Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is simply a continuation of the Red Hat Linux Advanced Server product. It is aimed at larger servers, supports up to eight CPUs and 16 GB of RAM, and offers the most extensive options for support (including a 24x7 support service). The standard edition of the product costs $1,499; the premium edition costs $2,499. I recommend that companies that are interested in this product contact a Red Hat sales rep to figure out the best solution. Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES is aimed at the smaller servers -- the kind that gave Linux its start in the corporate world -- such as file and print servers, basic mail servers, firewalls, DNS servers, and departmental Web servers. ES supports only up to two CPUs and 4 GB of RAM. The basic edition sells for $349, includes 90 days of support, and is available only as a download from Red Hat's site. The standard edition costs $799, includes a full year of support, and comes in a box with CDs and printed manuals. (It's also available as a download for those who want instant access.)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS is the new corporate desktop version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It supports up to two CPUs and comes with software aimed at end-user desktop use. It does not include most of the server software packages that come with AS and ES, and it doesn't support clustering. Like ES, the basic edition of WS comes with 90 days of support and is available only via download; the standard edition comes with a year of support and offers CDs and printed manuals. The basic edition of WS sells for $179, and the standard edition costs $299. For a look at where Red Hat sees the various versions of the Enterprise Linux line fitting into a typical network, take a look at the diagram in Figure A.
| Figure A |
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In addition to releasing the Red Hat Enterprise Linux line, the company is now targeting Red Hat Linux at SOHO customers and home users, which include technophiles and Linux enthusiasts. Currently, two iterations of the product are available: Red Hat Linux 9 ($39.95) and Red Hat Linux 9 Professional ($149.95). The difference is that the professional version comes with a lot more software, including programs such as Ximian Evolution that users normally have to pay for separately. For $60 a year, you can subscribe to the Red Hat Network, which provides some basic support for these products, as well as the latest ISOs (image files that can be burned into installation CDs) for download. A more advanced subscription includes additional support functionality and is available for $96/system/year. End sum
For businesses that want to take advantage of the benefits of high-end Linux but still require technical support -- either because they want to run mission-critical applications or they simply do not have any Linux gurus on staff -- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is a great option. For those that don't have Linux experts on staff but want to deploy basic Linux servers or desktops, the standard editions of ES and WS, respectively, may provide a great way to make it happen without having to hire Linux admins or consultants. On the other hand, companies that do have admins or consultants with proven Linux knowledge and experience don't really need the ES or WS products (especially the basic editions). The Linux admins can download Red Hat Linux and a ton of open source applications for free and easily set up network servers and desktop workstations that are virtually identical to the ones built and supported by Red Hat. For a weekly round-up of the enterprise IT news, sign up for the Enterprise newsletter. Tell us what you think in the Enterprise Mailroom.
