BOSTON (03/27/2000) - Red Hat Inc. today launched the latest version of its Linux operating system aimed at e-commerce servers and also introduced a new open-source OS for embedded systems in Internet devices.
Red Hat Linux 6.2 and Red Hat eCos (for embedded configurable operating system) are both available now.
Version 6.2 offers easier graphical installation and improved scalability for companies involved in e-commerce. Red Hat is playing up the scalability aspect of the newest version, as well as its use for high-end applications.
"Red Hat has had this really well-kept secret for a long time," said Michael Tiemann, the company's chief technology officer, adding that Red Hat does a lot of development for high-end applications. "With 6.2, we've decided to come out of the closet and say we do high availability and high scalability."
The new version features a Web-based configuration tool and load-balancing technology the company calls "Piranha." The aim of the technology is to allow multiple small Web servers to behave like one larger Web server, Tiemann said.
Version 6.2 further utilizes the Beowulf open-source clustering software, and Tiemann said that the company continues to work with Beowulf developers.
Version 6.2 comes in three editions. The Professional Edition, priced at US$179.95, includes a credit-card processing package, 30-day configuration support for the Apache Web server, a month of telephone support and 90 days of e-mail support, and five application CDs with popular corporate and Internet software for Linux.
The Deluxe Edition has two OS CDs, one documentation CD, two workstation application CDs, 30 days of phone support, and 90 days each of e-mail support and priority online access for $79.95. The Standard Edition includes two operating system CDs, a documentation CD, 90 days of e-mail support and 20 days of online access for $29.95.
Version 6.2 is available now through http://www.redhat.com/ and will be offered in retail stores and through resellers in April.
While Version 6.2 is for companies that want the ability to scale up, eCos 1.3 is for those wanting to scale down to application-specific embedded systems, he said. Version 1.3 is available as open-source code at http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ecos/. Tiemann was with Cygnus, an open-source software vendor, before it was acquired last November by Red Hat and he became Red Hat CTO. ECos is a Cygnus project.
Red Hat, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, can be reached at +1-919-547-0012 or http://www.redhat.com/.