Oracle, Dell and Red Hat Deliver Enterprise-Ready Linux

Companies Deliver Low Cost Linux Clusters and Significantly Improved Performance for Enterprise Linux Users

RALEIGH, N.C. -

This unique partnership addresses growing customer demand for performance and reliability, with increased flexibility and cost-effectiveness for the enterprise market. Together, Oracle, Dell and Red Hat are collaborating to develop, test and bring to market enterprise-ready Linux solutions based on Dell PowerEdge Servers and Dell|EMC and PowerVault storage systems, Release 2 of Oracle9i Database with Real Application Clusters and the Red Hat Linux Advanced Server operating system.

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Dell also today announced new certified configurations based on Release 2 of Oracle9i Database and Red Hat Linux Advanced Server and outlined efforts to integrate Oracle Enterprise Manager with Dell OpenManage systems management software. Oracle and Red Hat announced that they have been collaborating on technical enhancements to Red Hat Linux Advanced Server. Additionally, Oracle is also announcing that together with Red Hat, it will deliver fully-integrated customer support for Oracle products running on Red Hat Linux Advanced Server.

Linux in the Enterprise
The adoption of Linux for enterprise computing has been accelerated by support from major application and software vendors offering packaged solutions that can be easily deployed on Red Hat Linux. Oracle, Dell, and Red Hat are working to create a core set of Linux enhancements in the areas of performance, reliability, clustering and manageability to support these customers' enterprise-class deployments. One of the first results of this collaboration is that with the latest Dell PowerEdge Server, and Dell|EMC and PowerVault storage systems, Release 2 of Oracle9i Database and Red Hat Linux Advanced Server, customers can achieve up to four times better I/O throughput, five times better kernel CPU utilization, and 50 percent Oracle query performance improvement.

The Federal Aviation Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, Virginia is currently implementing a system to support 2,000 concurrent users on an Oracle9i Real Application Clusters (RAC) system using Dell servers on Red Hat Linux. The system, known as the National Log, will be an efficient, highly scalable central clearinghouse database for users in air traffic centers across the country.

"We pushed Oracle on Red Hat Linux pretty hard in a development environment," said John Kelly, database administrator and project manager, KENROB & Associates, Inc, a contractor at the FAA Command Center. "Now we're pushing them pretty hard in a production environment, and we like what we've seen in terms performance and stability. Additionally, the Oracle9i RAC Certified Configuration for Dell on Red Hat Linux has also allowed us a lot more flexibility in hardware and increased cost savings."

"There are two ways you make Linux more reliable: one is you provide much better support, which we're doing, and the second is with a cluster to provide fault tolerance," said Oracle Chairman and CEO Larry Ellison. "If we do our job well, there's no need to build a bigger, faster machine, which will be just too expensive and too unreliable comparatively. Rather than buying a big IBM server, you buy a rack of RAC."

"Dell, Oracle and Red Hat are leaders within the server, database, and Linux OS markets respectively. We have woven a relationship that has culminated into a unique industry partnership encompassing business collaboration, technical leadership, and a focus on customer service at its core," said Michael Dell, chief executive officer, in an address to customers at the Oracle event. "Looking forward, Dell, Oracle and Red Hat are working on new ways to leverage this partnership and continuously improve the performance and value proposition of Linux in the enterprise, as customers migrate to Linux for their critical business processes."

"Red Hat, in conjunction with Oracle and Dell, continues to deliver the low cost and high value benefits of open source computing to the enterprise," said Matthew Szulik, chief executive officer, Red Hat, Inc. "Today's announcement validates the performance of Red Hat Linux Advanced Server and the technical strength of our team. Together, we have created the tools and capabilities customers need to rapidly migrate applications to an enterprise-class Linux environment."

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About Dell
Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL), the world's most preferred computer systems company, is a premier provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. The company's revenue for the past four quarters totaled $31.2 billion. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at www.dell.com.

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About Oracle
Oracle is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, visit our Web site at www.oracle.com.

Oracle is a registered trademark and Oracle9i is a trademark or registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Dell is a trademark of Dell Computer Corporation. LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world's leading open source and Linux provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with satellite offices spanning the globe. Red Hat is leading Linux and open source solutions into the mainstream by making high quality, low cost technology accessible. Red Hat provides operating system software along with middleware, applications and management solutions. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide and through top-tier partnerships. Red Hat's open source strategy offers customers a long term plan for building infrastructures that are based on and leverage open source technologies with focus on security and ease of management. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com

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, management's plans and objectives for future operations, and management's assessment of market factors, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, reliance upon strategic relationships, management of growth, the possibility of undetected software errors, 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, 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.

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

  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
  • Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company’s growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.