With each update to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, we add new features and reliability/quality improvements through bug fixes and security patches – while maintaining compatibility with our ecosystem of certified hardware and software. Update releases also often provide new or enhanced hardware support. Key features in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.8 include:

• Improved virtualization performance and scale
  • New, optimized devices drivers for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 virtual guests deployed on the KVM hypervisor that we plan to include in future Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 releases. Support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 virtual guests running on Xen-based systems continues as before.
  • Virtual guest support for up to 256 disk devices (increased from 16). This will allow the deployment of much larger virtualized applications.
• Improved Windows interoperability and file system support
  • A Samba update to improve Microsoft Windows interoperability, which allows customers to deploy Red Hat Enterprise Linux as a secure, reliable, high performance, file server for Microsoft Windows environments.
  • Samba support allows customers to attach Microsoft Windows clients to a Red Hat Enterprise Linux server without requiring Windows Client Access Licenses (CALs).
  • An update to autofs (used to map file systems) provides increased reliability and stability.
• General performance improvements
  • Includes three new “kernel tunables” that allow customers to optimize application performance by reducing latency and improving utilization.
  • Updated high-speed networking support with enhancements to the Open Fabric Distribution Networking (OFED) software stack.
• Storage and filesystem enhancements
  • Improved Device Mapper reporting is provided to help storage administrators.
  • More information captured from HP active-passive arrays helps administrators monitor and configure storage in multipath high-availability configurations.
• Enhanced developer support
  • Updated GNU Compiler Collection allows customers to compile applications on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 with compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. This helps customers prepare for moving applications to the newer Red Hat release.

The ongoing value of a Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription is based on the delivery of continuous innovation with key features customers seek, offering performance, security and availability they depend on to run their business. Our open source offerings can help lower overall IT costs and are supported by a vibrant partner ecosystem.

Customers with a Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription are able to access the 4.8 update automatically through Red Hat Network.