Open source software provider Red Hat today launched its latest product, Enterprise Linux 6, which is touted as being capable of delivering the comprehensive foundation required for physical, virtualised and cloud computing deployments.

Enterprise Linux 6 is a compelling choice for users looking to migrate from UNIX to Linux and is a powerful alternative to Microsoft Windows Server, the company said in a statement here.

Enterprise Linux 6 delivers extensive new features that combine to offer customers and solution providers a world- class platform on which to develop and deploy applications, it said.

The enhancements range from kernel improvements for resource management, performance, scalability, virtualisation and power saving through a greatly extended and standards- compliant development environment to a comprehensive range of updated server and desktop applications.

It is designed to improve agility, lower costs and reduce IT complexity for customers.

Enterprise Linux 6 includes hundreds of technical feature enhancements and additions that offer customers a significant technology leap over other alternatives in the market.

It offers a highly optimised application platform for large-scale, centrally managed enterprise deployments, as well as enhanced efficiency with the latest generation of highly scalable hardware systems and extensive support for features designed to minimise the ecological impact and carbon footprint of IT systems.

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux has for years been the mission -critical platform of choice for many enterprise companies. We are now entering an era of enterprise computing where flexibility, portability and interoperability are more important than ever. And today, we are delivering the platform that customers need. This has always been our focus," Red Hat Executive Vice-President and President (Products and Technologies) Paul Cormier said in the statement.