Ask Shadowman: Red Hat Linux Advanced Server

Before starting with this month's questions, Shadowman needs to set the record straight. Last month, Martin F. asked whether Red Hat Network could download and update packages automatically.

Shadowman's answer was an implied, "Duh -- Yes". In fact, the "Duh" should have been directed at Shadowman, who used his memory of an RHN configuration screen from an old version of up2date as the basis for his answer. Unfortunately, the only thing less reliable than Shadowman's tendency to buy the last round is Shadowman's memory.

However, all is not lost; if you'd like to automatically check Red Hat Network and install any available updates, you can use cron to run the command "up2date -u" at regular intervals, thereby accomplishing exactly what Martin asked for.

Shadowman apologizes to Martin for the incorrect information. Now, on with the countdown.

a reader writes:
I intend to use Red Hat Linux Advanced Server for my Internet Cafe. What will I gain in chosing Advanced Server over a regular Red Hat Linux release?

Shadowman says:
There are two kinds of differences you'll see between Red Hat Linux Advanced Server and our more traditional Red Hat Linux product:

• Technical differences
• PHB differences (For lack of a better term)

• Asynchronous I/O Support -- Improved performance for applications which move large amounts of data (databases, message exchanges, etc.)
• I/O Lock Contention Elimination -- Data access is more scalable on multi-CPU servers, I/O-bound tasks will run faster (especially on platforms with multiple disks and multiple controllers.)
• Bounce Buffer Elimination -- Faster I/O throughput on systems with large amounts of memory (Here's a Shadowman Tip -- always try to work the phrase "bounce buffer" into the conversation during a job interview: you'll either impress the interviewer, or they'll ask you to explain the term, which means you'd probably better know what it actually is...).
• Improved Process Scheduler -- Increased performance on large SMP systems (context switches scale very nicely as the number of processors increases)
• Two-Node Failover -- Increased availability of network resources; Improves service uptime
• Scalable Load Balancing -- Straightforward growth path for network services through incrementally adding cost effective hardware rather than having to finance "fork lift" upgrades where large, expensive systems are completely replaced
• Netconsole/Netcrashdump -- Centralized/consistent views of system and kernel logs
• Java Support -- Java dependent applications will have an integrated and supported runtime environment

• Strong key ISV relationships ensure supportability (This means that if your PHB wants to run some commercial software on an Advanced Server system, you don't have to worry about being told that you are using an "unsupported platform".)
• OEM Certifications on server hardware (This means that you can tell your PHB what hardware to buy and sleep nights secure in the knowledge that what you've selected will actually work.)
• High value server functionality (This is PHB-speak for, "Gosh, it sure does work well, that server thingie, eh?")
• Focused Release Cycles (PHBs and ISVs like things to be predictable; this keeps them from getting too grumpy, and allows the ISVs time to certify their software on a particular release).
• Stability of deployed applications throughout lifecycle (No more "why doesn't XYZ work after the upgrade" questions from your PHB.)
• Direct relationship with Red Hat via Red Hat Network and Global Support Services (PHB's like to point fingers. Fine -- let your PHB point fingers at us.)

a reader asks:
Since the kernel is the same how do you differentiate between Red Hat Linux and Red Hat Linux Advanced Server...?

• Does it allow multiple processors? How many?
• What kind of file systems are available?
• What's the cost of the Red Hat Linux Advanced Server?
• Which clients work with it? MS or MAC?
• Is it interoperable? (Does it play nice with other NOS's?)

Shadowman says:
While your questions are good ones, they start with a false assumption: that the kernel is unchanged. Nothing could be further from the truth! As you've seen in the previous question, there are a number of changes to the Advanced Server kernel.

Since you've given Shadowman a bulleted list of questions, here is Shadowman's bulleted list of answers. Make sure you keep track of which answer goes with which question -- Shadowman can't be mollycoddling people that have trouble keeping their place:

• Yes, up to eight. This is more than the two processors officially supported in Red Hat Linux. And of course, there are no hard and fast limits (this is Open Source, after all) -- if you want to run with more processors, you can, but don't come crying to us if you find your system starts growing blue fur and smelling of garlic...
• Red Hat Linux Advanced Server supports the traditional ext2 and the journaling ext3 file systems. Red Hat's kernel team loves nothing better than punishing and torturing poor defenseless little file systems; these are the ones that currently have made the cut. You can read a bit more about this subject here: http://www.redhat.com/support/wpapers/redhat/ext3/
• Like Reader's Digest and the Empire State Building, Red Hat Linux Advanced Server is sold on a subscription basis; the price represents a subsription for the first and subsequent years, and is billed annually. There are several different prices, depending on your needs. <advertisement> If you need more info on pricing, call the friendly Red Hat sales department at 1-8662REDHAT. Tell 'em Shadowman sent ya. </advertisement>
• Any client system that supports the services being provided will work (in practice, this means most operating systems -- you will, however, need to migrate from that IBM 1401 running Autocoder; hope you don't mind).
• Play nice? Well, Red Hat Linux Advanced Server doesn't beat up other network operating systems for their lunch money, if that's what you mean. Seriously, though; much like the clients, Advanced Server will work with other standards-friendly NOS's. And even some not-so-standards-friendly NOS's -- not that Shadowman would names names...

