Red Hat's Enterprise Linux 3 Just The Start

Linux application server file

The Raleigh, N.C.-based Linux vendor also intends to make available open-source implementations of Kerberos security software and open-source messaging server software, Red Hat executives said.

The offerings fall under the umbrella of the company's Open Source Architecture for the enterprise, which was unveiled at a briefing last week and includes three core components: the Enterprise Linux 3 platform, middleware applications and data center services.

Next month, Red Hat plans to unveil a more scalable, 64-bit-ready Enterprise Linux 3 platform that will serve as the foundation and unifying platform for the company's open-source Web application framework and middleware, executives said. Red Hat is working with the ObjectWeb Consortium, Apache Software Foundation and Eclipse Foundation in developing its open-source middleware.

The three open-source middleware layers,a clustered file system with failover and load-balancing support, an application server and a J2EE implementation,will be available during the first half of 2004, executives said.

Red Hat traditionally has partnered with commercial ISVs such as IBM and Oracle on middleware. It's unclear how the new offerings will affect those partners, but an IBM spokesman said the company isn't worried because the Red Hat app server won't have the functionality of IBM WebSphere.

The company plans to offer software, service and support for the full OS and application infrastructure stack. The modular, open-source, layered approach will give subscription customers the freedom to choose the components they need.

"We're moving up the stack," said Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik at a briefing last week. He noted that customers want Red Hat to provide open-source middleware that is tightly integrated with its open-source Linux distribution, as well as full service and support.

One Red Hat Certified Engineer said the company is taking the right step, because open-source customers want a one-stop product and service shop for all of their infrastructure needs, including the platform and applications layer.

"People in IS/IT departments are worried about [total cost of ownership] over the long haul, not just the initial cost of deployment. Having [open-source] software that is certified by the OS vendor, with a commitment to a support time line, is very important," said Ben Russo, a system administrator who declined to provide his company's name.