers were awful, but the awful teachers served a good purpose by being a bad example. All examples are good. Bad examples are useful; good examples are useful. It taught me to question experts, to question authority figures. Don’t assume they’re right just because they’re in authority, or just because they’re experts.
埃里森：哦，肯定有，我的妈妈。并且老师也不一样，有一些老师很好，但也 有一些很糟糕。但是这些糟糕的老师做 了很好的反面典型。所有的例子都是好 的。坏的例子是有用的，好的例子也是 有用的。它教我质疑专家，质疑权威人 物。不能仅仅因为他们是权威或专家就 认为他们是对的。