a reader wonders:
Which architectures will be supported?

Shadowman says:
Right now, Red Hat Linux Advanced Server supports the current Intel 32-bit architecture. However, Shadowman has it on good authority that Advanced Server as it currently exists is but a start. Shadowman would say more, but that would cause Shadowman's red fedora to be revoked, and seeking logo work with a bald spot the size of Montana makes for difficult times, especially in this economy.

a reader demands:
I need to find out whether Red Hat Linux Advanced Server will allow a single process to allocate more than 4 GB of RAM.

Shadowman says:
Shadowman delved deep into this matter, and found that there are some things that never change:

• Death
• Taxes
• The current 3GB maximum per-process virtual address space (which includes space allocated for both program and library code)

a reader murmurs:
Does Red Hat Linux Advanced Server include Stronghold?

Shadowman says:
No -- even in a Rolls Royce (let alone the Shadowcar -- a '63 Studebaker Lark Wagonaire, if you must know), one must purchase one's own gasoline.

a reader speaks loudly:
Is this product going to fall under the GPL license? If so will the ISO images be available for download?

Shadowman says:
Like the Red Hat Linux products before it, Advanced Server contains software from a variety of sources. The majority of it is open source (using a variety of licenses, including the GPL), with a few packages consisting of "redistributable" content.

This means that, like the Red Hat Linux products before it, the sources for the software comprising Advanced Server will be available to anyone wanting a copy. And -- as always -- any code written by Red Hat is GPL'ed, with the sources being freely available.

However, unlike the Red Hat Linux products before it, we will not be making ISO images freely available for Advanced server. However, if you are a "1337 haxx0r d00d" with "m4d ski11z" (or even a mildly interested sysadmin with a year or two of Linux experience), and you want to roll your own, go for it. Shadowman recommends that you might consider reviewing our trademark policies (http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark/) before doing something like going into business selling it on eBay, however. Since Java technology is part of Advanced Server, if you "roll your own", you'll have to acquire a JRE/JDK yourself.

a reader spoke clearly:
Will a computer hardware company like Dell or anyone have Red Hat Linux Advanced Server preinstalled on a system?

Shadowman says:
Shadowman has it on good authority that this will be the case.

a reader mumbles:
What clustering solutions is Red Hat looking to incorporate into their software?

Shadowman says:
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server includes two solutions:

• Piranha (as previously released in Red Hat High Availability Server)
• Red Hat Cluster Manager (based on Kimberlite technology from Mission Critical Linux)

a reader writes in chalk:
Does your load balancing router feature use the LVS backend?

Shadowman says:
Yes, does yours?

a reader intones:
Is there going to be a special certification and training program implemented for the new Advanced Server version or is everything going to be covered under the basic certification thats curretly out.

Shadowman says:
Keep in mind that Red Hat Linux Advanced Server is not some completely different technology that was reverse-engineered from an alien spacecraft that crashed in New Mexico in 1947. It's Linux, just like you've come to know and love. So any Red Hat Linux training/certification you already have will serve you well when working with Advanced Server.

a reader states:
I'd like to know what the RHLAS product road map will look like for the next year.

Shadowman says:
Shadowman imagines that you're looking for concrete product management futures, like "next month we'll release Red Hat Linx Advanced Server ported to the Intel 8080a microprocessor" (by the way, if you believe this, Shadowman has some very expensive 30-pin SIMMS he'll let you have cheap). Well, you're not getting that kind of top-secret information out of ol' Shadowman, nosiree.

What Shadowman *can* provide, however, is an overview of how Advanced Server releases and updates will be developed as time goes on.

Major functional release
Frequency: 18-24 months from last major release
Nature of release: all levels of functionality (maintenance, new platforms)

Platform release
Frequency: every 3-4 months (or as needed for critical platforms)
Nature of release: updates for key OEM enhancements

Errata update
Frequency: as needed
Nature of release: critical security or data corruption vulnerabilities

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