Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
Summary: Red Hat's flagship operating system's next version is out now in beta for both current subscribers and newcomers.
When you're talking serious server Linux, chances are you're talking Red Hat's Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) , so it's good news that the beta is now ready for the next edition: RHEL 6.2
Coming on the heels of the news that Red Hat is acquiring Gluster, a cloud-storage software company, it should come as no surprise that it will offer improved cloud deployment support. Of course, there's a lot more here than just better cloud support.
While I don't see any standout new features, I do see a lot of small overall improvements that will many any RHEL administrator happy. These include:
Performance and Scaling
- Kernel-level optimizations implemented in the process scheduler, networking, virtualization, and I/O subsystems.
- Faster creation of ext4 file systems and improved response times in XFS for certain workloads.
- Improved CPU controller scalability and enhanced resource management features to set processor utilization ceilings.
Identity Management
- Centralized identity management for the flexible management of users, roles, policies, and authentication services.
- New capabilities for the unification of Kerberos ticketing, DNS naming, user and group ids, and Linux systems policies into a single service.
High Availability
- Support for RHEL 6 guests on VMware hosts and comprehensive support for the GFS2 (Global File System) shared storage file system have been added to the High Availability Add-on Product, creating a more tightly integrated environment.
- Full support for the UDP-unicast protocol which reduces administration overhead,resulting in easier cluster deployment.
Advanced Storage & Networking
- World Wide Name (WWN) or World Wide Identifier (WWID), for storage devices making it easier to identify them during installation for users utilizing Storage Area Networks (SAN) and other advanced network topologies.
- Transmit Packet Steering (XPS) capabilities which improve network packet transmission throughput by 30%.
Taken as a whole it's a pretty impressive list of improvements. If you're already a Red Hat Network (RHN) you can download the RHEL 6.3 beta and start testing in now. In addition, if you're not a RHEL user, you can still download a copy of the beta for a 30-day evaluation.
Give it a try. Whether you run Linux on a stand-alone server, in a cluster, or in a cloud, RHEL's an impressive operating system.
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Talkback
Currently Testing RHEV-D with 6.2 beta!
RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
"VMware killer"
Quoted for truth. Let's see if you're right in 2 years!
RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
Actually it means
You can lead a person to knowledge, but you might not have all of their information. If they've already spent the money to implement HyperV, then KVM is inferior 'cause it'll cost to get it installed and train people in its use. Hassles most IT departments can do without.
HyperV may be inferior, but it's probably good enough, and in business, good enough rules in most cases.
(I'm waiting for the standard responses here about Good Enough!)
RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
*yawn* If there is going to be a "killer" of vmware, it is going to be in the solution that offers the management tools. That means Microsoft Hyper-V or Citrix XenServer. With the release of Citrix Xenserver 6.0 recently, my money is on one of these more complete systems. And -- yes, spare me the repeated dissertation on the meaningless alliance. Alliance does not equal adoption.
RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
Finally, 'Good enough', and paying more for less in business is a major contributor to the tanking economies all around the world.
RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Beta is out now
ummmm, a swing and a miss. Enomaly is good, but works equally well with Xen. Given Xen's strong roles-based provisioning and end-to-end management platform, Xen continues to be a leader in the markets not dominated by VmWare. KVM is a "good enough" solution for small to medium sized implementations. However, the E in RHEV is still not there yet. The chances of it "killing" vmware in the near future approaches nil.