RedHat for the past 4-5 years has been one of the most popular distributions of Linux. Bob Young and the early RedHat developers had the foresight to see that Linux could be used not just on the desktop but also as a serious contender as a server operating system. The developers at RedHat took three approaches to this end. First they added routines that improved RedHat's performance and reliability in large scale, enterprise caliber tasks. Second, with these as foundations, they helped advance the Linux kernel in core functions like memory management, cluster performance, and security services. Third, RedHat brought on board very early large-scale, Open Source server applications for database, Web development, plus application and web servers. In effect RedHat helped to advance the LAMP=> Linux-Apache-MySQL-Perl/PHP/Python web development surge of the late 1990's Web era.

Another key innovation was that RedHat geared up early to offer for-a-fee support, training and other Linux consulting services to medium to large scale organizations looking for software maintenance and start-up insights as they took on Linux for more of their Web and back office operations. RedHat had the insight or chutzpah to charge fees comparable but still at a substantial discount to what IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and others would charge corporations for their server software "Assurance" or other maintenance and support plans. The resulting reward has been that RedHat has become synonymous with being the premier Linux Enterprise Server, especially in trend setting North America.

In 2003, RedHat made a significant change. They split the RedHat Linux into two parts - RedHat Enterprise Linux which had features and packages devoted to large, enterprise server installations and Fedora Core which lacked some of the premium enterprise features but now acted as a testbed using the latest Linux and other state-of-the-art technologies not yet ready for REL-RedHat Enterprise Linux. Here is how Christopher Negus outlines the nature of Fedora to Redhat Enterprise Linux. Fedora is:
  - Sponsored by RedHat;
  - Supported by the Linux community through discussion forums and other websites;
  - Inclusive of high quality, cutting edge open source technology
  - Acting as a proving ground for software slated to appear in RedHat Enterprise Linux
Do not underestimate the importance of the latter point. Yes this means that a part of Fedora is really being a beta for improvements to RedHat Enterprise Linux. But the core of Linux is solid enough that Fedora in effect is truly being performance tuned and feature polished rather than being fault cleansed. And because of the popularity of the RedHat distribution, many developers like this arrangement because it allows them to see, plan for, and develop in anticipation of the latest up-coming RedHat features.

RedHat Linux Software Line-up

RedHat has a basic line-up of tools that looks like many versions of Linux as noted in our other distro reviews. The difference for RedHat Fedora is an orientation towards server based tools: Linux Kernel 2.6.8 - major upgrade
Gnome 2.8 and KDE 3.3 - good to hear that they will now use a common API
Xwindows 6.8 - has just moved to 7.0
GCC C/C++ Compiler 3.4.2 - is now at 4.1.0 and has moved from CVS to SVN (Subversion) version control
Apache Web Server 2.0.52 - is now at 2.2 and percolating along
Samba file/Print sharing 3.0.8 - is now at 3.0.21 and is getting high marks by Coverity for quickness of patches/fixes
Sendmail 8.13.1 - is now at 8.13.6
vsFTP 2.0.1 - is barebones but gets respect at TechRepublic
MySQL 3.23.58 - is now at 5.0.19 and moving rapidly to full stored procedures and event processing
BIND 9.2.4 - is domain name system services
Strangely the Fedora Core dropped a lot of Java applications as well as a number of image and media applications also were dropped or substituted. So neither Eclipse nor Netbeans IDEs are available - yet both have some of the best development tools - editors, visual diagramming and screen layouts, Database Explorers, UML and modeling capabilities. Indeed, the two IDEs are racing to add more functionality either directly or through 3rd party add-ons that cover the complete system development cycle. So I was a bit taken aback about these routines being demoted or just omitted.

True, it is easy enough to go to the various websites and download all the missing software - and in fact designers and developers can pick and choose to their hearts content - so what is the big fuss ? Well Suse Linux for one and some would argue Slackware treat designers and developers much better retaining the very routines and capabilities Fedora has gone light on. And this developer, having used both Fedora and Suse would tend to agree - Fedora is not the best Linux distribution for desktop or workstation developers it is really geared for Linux server shops or those wanting to support them.

RedHat Linux Server Amenities

In the ensuing chapters in the Fedora Bible, on can see the many amenities that RedHat developers have added to Linux for server side development and operational convenience. First, the .rpm package format is a RedHat innovation passed on and adopted by many in the the broader Linux community. Think of it as the the equivalent of Microsoft CAB files. Perhaps because the rpm command and many other system admin controls are well served, Fedora/RedHat has tended to use a mix of command line and GUI interfaces for system admin.

For example the User Manager in the Gnome Desktop acts as a GUI dialog frontend for the underlying useradd command line utility. User Manager adds a range of feature to control groups and permission, including be able to display tables of users (or groups) with their permissions and properties on easy display. This extends to a range of user accounts properties using such command lines as usermod and du. In general, Fedora/RedHat has GUI automated a number of already powerful terminal line commands. This means developers have their choice of a shell based command line

This approach extends to automating system tasks. Again one can work at the csh shell level creating scripts to mange process or system shutdown among others. Or user can use the Gnome GUI Service manager to do a similar management of task scripts. In general, Fedora/RedHat offers both a powerful set of terminal line commands to manage every aspect of Linux operation from backup through network management to security control. And for just about every task there is an equivalent GUI dialog.

However, in some areas such network configuration I found the Fedora/RedHat GUI tools much easier to use than the command line approach. This may be due to familiarity with GUI approach in other Linux versions - and lack of command line savvy. But there is an advantage to seeing all the network nodes in a table and then being able to drilldown to the specific properties and setup of particular node.

What the author has done is go through both processes with real world examples, useful Tips and helpful Cross References to other chapters in the Bible - and at over 1000 pages those cross reference links are certainly appreciated. So I am confident that Setting Up a File Server or Troubleshooting a Print Server will be tasks that I will be fully competent in within a short time with the Bible's assistance.

Summary

RedHat Fedora Linux Bible is really geared towards a server and not desktop audience. True many desktop topics are covered and in great detail. But others like media connections, audio setups, and video/photo camera interfaces are just touched upon. In contrast, server side installations and operations are covered in detail. So go with the flow - if you are looking for a graphic designer or code developers workstation - look into Suse Linux or Ubuntu. If you want to be ready for server admin and with the most popular Linux enterprise edition - then this book is for you.

(c)JBSurveyer 2006