just got this in the spam / newslist

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DENI CONNOR on
SERVERS
04/04/02
Today's focus: Red Hat offers high-end Linux


By Deni Connor

Red Hat last week launched a more robust Linux operating system
for large enterprises.

Called Red Hat Linux Advanced Server, the software is intended
for large companies that are considering migrating from Unix
systems to less expensive Intel-based servers.

A recent total cost of ownership analysis by IDC Research
showed that Linux reduces per-user costs by almost half in
Internet/intranet/extranet environments when compared with
RISC/Unix solutions.

Red Hat Linux Advanced Server supports servers with up to eight
processors and offers improved process scheduling, clustering,
load-balancing and fail-over configurations. It comes with a
one-year subscription to Red Hat's support system, the Red Hat
Network, and a Java-based Web console that is used to
configure, manage and secure clusters of servers.

In addition, it includes enhancements to the Linux kernel that
improve I/O application performance and scalability across
multiple servers.

Apparently, Red Hat is able to offer this high-end Linux system
through its acquisition of some key employees from Mission
Critical Linux, a vendor of Linux cluster solutions. For
example, Brian Stevens, former chief technology officer for
Mission Critical, is now with Red Hat. Stevens had also
previously worked at Digital Equipment Corp.

Red Hat originally announced it would be making a high-end
version of Linux at LinuxWorld in January.

The Red Hat Advanced Server software starts at $800, depending
on the number of services a customer purchases with it. It will
be available this quarter.