A Guide to the Ecosystem Expo

Every year at Red Hat Summit, one of the areas that draws the most attention is our Ecosystem Expo. Filled with more than 100 partners and technology leaders showcasing some of the best in enterprise technology, it gives attendees the chance to connect directly with strategic technology partners.

From developers to dog lovers (that’s right, we said dogs), there’s something for everyone in the Ecosystem Expo at this year’s Red Hat Summit. Here’s what you won’t want to miss in this collaborative, hands-on and engaging space.

The Red Hat Booth

A staple of the expo, the Red Hat Booth is staffed with Red Hatters ready to expand on the biggest announcements from Red Hat Summit. It’s also the place to come discuss your business challenges, whether you’re trying to optimize your IT and grow your organization, integrate cloud apps or legacy software to speed innovation, answer demand with cloud infrastructure, build more modern applications, or manage and automate your IT to innovate faster. Stop by to talk about the open technology that can fit your needs, be it containers or hybrid cloud. This year there’s an “Ask Me Anything” space in the booth for all of your questions.

Customer Success Zone

Do you want to catalyze innovation? Maximize your technology investment? Come to the Customer Success Zone to get connected to the people, services, tools and processes that can help you succeed, no matter where you are in your journey with Red Hat. From adoption to consulting, training to certification, technical support to subscriptions, you’ll find the services and support to help you do more.

Feedback Zone

Feedback is inherent in Red Hat’s DNA, and instead of asking you to provide it at every turn, there’s a dedicated space for you to let us know what you really think in relation to all things Red Hat. One thing you won’t want to miss is the section on our the Open Brand Project, an open initiative to update and simplify our corporate logo and brand system, and user testing for Red Hat’s web properties. If you’re as passionate about Red Hat as we are, you’ll want to pick up a (temporary) tattoo featuring our logo!

Community Central

Come see some of the main upstream communities that develop the technologies used in Red Hat products. While there’s a technical emphasis in this area, you can also learn how communities develop and evolve features, and why some features will be in products but others stay firmly in the community space. You can also learn how to contribute and experiment in the playground where technologies evolve. This space includes well-known communities such as Fedora, CentOS, RDO, Gluster, Ceph, oVirt, Kubernetes, OKD and Ansible as well as emerging communities such as Buildah, Podman, Skopeo, CRI-O, KubeVirt and OperatorHub.io.

DevZone

If you’re an application developer, put DevZone on your list to visit.  Here is where you’ll watch and ask questions around technical demos from the general sessions. You’ll also find spaces dedicated to Red Hat CodeReady, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Red Hat Middleware, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Learn how to build applications on top of Red Hat Enterprise Linux using Red Hat Developer toolkits, and get books signed by your favorite Red Hat developers.

Open Source Stories

Come celebrate how community, meritocracy and the free exchange of ideas can unlock potential across disciplines. Open Source Stories is Red Hat's multimedia brand journalism portfolio that celebrates the impact of open source on everyday lives. Come to this space and work with a food computer, build your own circuitry card, learn more about our latest film premiere and meet the next generation of open source.

Partners and sponsor exhibits

Get a true feeling of what our open source community looks like as our partners and sponsors showcase some of the great work they do with Red Hat and customers. From technology leaders to those creating positive change in niche fields and verticals, these exhibits include something for everyone. Show some love to these Red Hat Summit supporters who help bring Red Hat’s offerings to customers around the world. Also, take a seat and catch some of them on the Ecosystem Theater stage.

Partner Success Lounge

Stop by the Partner Success Lounge to learn about becoming a partner or to discuss ways to expand  your current work within Red Hat’s trusted partner ecosystem. If you’re already a Red Hat partner, be sure to check out a Partner’s Guide to Red Hat Summit and make a stop at this exhibit.

Expand your PAWsabilities

Doggone it if there isn’t a puppy pen in the Exhibit Expo this year, care of Great Dog Rescue New England. This rescue saves dogs from kill shelters, streets, and from owners who can no longer care for their pets. So if you just need an event pick-me-up that only canine cuddles or puppy kisses can bring, stop by the pen on Wednesday from 10 a.m to 1:30 p.m. or Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. If you fall in love, know that all dogs are available for adoption.

All the fun things

With all of the knowledge share going in the exhibition expo, you’ll probably need some good old fashioned fun to ward off information overload. Try jumping around in a 180 degree, 3D gif photo booth. Or maybe play some games on the Lawn on A. Take a call with 2019 Red Hat Innovation Award winners while immersed in an artistic sensory display. Or maybe just reflect on the limitless possibilities with open source within the infinity room.

Did someone say free?

Merch. Tchotchkes. Doodads. Keepsakes. Trinkets. At Red Hat we call it swag. Whatever you call it, it’s free and it’s available in the Exposition Expo. From stickers, buttons and phone charges to hoodies and hammocks, most exhibits have some kind of giveaway that’s available while supplies last. So get you some. And don’t go home without a 3D printed keychain.

When to go

With all the exciting things in the Exhibition Expo, let’s get down to brass tacks. Exactly when can you hit this place up? It’s always open from Tuesday through Thursday, and attendees will be able to watch general session live streams in theaters throughout the space. To engage with exhibitors, you’ll want to swing by during staffed hours:

• Tuesday, May 7: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 pm

• Wednesday, May 8: 10 a.m. to 1:30 pm; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Thursday, May 9: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See you there with your swag on!