Answer: using open source software to wean customers away from competitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the question, we are provided the information that Oracle, a firm that sells commercial ERP and database products, provides Linux for free.
Based on other information given in the question, we can infer that Oracle's motivation for this lies in using open source software to wean customers away from competitors.
Since Linux is being provided free by Oracle, this is a way of moving customers towards the company and away from other competitors.