Red Hat Unveils Official Red Hat Linux 6.0 Server Operating System

Red Hat Unveils Official Red Hat Linux 6.0 Server Operating System

Symmetrical Multi-Processor Support, Two Graphical User Interface Options and Enterprise and Internet Application Support Deliver Powerful, Scalable Linux Package

Durham, NC--April 26, 1999--Red Hat(r) Software, Inc., the leading developer and support provider of the Linux operating system, today announced Official Red Hat Linux 6.0. This major new release of the award-winning Red Hat Linux server operating system (OS) adds symmetrical multi-processor support (SMP) for up to four processors and many other new features to deliver tremendous horsepower and reliability for the most demanding enterprise and Internet applications running the day-to-day business of companies worldwide.

Red Hat Linux 6.0 continues to expand on Linux's greatest strengths: a powerful server OS with completely open source code and the flexibility to choose features, processors and to alter the system to meet an organization's unique computing needs. Users can now chose to run one of two new, popular graphical user interfaces (GUIs), GNOME or KDE, which make Linux even easier to use with a point-and-click environment that eliminates the need to type in command lines for tasks. For the first time, Red Hat will also offer 30 days of unlimited telephone support for installing version 6.0.

"The breadth of application support and high-end features like SMP support illustrate the maturity of the Linux operating system as an enterprise server platform," said Bob Young, CEO of Red Hat. "When combined with the traditional strengths of Linux, which include unmatched stability, reliability and the freedom to change the operating system, Red Hat Linux 6.0 delivers a powerful, well-supported server operating system capable of handling the most intense and important business applications in today's companies."

Red Hat Linux 6.0 includes the new Linux 2.2 kernel. The new kernel supports more hardware and improves the overall performance of the Linux OS. The Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) is freely available under the GPL license and automatically installs and updates the various pieces of the Linux operating system and lets systems administrators easily distribute Linux across the enterprise.

The Red Hat Linux 6.0 package comes with an Installation Manual, a Getting Started Guide, installation support, and three CDs. This includes an Application CD filled with Internet, development and enterprise software for the Red Hat Linux operating system, including Star Office, Applixware and IBM's ViaVoice.

Additional features of Red Hat Linux 6.0 include:

Full RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) support, including the ability to "Hot Swap" storage devices supported by the operating system. RAID support further enhances Linux's low cost of ownership by enabling companies to use link several inexpensive drives into a single drive to improve performance.

Wide-range of new installation enhancements, including direct downloads from the Web to a user's hard drive. This enables users to quickly and easily download Red Hat Linux 6.0 to their system without wasting disk space. Additional new features to ease installation include SMP motherboard support, new boot disks, PCMCIA support disk, improved package selection and authentication configuration.

Improved GUI to the GNOME windowing tool kit (GTK), which lets developers tie their applications to the GNOME desktop quickly and more easily.

Glibc 2.1, which provides the most up-to-date library glibc library.

Incredible Linux Momentum

International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that Linux was the fastest-growing server operating environment in 1998, growing more than 212 percent in that year along and capturing more than 17 percent of all server operating system shipments.

"Linux continues to gain tremendous support from application, hardware and development leaders worldwide," said Bill Peterson of International Data Corp. "Linux's rapid growth, widespread industry support and a new graphical user interface for desktop users, could make Linux a viable operating system choice for many organizations."

Red Hat's extensive alliances with industry leaders during the past year and the overwhelming demand for Linux-based applications by more than 10 million Linux users has created support from the industry's leading software and hardware manufacturers, including Compaq(r), Computer Associates, Corel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Novell, Oracle(r) and SAP(r). Linux runs on Intel, Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms and will soon run on PowerPC systems.

Pricing and Availability

Red Hat Linux 6.0 has pricing options available from $39.95 to $79.95. It can also be downloaded from ftp.redhat.com immediately. A boxed version with three CDs, including one application CD, Installation Manual, Getting Started Guide, and telephone and email support and will be available in select retail outlets, including Best Buy on May 10.

