http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Server Version comparison chart

 Version 3Version 4Version 5
 ASESASESAdvanced Platformbase server
Server Architecture support
x86, AMD64, Intel64, Itanium2YesYesYesYesYesYes
IBM POWERYesNoYesNoYesYes
*Note: For IBM System z and S/390 information please refer to the mainframe page
Server Support limits as defined by Red Hat Enterprise Linux Product Subscription
Maximum physical CPUs/sockets [1]Unlimited2Unlimited2Unlimited2
Maximum memoryUnlimited8GBUnlimited16GBUnlimitedUnlimited
Maximum virtualized guests/instancesN/AN/AN/AN/AUnlimited4
Storage virtualization (with Red Hat GFS and Cluster Suite)N/AN/AN/AN/AYesNo
Included Red Hat Network modulesUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate Module

Desktop Version comparison chart


 Version 3Version 4Version 5
 WSDesktopWSDesktopDesktopDesktop
with Workstation option
Desktop
with Multi OS option
Desktop Architecture support
X86, AMD64, Intel64YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Itanium2YesNoYesNoNoNoNo
Desktop Support limits as defined by Red Hat Enterprise Linux Product Subscription
Maximum physical CPUs/sockets [1]2121121
Maximum memoryUnlimited4GBUnlimited4GB4GBUnlimited4GB
Maximum virtualized guests/instancesN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A4
Storage virtualization (with Red Hat GFS and Cluster Suite)N/AN/AN/AN/ANoNoNo
Included Red Hat Network modulesUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate ModuleUpdate, Management, & Provisioning modules

Technology capabilities and limits (certified[/theoretical]) [3]


 Version 3Version 4Version 5
Maximum logical CPUs [4]
x86163232
Itanium28256/512256/1024
AMD64/Intel64864/6464/255
Power864/128128/128
System z888/64
Maximum memory
X8664GB [5]64GB [5]16GB [6]
Itanium2128GB2TB2TB
AMD64/Intel64128GB256GB/1TB256GB/1TB
Power64GB128GB/1TB512GB/1TB
System z64GB/1.5TB64GB/1.5TB64GB/1.5TB

Maximum filesize (Ext3)2TB2TB2TB
Maximum filesystem size (Ext3)2TB8TB8TB/16TB (16TB in 5.1)
Maximum filesize (GFS)2TB16TB/8EB16TB/8EB [7]
Maximum filesystem size (GFS)2TB16TB/8EB16TB/8EB [7]
Maximum x86 per-process virtual address spaceApprox 4GBApprox 4GBApprox 3GB [6]

Maximum number of virtual CPUS in Guest (x86)----32 [8]
Maximum memory in paravirtualized guest (x86)----16GB
Maximum memory in fully virtualized guest (x86)----16GB
Maximum number of virtual CPUS in Guest (x86_64)----32 [8]
Maximum memory in paravirtualized guest (x86_64)----80GB/unlimited
Maximum memory in fully virtualized guest (x86_64)----80GB/unlimited
Required minimums
X86256MB256MB512MB
AMD64/Intel64256MB256MB512MB
Itanium2512MB512MB512MB
Power 512MB512MB1GB minimum/
2GB recommended
Minimum diskspace800MB800MB1GB
Kernel and OS features
Kernel foundationLinux 2.4.21Linux 2.6.9Linux 2.6.18
Compiler/toolchainGCC 3.2GCC 3.4GCC 4.1
Languages supported101519
NIAP/CC certifiedYes - 3+Yes - 4+Yes - 4+
Compatibility librariesV2.1V2.1 and V3V3 and V4
Common Operating Environment (COE) compliantYesYesN/A
LSB compliantYes - 1.3Yes -3Yes -3.1
GB18030NoYesYes
Client environment
Desktop GUIGnome 2.2Gnome 2.8Gnome 2.16
GraphicsXFree86X.orgX.org 7.1.1
OpenOfficeV1.1V1.1.2V2.0.4
Ximian EvolutionV1.4V2.0V2.8.0
Default browserMozillaFirefoxFirefox 1.5