Dell Throws (Red) Hat into Linux Ring!

No. 1 Personal Workstation Supplier Worldwide, Second Largest Supplier of Servers in the U.S. Offers Online Sales of Retail Version of Red Hat Linux

Research Triangle Park -

Red Hat® Software, Inc. announced today that it has designated selected server and workstation configurations from Dell® Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL), the leading direct systems vendor worldwide, as certified and compatible with Red Hat Linux. Information on today's announcement can be found at http://www.redhat.com/partners/dell .

Red Hat has awarded Hardware Certification to selected configurations of the Dell PowerEdge® 1300 and 2300 servers. With today's announcement, PowerEdge server customers in the United States can now obtain the retail version of Red Hat Linux 5.2 in four ways: online from Dell through its DellWare procurement service, through Red Hat, through any Red Hat Linux authorized reseller, or by purchasing a server from Dell and having the software factory-installed through its DellPlus Custom Factory Integration program. More information on the certified configurations of Dell PowerEdge servers can be found at http://www.dell.com/products/poweredge/linux/index.htm .

The company also awarded selected configurations of the Dell Precision WorkStation 410 and 610 as compatible with the Red Hat Linux operating system. In the United States, Dell Precision WorkStation customers will be able to purchase workstations from Dell and have Red Hat Linux pre-installed through its DellPlus Custom Factory Integration program. More information on the compatible Dell Precision WorkStation configurations and ordering information can be found at http://www.dell.com/products/workstat/ISV/linux.htm .

More than 10 million users currently run the Linux operating system. According to IDC Research, Linux was the fastest-growing server operating environment in 1998, capturing more than 17 percent of all server operating system shipments.

"Dell's build-to-order business model, strong Internet presence, and direct relationship with customers is a perfect complement to the development model of the Linux operating system," said Bob Young, CEO, Red Hat Software. "The certification of Dell's popular workstation and server lines, combined with the company's emphasis on performance and quality, will deliver Red Hat Linux users a highly-reliable, established solution for corporate computing."

"Through our DellPlus Custom Factory Integration program, we have been offering Red Hat Linux pre-installed to customer specification for some time and will continue to do that," said Mike Lambert, senior vice president of Dell's Enterprise Systems Group. "With this announcement, customers will have increased certainty that Red Hat Linux runs well on our Dell Precision WorkStations and PowerEdge servers. We're working with Red Hat to ensure customers around the world receive additional value and reliability when they choose to run Red Hat Linux on Dell systems."

Common with UNIX footnote

LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. 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.