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Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Red Hat, Inc., a leader in developing, deploying and managing open source Internet infrastructure solutions, announced the availability of Red Hat Linux 7, the latest version of the popular open source server operating environment. Red Hat Linux 7 provides enhanced security, new ease-of-use features, optimised software for higher-end Intel chips and increased 3D support, along with dozens of new enterprise-ready applications, extending its lead as the most powerful and widely used open source server environment in the world. Through the new Red Hat Network available now to all Red Hat 7 users on a free trial basis.

“Red Hat Linux is the most popular and trusted open source environment in the world, and with the enhancements to Red Hat Linux 7 it becomes an even more compelling choice for enterprises to use as the foundation of their Internet infrastructures,” said Colin Tenwick, VP and general manager Red Hat EMEA.

“Increased security, ease of use and manageability make Red Hat Linux 7 a full-featured solution for enterprise IT departments, workstation users and developers. It’s appropriate that as the company responsible for so much of the Internet infrastructure, Red Hat should also be the first to offer a complete array of on-line service and support through our innovative Red Hat Network. The Internet is the future of development, deployment and management services for software technology, and Red Hat is there today.”

“As developers continue to port applications to Linux, they require new services that will enable them to take advantage of the breadth of open source development through initiatives from companies like Red Hat Linux powered by Intel Architecture,” said Victor Krutul, manager, Operating System Programs, Intel. “Using Red Hat Network, developers have on-line, real-time access to open source products, service, support as well as Red Hat Linux 7 upgrades delivered to them automatically to take advantage of the new capabilities and features.”

Red Hat Linux 7 is the latest major edition of the award-winning open source operating system. It provides the open source flexibility, scalability and manageability necessary to bring the most ambitious Linux initiative under the control of an integrated Internet computing platform. Important new capabilities provided by Red Hat Linux 7 include:

For Enterprise IT Departments – integrated security with OpenSSL for secure communication via the Web;graphical configuration tools; MySQL database; and pre-set for the arrival of the 2.4 kernel

For Workstation Users – more customisable desktop environment; more software to choose from including digital photography viewing and diagram drawing programmes; increased security for default installations to protect users who use cable modems or ADSL to reach the Internet; and better 3D graphics support

For Developers – enhanced internationalisation sub-system, more complete C++ support with new compiler; updated development suite; and a preview of many new development tools such as the new GNU compiler for the Java programming language

International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that paid Linux shipments grew faster than any other server operating system over the past two years, and their preliminary figures for 1999 show Linux shipments hold 24.6 percent of the server operating system market, up from 15.8 in 1998. IDC also states that Red Hat holds 50.2 percent of Linux vendor market share and that Red Hat Linux is by far the most popular distribution, preferred by 68.7 percent of U.S. Linux users.

Research firm Netcraft, Inc. ( http://www.netcraft.com ), states that as of May 2000, 30 percent of all public Web sites run on Linux-based operating systems, making Linux the most popular choice for deploying public Web sites. IDC research shows 40 percent of all spending on Linux servers is for Internet related applications, firmly entrenching Linux servers in the Internet infrastructure.

Finally, IDC predicts that by 2002, there will be more than 55 million handheld and notebook-style information appliance devices and that by 2005, shipments of these appliances will exceed shipments of PCs.

Red Hat’s numerous alliances with industry leaders and the demand for Linux-based applications has created open source support from many of the industry’s leading software and hardware manufacturers, including Dell, Compaq, Computer Associates, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Novell, Oracle and SAP.

Founded in 1994, Red Hat, is a leader in development, deployment and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet infrastructure ranging from small embedded devices to high availability clusters and secure Web servers. In addition to the Red Hat Linux server operating system, Red Hat is the principle provider of GNU-based developer tools and support solutions for a wide variety of embedded processors. Red Hat provides run-time solutions, developer tools, Linux kernel expertise and offers support and engineering services to organizations in all embedded and Linux markets.

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