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Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5, released in March 2007, provides significant technology enhancements over the v. 4 release. Areas of specific development include new and simplified server packaging, virtualization for x86-64 architectures, improved security and performance, and support for large SMP servers.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform:
- Single product model eliminates AS and ES variants
- Includes the full range of new v5 features (kernel, utilities, server applications, etc.)
- Includes comprehensive storage virtualization capabilities
- Standard and Premium Service Levels
- Virtualization technology for x86-64 architectures
- Unlimited guests for any supported* operating system
- Up to 128 sockets (certified by SGI for IPF systems)
- Up to 1TB memory (certified by SGI for IPF systems)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Includes the full range of new v5 features (kernel, utilities, server applications, etc.)
- Supports servers with up to two processor sockets.
- Supports up to four virtualized guest environments
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform
Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5 extends the base product to provide a complete solution for virtualized environments. An ideal solution for the Mainstream market, this product provides unlimited virtual instances of any guest O/S, Cluster Logical Volume Management & Global File System (previously offered as a separate layered product).
- Support for Large Servers
Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5 provides support for very large SMP systems. Kernels can be configured for up to 1024 CPUs and many terabytes of memory. Actual support varies with architecture and level of completed testing and certification.
SGI has certified a 64 socket, dual core, 1TB memory Altix 4700 system with Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5 in support of large scale-up servers.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1 released, November 2007
This release includes the following enhancements:
- X86_64 systems virtualization improvements including support for virtual guests: Microsoft ®Windows XP, Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2000, Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003, and Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2008 beta
- Updated SATA subsystem
- Updated InfiniBand support to OFED1.2 version including RDMA over Ethernet
- IPv6 improvements
- Added support for shared page table for hugetlb pages
- Integration of LSPP certification related changes
Red Hat Enterprise Linux v is a top-of-the-line enterprise server solution, supporting high-end and mission-critical systems. This product is available with the highest levels of support including support for 24X7 mission critical environments.
Red Hat's product support lifetime is 7 years. Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.5 will be supported from 2007 until 2014. Red Hat maintains a web site where visitors may review the major differences and similarities between Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 3, 4, and 5. On this page supported limits are outlined as well. Please visit http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/
For more information about features and benefits of the product visit: http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/features/
Free 30 day evaluations are available from Red Hat from the Red Hat web site: http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industries/developer/products/basic.html.
- SGI ProPack 5, SP1 Now Available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.5
With the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.5.1, customers may now consider purchasing SGI ProPack 5 to run on that operating system. SGI ProPack 5, SP1 was released as of May, 2007. That product running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux supports:
- Cpusets
- NUMA tools
- IPF(Itanium) and XPF (Xeon) support
- Linkless FFIO for performance enhancements to I/O intensive configurations
Please visit the Red Hat website to review the posted software certification for SGI ProPack running on Red Hat: www.redhat.com/apps/isv_catalog/VendorProfile.html?cat=isv&vendor_id=5486.
The Application profile may be found at www.redhat.com/apps/isv_catalog/AppProfile.html?application_id=4539
Supported System Configurations and Limits
Red Hat Enterprise Linux releases are released on a predictable 18-24 month schedule, and supported for seven years from their date of initial availability. Red Hat maintains a web site where visitors may review the major differences and similarities between various elements of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. On this page supported limits are outlined as well. Please visit: http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/. Note that while SGI has certified systems with Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 4 at 64 CPUs, the theoretical limit is 512 CPUs.
White Papers
Red Hat maintains many white papers that may prove useful to customers looking for information on specific topics. For example, there are white papers covering such topics as:
- Linux Migration
- Open Source Security
- Federal Government
To research Red Hat white papers go to: http://www.redhat.com/rhel/resource_center/
SGI Hardware Certifications
Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 4 has been certified on SGI Altix 4700 systems for up to 64 processors and 256 GB of max memory and certification is planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5. SGI Altix 450 systems have also been certified with 64 processors and 256 GB of max memory with plans for certification with Red Hat Enterprise Linux v. 5. Several more SGI systems including Altix XE 210, XE240, XE1200, XE310, and Altix XE1300 will be certified over time. To find SGI certified systems, go to: http://bugzilla.redhat.com/hwcert/query.cgi, select version 4, Status "Certified". Vendor: "SGI"
Partner Catalog
To learn which ISV applications have been ported to Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.4 for Itanium, Red Hat maintains a searchable catalog. http://www.redhat.com/apps/isv_catalog/browse_by_platform.html
Support Policy
For all problems and questions, customers are asked to consult directly with Red Hat at http://www.redhat.com/support. Red Hat provides first levels of support to SGI customers. When purchasing Red Hat Subscription services, customers have a choice of either Standard or Premium support including web-based updated support from Red Hat. Customers may choose subscriptions of either 1 year or 3 years.
