Dell to preinstall Red Hat Linux 6.0 on 4-way servers

Dell is to factory install Red Hat Linux 6.0, released yesterday, (Earlier Story) on a range of servers, workstations and desktops from next month. The machines covered will include the 4-way PowerEdge 6300 server and dual processor Precision workstations. Dell is the first company to receive multiprocessor certification from Red Hat for its machines, and is also expected by Red Hat to be the first company to deliver Red Hat MP servers and workstations. IBM however is expected to follow swiftly. Also yesterday IBM released ViaVoice voice recognition for Linux - Red Hat is to distribute this as part of Red Hat 6.0. The appearance of Dell preconfigured high-spec multiprocessor servers and workstations running Linux will be bad news for Microsoft. Historically Dell has been a down-the-line Microsoft adherent, but the company now appears willing to run Linux as an alternative to Microsoft across its entire range. The first systems will be out in the US, but Dell also now says it plans to ship "select system configurations" in Europe. This is a slight improvement on the 'no data' European situation earlier this month, but a possible explanation for why Europe is always being accused of being behind in IT/Internet/e-commerce. ®