Fedora 16 Combines Sophisticated Cloud and Virtualization Features with Usability

SOURCE:  Red Hat

Raleigh, NC – November 8, 2011 – The Fedora Project, a Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT) sponsored and community-supported open source collaboration, today announced the availability of Fedora 16, the latest version of its free open source operating system distribution. The Fedora operating system is free of cost to download and includes only free and open source software for users to enjoy and share. Developed by a worldwide community, the Fedora Project collaborates closely with upstream free software project teams to provide a compelling experience for users and to access and integrate improvements and innovation rapidly.

“The open source community sets a new bar for technical excellence in the creation of this release,” said Jared Smith, Leader, The Fedora Project. “Fedora 16 combines the newest advancements in open source virtualized and cloud computing environments with significant under-the hood-improvements – all while continuing to improve the operating system’s usability. The Fedora Project’s commitment to advancing free and open source software is absolutely reflected in what the community delivered in Fedora 16.”

Notable feature enhancements in Fedora 16 include:

• Cloud computing: Aeolus Conductor creates and manages cloud instances across a wide variety of cloud types; OpenStackTM tools configure and run cloud compute and storage infrastructures; HekaFS is based on GlusterFS and enables cloud-ready distributed parallel filesystems; and Pacemaker-cloud application service provides high availability.
• Virtualization: SPICE USB offers sharing and audio volume messaging for virtualized desktops; Virtual Machines Lock Manager protects users from starting the same virtual machine twice or adding the same disk to two different virtual machines; and Virt-manager Guest Inspection allows read-only browsing of guest filesystems and the WindowsTM Registry.
• GNOME: GNOME 3.2 supports the management of online services accounts with integrated contacts and documents, improved chat capabilities, and desktop enhancements; and GNOME Input Integration facilitates switching between keyboard layouts and input methods.

A complete list of Fedora 16 features is available on The Fedora Project community release announcement page here.

The Fedora Project aims to release a new version of its free operating system approximately every six months. This rapid development cycle encourages collaboration and the inclusion of the latest, most cutting-edge open source features available. Fedora is built by community members from across the globe, and the Fedora Project’s transparent and open collaboration process has attracted more than 24,000 registered contributors. The total of unique IPs across Fedora releases since tracking was initiated at Fedora 7 is now approaching 35 million connections. Information about Fedora’s statistics and collection methodology is open and transparent to the public on the following wiki: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Statistics.

The Fedora Project has also held multiple Fedora User and Developer Conferences (FUDCon) around the world over the past year including events in Panama, Republic of Panama; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Milan, Italy; and Pune, India. The next FUDCon is planned for January 13 – 15, 2012 in Blacksburg, VA, USA and those interested in attending can learn more about the event and register to attend here: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FUDCon:Blacksburg_2012

For more information on Fedora 16 and to download the distribution or to join this community effort, please visit www.fedoraproject.org. To hear more about Fedora 16 from Jared Smith and others from The Fedora Project, watch the new release video at www.redhat.com/fedora.

For more information about Red Hat, visit www.redhat.com. For more news, more often, visit www.press.redhat.com.

About Red Hat, Inc.
Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open source solutions and an S&P 500 company, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with more than 70 offices spanning the globe. Red Hat provides high-quality, affordable technology with its operating system platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, together with cloud, virtualization, applications, management, storage and service-oriented architecture (SOA) solutions, including Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization and JBoss Enterprise Middleware. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company’s growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, including events in Japan. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.