Corporations and ISPs can purchase additional support packages from Red Hat's new Response Link support center. Several packages are tailored for specific corporate needs: ranging from per-incident packages to full-blown, 24x7 unlimited support. Response Link is available in the U.S. and Canada and includes 800-number call-in and priority response offerings.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Founded in 1994, Red Hat, Inc. is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., where it is a leader in the development of open source operating software solutions. Red Hat Development builds the most accessible and advanced operating system available anywhere with technical innovations such as RPM and the disk druid installation tool. Red Hat Linux is available for Intel, Compaq Alpha, and Sun SPARC platforms.

Red Hat Linux was named InfoWorld's Product of the Year for three years in a row, was given a Productivity accolade in Software Development's Jolt Awards, was named an Environment/Desktop finalist in the Ziff-Davis European Excellence Awards, won the editor's choice awards from the Linux Journal and Australian Personal Computing magazines, and won the "Just Plain Cool" award from Australian Personal Computing magazine. At March's LinuxWorld Expo, more than 8,000 members of the Linux community voted Red Hat a "LinuxWorld Favorite."

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LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. SAP is a registered trademark of SAP AG. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Red Hat Announces Red Hat Linux 6.1, Latest Version of Leading Open Source Server Operating System

Now Enhanced with Streamlined Installation, Unique Online Software Updates and New Systems Manageability Features

DURHAM, N.C.--October 4, 1999--Red Hat ®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RHAT), a leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the release of a suite of Official Red Hat Linux 6.1 products. The latest release of the award-winning Red Hat Linux operating system incorporates easy installation, software update information and access, and improved system management capabilities. These new features enable users to harness the power of open source software in the demanding enterprise and Internet applications that run the day-to-day business of companies worldwide.

Red Hat Linux 6.1 extends Red Hat's commitment to customer service and the strength of [true] open source development by incorporating improvements that make it easier to install, maintain and manage Linux-based computing environments. Users can move quickly through installation with graphic-based directions, choosing from GNOME, KDE, server or custom interface settings, with seamless integration of software RAID configurations to safeguard critical data and application availability. Additionally, the PXE 2.0 technology (part of the Wired for Management Baseline 2.0) enables Red Hat Linux 6.1 installations to be done across the network, with no need for local media.

Red Hat Linux 6.1 also provides customers with fast access to the latest software technology from Red Hat through the Red Hat Update Agent, an online customer service application for retrieval and management of software updates. Red Hat has combined the RPM package management technology with the Internet capabilities of Red Hat Linux to seamlessly enable customers to take advantage of the continuous technology improvements offered from the open software development community.

"We expect that the improvements in installation, service, support and performance built into Red Hat Linux 6.1 make it an asset to enterprise networks," said Bob Young, CEO of Red Hat. "Red Hat Linux 6.1 combines the power, stability and flexibility of Linux-based open source operating systems with tools and services to handle critical business applications that ensure the peace of mind for corporate users."

Red Hat Linux 6.1 applies many advances in the 2.2.12 Linux kernel and the collaboration of the open source community, including improvements for high availability Internet server clustering and new Web or email-based configuration support for the Apache Web server.

"Open source continues to make great advances and delivers innovation to enterprise users worldwide. We see rapid advances in Linux-based operating systems as a result of the open source development model," said Young.

"Red Hat Linux 6.1 will be an attractive option to the businesses, Internet service providers, government agencies and universities that make up nearly three-fourths of our customer base." said Michael Lambert, senior vice president, Dell Enterprise Systems Group. "We plan to offer this OS on selected products throughout our entire product line, from notebooks to servers, in the months ahead."

Additional features of Red Hat Linux 6.1 Include:

The first distributed English version of Sun Microsystems' office suite Star Office 5.1a, a complete office platform featuring word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, graphics, web publishing, scheduling, database and management applications.
Full LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) integration, enabling administrators of large networks to manage distributed computing by authenticating and maintaining information about users and network services.
128-bit secure signature technology, Red Hat public key verification of the source of Red Hat Linux 6.1 updates. Available in the US and Canada only.

Through collaboration with Intel Corporation, Red Hat has also included PXE server support and remote management enhancements through support for the Wired for Management Baseline 2.0 specification as part of Red Hat Linux 6.1.

