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At the same time, Red Hat has shown some fondness for another virtualization technology, KVM, which is popular among core Linux programmers. The company argues that a software layer called libvirt shields users from differences in underlying virtualization software, so they don't have to worry about what's underneath the covers.
Among other new features in RHEL 5:
• Support for quad-core processors such as Intel's Xeon 5300 "Clovertown."
• For desktop users, fancy 3D graphics based on AIGLX and Compiz software. Desktop users also should see better abilities for a computer to suspend and resume; for example, when a laptop lid is closed and later opened.
• The ability to manage file systems storing up to 16 terabytes of data, up from 8TB with RHEL 4
• A foundation for Stateless Linux, a technology Red Hat hopes to add later that lets a desktop computer retrieve an individual's personal settings and applications from a central server.
Share and share alike
Linux is open-source software, meaning that anyone can see the underlying source code, modify it, and redistribute it. Although that practice lets Red Hat benefit from the work of programmers at Novell, IBM and countless others, it also makes it vastly easier for other competitors to reproduce Red Hat features or clone the product outright. Indeed, the CentOS project and Oracle aim to make Linux versions as identical as possible to RHEL, based on the source code Red Hat itself supplies.
Customers, too, can build their own versions, and that's what ServerCave does for much of its own software.
"The bits are out there. You recompile it, you support it. It's an extra level of work," said Chris Rogers, president of the company, which hosts others' Web sites and provides data center consulting services. "It's not that bad until you get into a specialized case."
That circumstance points to one of the biggest growth possibilities for Red Hat, IDC's Gillen said. It's not growth at the expense of Windows or Unix, but from converting free users to paid subscribers.
Rogers isn't averse to sending Red Hat money when it's warranted, though.
"One of our customers is a heavy Oracle shop. We told them, 'You will buy a license and do whatever you need to do to make Oracle and Red Hat happy together.' It's just a lot easier to not do it yourself," he said.
And when he does have technical support questions, he's been happy with Red Hat's service. "I have always gotten to the level of tech that really reassures me about what's going on. You get through tier 1 and tier 2, then you get the real person who's going to solve the problem. I've never been disappointed by that last person," Rogers said.
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Besides, what other Server package has a 100% free variant (CentOS) based on the exact same source code?
If you want something that sorta-works and lets you point-n-click your way to semi-functionality, go get Windows. When you want a REAL server operating system, step up to RHEL.
(I also use SuSE Enterprise Linux Server, but I gotta tell you - RHEL tops it easily in features and ease-of-use).
/P
Besides, what other Server package has a 100% free variant (CentOS) based on the exact same source code?
If you want something that sorta-works and lets you point-n-click your way to semi-functionality, go get Windows. When you want a REAL server operating system, step up to RHEL.
(I also use SuSE Enterprise Linux Server, but I gotta tell you - RHEL tops it easily in features and ease-of-use).
/P
We're in a dramatic moment when the giant monopoly that sits on 95% of the world's desktops has made a serious error in releasing the newest version of its OS in an unfinished state and there's now a growing hunger among pc users to find out more about Linux and Mac, which sit on less than 4% of the world's desktops each. Apple will undoubtedly make some market share this year, though they don't need this to survive--they've got their niche already carved out. Linux, on the other hand, has a golden opportunity to expand into the "real" world of computer desktops if the "community" can rally around a single distro that hardware makers consider comprehensive and polished enough to offer on machines sold at retail.
The mission of the moment for Linux fans, programmers, and users is to think about this question real hard. Sitting in your closet making smug idiot comments about Microsoft products, which will be totally ignored, is wasting your brain cells. If Red Hat is such an excellent distribution, then those who hold it in high regard need to start working on ways to get as many softwares and drivers as possible compatible with it, make sure its gui interface is attractive and easy to use, and pay some money up front for copies to keep the enterprise going. Do you understand the mission, or does wisecracking satisfy your delusions of grandeur?
We're in a dramatic moment when the giant monopoly that sits on 95% of the world's desktops has made a serious error in releasing the newest version of its OS in an unfinished state and there's now a growing hunger among pc users to find out more about Linux and Mac, which sit on less than 4% of the world's desktops each. Apple will undoubtedly make some market share this year, though they don't need this to survive--they've got their niche already carved out. Linux, on the other hand, has a golden opportunity to expand into the "real" world of computer desktops if the "community" can rally around a single distro that hardware makers consider comprehensive and polished enough to offer on machines sold at retail.
The mission of the moment for Linux fans, programmers, and users is to think about this question real hard. Sitting in your closet making smug idiot comments about Microsoft products, which will be totally ignored, is wasting your brain cells. If Red Hat is such an excellent distribution, then those who hold it in high regard need to start working on ways to get as many softwares and drivers as possible compatible with it, make sure its gui interface is attractive and easy to use, and pay some money up front for copies to keep the enterprise going. Do you understand the mission, or does wisecracking satisfy your delusions of grandeur?
We all have to keep our eye on the mark and compete with Windows. If everyone pushed the plow in the same direction for one linux distribution, we'd make some headway. But now I see RHEL, SUSE, Gentoo, etc.
While I run 400+ servers on RHEL, and it is really, truly rock solid, I also run some SUSE, and you can't move easily from one to the other. Applications install differently. The directory structure is different. And application vendors only 'certify' to specific distributions, usually RHEL, but not always SUSE.
Feels like 1987 all over again...
We all have to keep our eye on the mark and compete with Windows. If everyone pushed the plow in the same direction for one linux distribution, we'd make some headway. But now I see RHEL, SUSE, Gentoo, etc.
While I run 400+ servers on RHEL, and it is really, truly rock solid, I also run some SUSE, and you can't move easily from one to the other. Applications install differently. The directory structure is different. And application vendors only 'certify' to specific distributions, usually RHEL, but not always SUSE.
Feels like 1987 all over again...
Gurateed 48 hours an unpatched fresh install will have lots of fun issues.
But really, Linux.. are we talking FS or APP server or DB server?
I seriously can not remeber the last time I have had to deal with a hacked Windows server. Or a virus plaqued server.
But we really dont want to talk about reality, we prefer to talk more about the.. myth.
Intresting note on this is that Red Hat is not growing there market but, expanding profit on existing install base, with service contracts.
Gurateed 48 hours an unpatched fresh install will have lots of fun issues.
But really, Linux.. are we talking FS or APP server or DB server?
I seriously can not remeber the last time I have had to deal with a hacked Windows server. Or a virus plaqued server.
But we really dont want to talk about reality, we prefer to talk more about the.. myth.
Intresting note on this is that Red Hat is not growing there market but, expanding profit on existing install base, with service contracts.