Red Hat announced today that it is discontinuing maintenance and errata support for basic “Red Hat Linux” version 8 and earlier in Dec., 2003, and for Red Hat 9 in Apr. 2004. The company recommends that users migrate to its Enterprise Linux products, which cost between $179 and $1,499 for a basic version, or to the community-supported “Fedora” project which Red Hat… is sponsoring.

Fedora began independently in Feb. 2003, and has recently been integrated with the Red Hat Linux Project. The Fedora project aims toward a faster schedule than that of Red Hat Enterprise, with 2-3 revisions per year, according to its website.

Red Hat offers several configurations and support options in its Enterprise Linux line, which it launched in 2002. Linux WS (workstation) represents the entry level, with a standard license running $179 with one year of Red Hat Network support (automated upgrade and security fix downloads and installation). No support options are available for WS. Linux Enterprise AS (advanced server) represents the entry level for multi-processor systems, and starts at $1,499, with four-hour response times for phone and email support.

Red Hat's Enterprise products are described in more detail on a feature comparison chart on Red Hat's site. The company has also added a migration center to help customers and users migrate to Red Hat Enterprise and Fedora Red Hat.

SuSE recently released SuSE LINUX Professional 9.0 which retails for $79.95. Mandrake Linux remains freely downloadable to those who, on the honor system, agree to join a user group on a sliding scale between $5 and $1000 per month. Debian, the most popular linux for desktop use according to a 2002 DesktopLinux survey, remains freely downloadable, offers an especially active user community, and provides arguably the best software update tools available.

 
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