"Intel continues to work closely with Red Hat and the open source community to make Linux run best on Intel Architecture," said Michael Fister, Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Enterprise Server Group. "Red Hat's new release of the Linux operating system has been optimized for the Pentium III Xeon processor and this combination offers customers the performance that is required in today's Internet economy."

Pricing and Availability

The Official Red Hat Linux 6.1 is available in a variety of packages to enable different users to take advantage of open source technology. All boxed packages include an Installation Manual and Reference Guide. Red Hat Linux 6.1 can also be downloaded from ftp://ftp.redhat.com/. Available in the U.S. and at international sites, the boxed versions can be purchased in select retail outlets starting October 18 and can be ordered directly from http://www.redhat.com/.

Standard, a package including two operating system CDs, one StarOffice 5.1a CD, 90 days of email support and 30 days of priority online access--for $29.95.
Deluxe, the best way to try Red Hat Linux with two operating system CDs, one StarOffice 5.1a CD, two workstation application CDs, 30 days of phone support, 90 days of email support and 180 days of priority online access--for $79.95.
Professional, the package for serious business users with two operating system CDs, two workstation application CDs, DB2, three server application CDs, one secure server CD, 30 days of phone support, 90 days of email support, 30 days of Apache configuration support and 180 days of priority online access--for $149.95. Available in the US and Canada only.

Corporations and ISPs can purchase additional support packages from Red Hat's Service Center. Several packages are tailored for specific customer needs, ranging from per-incident packages to full-blown, 24x7 unlimited support. Red Hat services and training are available worldwide.

Open Source Momentum

International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that Linux-based operating systems were the fastest-growing server operating environment in 1998, growing more than 190 percent in that year alone and capturing more than 15.8 percent of the 4.4 million revenue shipment server operating environment market.

Red Hat's numerous alliances with industry leaders and the demand for Linux-based applications have created open source support from many of the industry's leading software and hardware manufacturers, including Compaq®, Computer Associates, Corel, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Novell, Oracle® and SAP®. Red Hat Linux runs on Intel, Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Founded in 1994, Red Hat (NASDAQ: RHAT) is a market leader in open source operating system (OS) software and services. Along with its award-winning open source Red Hat Linux OS, Red Hat offers a full line of services, including telephone support, on-site consulting, developer training, certification programs and priority access updates, making Red Hat a leading and complete resource for knowledgeable, innovative, mission-critical open source solutions.

Red Hat shares all of its software innovations freely with the open source community under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The Official Red Hat Linux OS and related services are available directly from the company and through its partner, distributor and reseller programs, which include top PC and server manufacturers such as Compaq, Dell, Gateway, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Graphics.

Red Hat and the Official Red Hat Linux OS have received industry praise. Recent accolades include: Red Herring's Top 100 Companies of the Electronic Economy, Upside's Hot 100 Companies, Network World's 10 Companies to Watch, Federal Computer Week's Government Best Buy, Software Development's Jolt Award and InfoWorld's Product of the Year for three years in a row. Red Hat was also voted a "LinuxWorld Favorite" by the attendees of the two most recent LinuxWorld Expos, winning Best Server Distribution at the August show.

Red Hat is based in Durham, N.C. and has offices worldwide. Visit Red Hat on the Web at http://www.redhat.com/. For investor inquiries, please contact Lippert/Heilshorn at (212) 838-3777.

LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release that are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding current or future financial performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations, product plans and performance, management's assessment of market factors, and statements regarding the strategy and plans of Red Hat and its strategic partners, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with Red Hat's dependence upon an open source business model, reliance upon independent third-party Linux developers, management of growth, reliance upon strategic relationships, expansion of Red Hat's business focus and operations, the possibility of undetected software errors, the enforceability of the GNU General Public License and other licenses under which Red Hat's products are developed and licensed, the scarcity of Linux-based applications, the risks of economic downturns generally, and in Red Hat's industry specifically, the risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, the viability of the Internet, year 2000 compliance efforts of Red Hat and of third parties on which Red Hat depends, and other risks detailed in Red Hat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be accessed through the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov/.