Symmetrical Multi-Processor Support, Two Graphical User
Interface Options and Enterprise and Internet Application Support
Deliver Powerful, Scalable Linux Package
Durham, NC–April 26, 1999–Red Hat(r) Software, Inc., the
leading developer and support provider of the Linux operating
system, today announced Official Red Hat Linux 6.0. This major new
release of the award-winning Red Hat Linux server operating system
(OS) adds symmetrical multi-processor support (SMP) for up to four
processors and many other new features to deliver tremendous
horsepower and reliability for the most demanding enterprise and
Internet applications running the day-to-day business of companies
worldwide.
Red Hat Linux 6.0 continues to expand on Linux’s greatest
strengths:? a powerful server OS with completely open source code
and the flexibility to choose features, processors and to alter the
system to meet an organization’s unique computing needs. Users can
now chose to run one of two new, popular graphical user interfaces
(GUIs), GNOME or KDE, which make Linux even easier to use with a
point-and-click environment that eliminates the need to type in
command lines for tasks. For the first time, Red Hat will also
offer 30 days of unlimited telephone support for installing version
6.0.
“The breadth of application support and high-end features like
SMP support illustrate the maturity of the Linux operating system
as an enterprise server platform,” said Bob Young, CEO of Red Hat.
“When combined with the traditional strengths of Linux, which
include unmatched stability, reliability and the freedom to change
the operating system, Red Hat Linux 6.0 delivers a powerful,
well-supported server operating system capable of handling the most
intense and important business applications in today’s
companies.”
Red Hat Linux 6.0 includes the new Linux 2.2 kernel. The new
kernel supports more hardware and improves the overall performance
of the Linux OS. The Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) is freely
available under the GPL license and automatically installs and
updates the various pieces of the Linux operating system and lets
systems administrators easily distribute Linux across the
enterprise.
The Red Hat Linux 6.0 package comes with an Installation Manual,
a Getting Started Guide,? installation support, and three CDs. This
includes an Application CD filled with Internet, development and
enterprise software for the Red Hat Linux operating system,
including Star Office, Applixware and IBM’s ViaVoice.
Additional features of Red Hat Linux 6.0 include:
Full RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) support,
including the ability to “Hot Swap” storage devices supported by
the operating system. RAID support further enhances Linux’s low
cost of ownership by enabling companies to use link several
inexpensive drives into a single drive to improve performance.
Wide-range of new installation enhancements, including direct
downloads from the Web to a user’s hard drive. This enables users
to quickly and easily download Red Hat Linux 6.0 to their system
without wasting disk space. Additional new features to ease
installation include SMP motherboard support, new boot disks,
PCMCIA support disk, improved package selection and authentication
configuration.
Improved GUI to the GNOME windowing tool kit (GTK), which lets
developers tie their applications to the GNOME desktop quickly and
more easily.
Glibc 2.1, which provides the most up-to-date library glibc
library.
Incredible Linux Momentum
International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that Linux was
the fastest-growing server operating environment in 1998, growing
more than 212 percent in that year along and capturing more than 17
percent of all server operating system shipments.
“Linux continues to gain tremendous support from application,
hardware and development leaders worldwide,” said Bill Peterson of
International Data Corp. “Linux’s rapid growth, widespread
industry support and a new graphical user interface for desktop
users, could make Linux a viable operating system choice for many
organizations.”
Red Hat’s extensive alliances with industry leaders during the
past year and the overwhelming demand for Linux-based applications
by more than 10 million Linux users has created support from the
industry’s leading software and hardware manufacturers, including
Compaq?, Computer Associates, Corel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM,
Intel, Netscape, Novell, Oracle? and SAP?. Linux runs on Intel,
Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms and will soon run on PowerPC
systems.
Pricing and Availability
Red Hat Linux 6.0 has pricing options available from $39.95 to
$79.95. It can also be downloaded from ftp.redhat.com immediately.
A boxed version with three CDs, including one application CD,
Installation Manual, Getting Started Guide, and telephone and email
support and will be available in select retail outlets, including
Best Buy on May 10.
Corporations and ISPs can purchase additional support packages
from Red Hat’s new Response Link support center. Several packages
are tailored for specific corporate needs: ranging from
per-incident packages to full-blown, 24×7 unlimited support.
Response Link is available in the U.S. and Canada and includes
800-number call-in and priority response offerings.
About Red Hat Software
Founded in 1994, Red Hat Software is based in Research Triangle
Park, N.C., where it is a leader in the development of open source
operating software solutions. Red Hat Development builds the most
accessible and advanced operating system available anywhere with
technical innovations such as RPM and the disk druid installation
tool. Red Hat Linux is available for Intel, Compaq Alpha, and Sun
SPARC platforms.
Red Hat Linux was named InfoWorld’s Product of the Year for
three years in a row, was given a Productivity accolade in Software
Development’s Jolt Awards, was named an Environment/Desktop
finalist in the Ziff-Davis European Excellence Awards, won the
editor’s choice awards from the Linux Journal and Australian
Personal Computing magazines, and won the “Just Plain Cool” award
from Australian Personal Computing magazine. At March’s LinuxWorld
Expo, more than 8,000 members of the Linux community voted Red Hat
a “LinuxWorld Favorite.”
# # #
LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered
trademark of Red Hat Software, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark
of The Open Group. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle
Corporation. Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation.
SAP is a registered trademark of SAP AG. All other names and
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.