Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 12:14:32 -0400
From: Greg Smith <gsmith@schwartz-pr.com>
To: <lwn@lwn.net>
Subject: Red Hat Announces Red Hat Linux 7


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

For more information:
Melissa London					Dave Close or Bryan Scanlon
Red Hat, Inc.				         Schwartz Communications for Red Hat
(919) 547-0012					(781) 684-0770
melissa@redhat.com			  redhat@schwartz-pr.com


RED HAT ANNOUNCES RED HAT LINUX 7; LATEST VERSION OF LEADING OPEN
SOURCE OPERATING SYSTEM OFFERS ENHANCED SECURITY, EASE OF USE AND
MANAGEMENT


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.-- September 25, 2000 -- Red Hat®,
Inc. (NASDAQ: RHAT), the leader in developing, deploying and managing open
source Internet infrastructure solutions, today announced the September 26
availability of Red Hat Linux 7, the latest version of the world’s most
popular open source server operating environment. Red Hat Linux 7 provides
enhanced security, new ease-of-use features, optimized software for
higher-end Intel chips and increased 3D support, along with dozens of new
enterprise-ready applications, extending its lead as the most powerful and
widely used open source server environment in the world. Through the new
Red Hat Network--available now to all Red Hat 7 users on a free trial basis
(see related press release, September 25 http://www.redhat.com/about/2000/)
Red Hat is pioneering a new way to deliver open source products, service,
support and information on-line in real-time.

"Red Hat Linux is the most popular and trusted open source environment in
the world, and with the enhancements to Red Hat Linux 7 it becomes an even
more compelling choice for enterprises to use as the foundation of their
Internet infrastructures," said Matthew Szulik, president and CEO of Red
Hat, Inc. "Increased security, ease of use and manageability make Red Hat
Linux 7 a full-featured solution for enterprise IT departments, workstation
users and developers. It’s appropriate that as the company responsible
for so much of the Internet infrastructure, Red Hat should also be the
first to offer a complete array of on-line service and support through our
innovative Red Hat Network. The Internet is the future of development,
deployment and management services for software technology, and Red Hat is
there today."

"As developers continue to port applications to Linux, they require new
services that will enable them to take advantage of the breadth of open
source development through initiatives from companies like Red Hat Linux
powered by Intel® Architecture," said Victor Krutul, manager, Operating
System Programs, Intel. "Using Red Hat Network, developers have on-line,
real-time access to open source products, service, support as well as Red
Hat Linux 7 upgrades delivered to them automatically to take advantage of
the new capabilities and features."


Red Hat Linux 7 Open Source Operating System

Red Hat Linux 7 is the latest major edition of the award-winning open
source operating system. It provides the open source flexibility,
scalability and manageability necessary to bring the most ambitious Linux
initiative under the control of an integrated Internet computing
platform. Important new capabilities provided by Red Hat Linux 7 include:

--For Enterprise IT Departments - integrated security with OpenSSL for
  secure communication via the Web; graphical configuration tools; MySQL
  database; and pre-set for the arrival of the 2.4 kernel

--For Workstation Users - more customizable desktop environment; more
  software to choose from including digital photography viewing and diagram
  drawing programs; increased security for default installations to protect
  users who use cable modems or ADSL to reach the Internet; and better 3D
  graphics support

--For Developers - enhanced internationalization sub-system, more complete
  C++ support with new compiler; updated development suite; and a preview
  of many new development tools such as the new GNU compiler for the Java
  programming language

Red Hat Linux 7 is available in three versions; each includes the Red Hat
Linux operating system, productivity applications (some trial versions and
some full), StarOffice Office Suite (Deluxe and Professional only) and
detailed installation documentation. The versions are:

--Standard:  60 days Web support, 60-day free Red Hat Network trial

--Deluxe: 90 days Web support, 90-day free Red Hat Network trial, 30 days
  phone support

--Professional: 90 days Web support, 180 days free Red Hat Network trial,
  30 days phone support, 30 days Apache support

Red Hat’s comprehensive services and support organization round out an
enterprise solution that delivers the tools and performance necessary to
translate the promise of open source into high-value, scalable Internet
infrastructure implementations.


Red Hat Linux 7 (in USD) and Availability

Red Hat Linux 7 Standard edition: $29.95; Red Hat Linux 7 Deluxe edition:
$79.95; and Red Hat Linux 7 Professional edition: $179.95.  All versions
are available from redhat.com and through retail outlets worldwide.
September 26 availability for ftp download.

Red Hat Network is available to all Red Hat Linux 7 users from September 26
through December 31 on a free trial basis, with functionality to be added
for Red Hat Linux 6.2 users soon.  For more information, see
www.redhat.com/network.

Open Source Momentum

International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that paid Linux shipments
grew faster than any other server operating system over the past two years,
and their preliminary figures for 1999 show Linux shipments hold 24.6
percent of the server operating system market, up from 15.8 in 1998. IDC
also states that Red Hat holds 50.2 percent of Linux vendor market share
and that Red Hat Linux is by far the most popular distribution, preferred
by 68.7 percent of U.S. Linux users.

Research firm Netcraft, Inc. (www.netcraft.com), states that as of May
2000, 30 percent of all public Web sites run on Linux-based operating
systems, making Linux the most popular choice for deploying public Web
sites. IDC research shows 40 percent of all spending on Linux servers is
for Internet related applications, firmly entrenching Linux servers in the
Internet infrastructure.

Finally, IDC predicts that by 2002, there will be more than 55 million
handheld and notebook-style information appliance devices and that by 2005,
shipments of these appliances will exceed shipments of PCs.

Red Hat’s numerous alliances with industry leaders and the demand for
Linux-based applications has created open source support from many of the
industry’s leading software and hardware manufacturers, including Dell,
Compaq, Computer Associates, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Novell,
Oracle and SAP.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Founded in 1994, Red Hat (Nasdaq:RHAT), is the leader in development,
deployment and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet
infrastructure ranging from small embedded devices to high availability
clusters and secure Web servers. In addition to the award-winning Red Hat
Linux server operating system, Red Hat is the principle provider of
GNU-based developer tools and support solutions for a wide variety of
embedded processors.  Red Hat provides run-time solutions, developer tools,
Linux kernel expertise and offers support and engineering services to
organizations in all embedded and Linux markets.

Red Hat applies its technological leadership to create open source
solutions for all points on the Internet and in pervasive computing
environments, offers services backed by the best understanding of open
source and the most comprehensive resources, and delivers the brand of a
widely trusted open source leader and corporate partner.  Red Hat offers
users one single, trusted point of contact and a common platform for
developing, deploying and managing open source across the Internet and
devices that connect to the Internet.

Red Hat is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. and has offices worldwide.
Please visit Red Hat on the Web at www.redhat.com.

# # #

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.


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, product plans and performance,
the ability to continue to develop the Linux kernel and other software,
reliance upon strategic relationships, Red Hat’s dependence upon an open
source business model, reliance upon independent third-party Linux
developers, management of growth, expansion of Red Hat’s business focus
and operations, the possibility of undetected software errors, the
enforceability of the GNU General Public License and other licenses under
which Red Hat’s products are developed and licensed, the scarcity of
Linux-based applications, 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.