Red Hat Boosts Security In Enterprise Server

Linux software maker Red Hat Inc. on Tuesday launched an upgrade of the enterprise version of its product, which includes better security.

The latest version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux includes features that protect against stack, buffer or function-pointer overflows, as well as other types of security exploits that rely on overwriting data structures in memory.

In addition, the company has extended its "no-execute" technology to Intel x86, Intel EM64T and AMD64 processors. The NX technology restricts execution of program code in specific areas of memory, preventing many common buffer overflow security vulnerabilities, officials with the Raleigh, N.C., company said.

Other enhancements in the upgrade include support for IBM Power5 servers, new driver support and miscellaneous bug fixes.

Also on Tuesday, Red Hat said it had entered a partnership with server-maker Unisys Corp. The joint marketing, customer support and development agreement means Red Hat's Linux software will eventually be available across the full line of Unisys products.Unisys's Intel-based ES7000 servers run on both 32-bit and 64-bit Intel processors, from 4-way to 32-way.