Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 2.1
Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 3, was announced in September 2003, with initial product delivery beginning the following month. While version 3 provides many compelling new features, some customers will wish to continue to use version 2.1. Reasons for purchasing version 2.1 include:
- To maintain an identical user, administration and application environment as existing 2.1 systems.
- At the time of version 3 release, version 2.1 had more extensive ISV application and OEM hardware certifications. ISVs and OEMs are actively certifying their products on version 3 but it is expected that it will take several months before the same level of certification as version 2.1 is achieved. View the latest ISV application certifications for both Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions.
- Some organizations have centralized product approval processes which have not yet been updated to authorize version 3 purchases.
To handle these situations, Red Hat Enteprise Linux, version 2.1 is still available for purchase. Note that all Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscriptions include the right to upgrade to new versions at no additional cost.
The follow list outlines the major differences and similarities between Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 2.1 and version 3:
| |
Version 2.1 |
Version 3 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux products, services & prices for X86-compatible systems |
Identical for both versions |
| Itanium systems |
Services and prices identical for both versions
Product name change:
- Version 2.1: Red Hat Advanced Server/Workstation for the Itanium Processor
- Version 3: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS/WS
|
| AMD64 systems |
No support |
Full support |
| IBM architectures |
No support (support available using Red Hat Linux 7.1/7.2 products) |
Full support |
AS system limits(x86):
Maximum logical CPUs
Maximum memory |
8
16GB |
16
64GB |
ES system limits (x86):
Maximum physical CPUs
Maximum memory |
2
4GB |
2
8GB |
WS system limits(x86):
Maximum physical CPUs |
2 |
2 |
| Maximum SCSI devices |
128 |
256 |
| Maximum per-process virtual address space |
3GB |
Approx 4GB (3.7) |
| Asynchronous I/O for storage devices |
Yes |
Yes |
| Asynchronous I/O for sockets |
No |
Yes |
| Native POSIX Threading Library |
No |
Yest |
| Hyperthreading scheduler |
No |
Yes |
| CoE compliant |
Yes |
No |
| LSB compliant |
Yes - 1.2 |
Yes - 1.3 |
| NIAP/CC EAL 2 certified |
No |
In process |
| Kernel foundation |
Linux 2.4.9 |
Linux 2.4.21 |
| Cluster Manager technology |
Bundled with AS
Not available for ES |
Unbundled from AS
Available for AS & ES as a layered product |
| Desktop GUI |
GNOME |
Red Hat Bluecurve |
Desktop features:
OpenOffice
Ximian Evolution |
No
No |
Yes
Yes |
| Compiler |
GCC 2.9.6 |
GCC 3.2 |
| Completed benchmarks |
TPC-C, TPC-R, Ecperf, NotesBench, SPECjAppServer2001 |
TPC-C |
| Logical Volume Manager |
No |
Yes |
| Supports Red Hat Developer Suite layered product |
No |
Yes |
|
