Certified and Compatible Hardware on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Transcription

1 Certified and Compatible Hardware on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Abstract This white paper provides an overview of the guidelines and programs for testing hardware for certification or compatibility with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux product family. This document is updated as of September, Copyright 2005 Red Hat, Inc.

2 Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2

3 Table of Contents Red Hat Product Eligibility Platforms and Versions...3 Variants Hardware Certification and Compatibility...3 Definitions Vendor Qualification Expiration Red Hat Hardware Program...4 Program Benefits Membership Requirements...5 Submission Process for Self Testing...6 Technical Requirements for Self Testing...6 Pricing Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3

4 Red Hat Product Eligibility Platforms and Versions Red Hat Hardware Certification is available only for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family of products. Certifications are awarded per version and architecture (i.e. RHEL4 for x86_64) and not by variant (i.e. AS, Desktop, Server). A critical feature of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux product family is that all family members share a common core (e.g., kernel, development tool chain, and libraries) thusly certifications apply to all variants of the same version and architecture. Red Hat accepts hardware test results that have been conducted on Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS and Server only. The current Red Hat Enterprise Linux product version is 5. Today, Red Hat continues to accept hardware test results for Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 4; however, Red Hat no longer accepts hardware test results for Red Hat Enterprise Linux v2.1 nor v3. In addition, Red Hat does not offer hardware testing on the Fedora project. Variants Red Hat will list all certified hardware as Certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux for a specific version number. However, hardware vendors have the opportunity to specify their preferred variant in the Red Hat Hardware Catalog. The Hardware Catalog, which provides a complete list of Certified and Compatible hardware, is available at Hardware Certification and Compatibility Definitions 1. Certified (Supported) Full computer models that pass the hardware certification test suite on a standard, unmodified version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux in accordance with the Red Hat hardware test guidelines will be deemed Certified. Certified Systems will be supported by Red Hat. 2. Compatible Hardware components and peripherals that pass tests in accordance with the Red Hat hardware test guidelines will be deemed Compatible. This status may also be applied to full systems that pass the Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4

5 tests, but do not meet the hardware guidelines. Compatible hardware is not considered certified and therefore will not be supported by Red Hat. For this reason, support for compatible hardware should be provided by the vendor. 3. Compatible (Supported) If Red Hat and a hardware vendor enter into a cooperative support agreement for a particular hardware product that does not qualify for certification but has been deemed compatible according to the criteria identified above, then that particular hardware product will be deemed Compatible and Supported. It will not be considered certified; however, it will be supported by Red Hat. Vendor Qualification To test hardware, the vendor must either 1.) join the Red Hat Hardware Program or 2.) have a Qualifying OEM Relationship with Red Hat. Hardware Program participants can only certify hardware for which they are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Program participation fees may apply. Vendors must have a relationship with Red Hat to enable them to fulfill the ongoing requirements of having certified or compatible hardware. While up front tests are a key part of the certification or compatibility process, there are also ongoing requirements to maintain the status over time. Expiration A Red Hat Enterprise Linux hardware certification is valid for the posted release, for example RHEL 4 Update 3, and will also be valid for subsequent updates: U4, U5, U6, etc., as they are released, typically without additional testing. A RHEL hardware certification does not apply to future or past versions of RHEL, such as RHEL 5 in the previous example; these RHEL certifications must be obtained separately. Once a hardware model has been certified the hardware will retain its Certified or Compatible status until (a) recertification is required, (b) Red Hat no longer supports that version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or (c) the vendor ceases participation in the Hardware Program. Red Hat Hardware Program Membership in the Red Hat Hardware program is for one year, and the vendor must renew the membership each year to maintain the certified/compatible status of its hardware. See the Pricing section of this document for details on Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

6 program pricing. Program Benefits Certified Hardware receives the following benefits from the Red Hat Hardware Program: 1. Exposure on redhat.com: Certified systems will be included in the Red Hat Hardware Catalog, Red Hat's official online database of certified hardware. 2. Co branding: Use of the Red Hat Certified logo, to be displayed in conjunction with marketing certified Hardware. 3. Red Hat Support Assurance: Assurance that Red Hat will support customers using the vendor's certified hardware. 4. Relationship: An ongoing relationship with Red Hat. 5. Testing Support Red Hat will provide limited support to the vendor throughout the self certification testing process. 6. Copies of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (May not apply to a Qualifying OEM Relationship, which may include a larger number of entitlements to Red Hat Enterprise Linux). 7. Participation in Red Hat's Enterprise Linux Public Beta Program (as it exists from time to time; additional program requirements may apply). 8. Access to the Red Hat Hardware Test Suite and tools, which Red Hat strongly suggests vendors incorporate into the testing process for all hardware. Compatible Hardware receives the following benefits from the Red Hat Hardware Program: 1. Exposure on redhat.com: Compatible hardware will be included in the Compatible section of the Red Hat Hardware Catalog, Red Hat's official online database of compatible hardware. 2. Relationship An ongoing relationship with Red Hat. 3. Testing Support Red Hat will provide limited support to the vendor throughout the self certification testing process. 4. Copies of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (May not apply to a Qualifying OEM Relationship, which may include a larger number of entitlements to Red Hat Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

7 Enterprise Linux). 5. Participation in Red Hat's Enterprise Linux Public Beta Program (as it exists from time to time; additional program requirements may apply). 6. Access to the Red Hat Hardware Test Suite and tools, which Red Hat strongly suggests vendors incorporate into the testing process for all hardware. Membership Requirements The following requirements apply to all vendors who wish to test hardware, whether through a Qualifying OEM Relationship or the Hardware Certification Program. 1. Vendor must participate in the program for as long as they plan to sell the hardware as Certified or Compatible for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. If vendor quits the program, certification for all hardware is automatically terminated, and vendor no longer enjoys any of the program benefits. 2. Vendor must supply a support contact (name, e mail, telephone number) and a technical/engineering contact to Red Hat for the life of participation in the program, in the event that an issue arises with a customer using that hardware that cannot be solved by Red Hat. 3. Vendor must support customers for hardware issues encountered during use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux on the Certified or Compatible hardware. 4. Vendor with certified systems must agree to use the Red Hat Certified mark in marketing materials promoting the hardware as Red Hat Certified. Usage of the mark must be in compliance with Red hat's Trademark Usage Policies ( 5. Vendor will be required to supply representative hardware to Red Hat for support purposes. Submission Process for Self Testing Red Hat's Hardware Program utilizes a consistent submission process for computer models, components, and peripherals. Throughout the testing process, vendors may direct questions to either their company's Technical Account Manager (TAM) or Red Hat's Hardware Certification Team. 1. Vendor applies to join the Red Hat Hardware program and pays appropriate Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

8 fees (alternately, vendor may be a Qualifying OEM/Partner). 2. Vendor downloads the Red Hat Enterprise Linux release candidate (or GA version, if available). 3. Vendor downloads the Red Hat Enterprise Linux certification scripts. 4. Vendor and Red Hat determine which tests need to be run. For multiple model certifications, filling out the leveraged model template spreadsheet and submitting it to Red Hat for review is more efficient. 5. Vendor Runs Specified Tests. If unsuccessful, the problem(s) are fixed and the specific tests rerun. 6. Vendor submits the completed test results to the Hardware Certification website: 7. Red Hat reviews the test results, comparing them to the specification. We then ask the partner to verify the accuracy. 8. When the information is complete, Red Hat will post the entry on the Hardware Catalog. Technical Requirements for Self Testing The full list of technical requirements for hardware testing may be found at Pricing The Red Hat Hardware Program requires an annual program fee for all vendors who are not in a Qualifying OEM/Partner* relationship with Red Hat. Program pricing depends on the type of testing the member selects. 1. Self Testing $5,000US per year; unlimited testing Program participants who intend to conduct their own testing pay an annual program fee of $5,000US. This fee allows the vendor to conduct unlimited self tests on their hardware products throughout the course of the year. 2. Red Hat Testing $5,000US per year; $1,500 per test Vendors who would prefer to engage Red Hat to test their hardware products on their behalf would pay the annual program fee of $5,000US plus $1,500 per test run of a single single computer model, component, or peripheral. Hardware tested on multiple architectures would require a testing fee for each architecture. Similarly, products products that do not successfully pass Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

9 the first test would require a testing fee for any subsequent tests. *For current Qualifying OEM/Partner Pricing, please contact your Red Hat Account Executive. Certifying Hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9