What Does It Take for a Computer to Become Red Hat Certified Hardware?

No matter how powerful an operating system may be, it may not provide dependable operation if it’s installed on incompatible hardware. The Red Hat hardware certification program was created to ensure devices are able to take full advantage of their Linux based operating system.

From storage devices to small processing chips that perform small but vital tasks, there are many individual physical components of a computer. The operating system must be able to interface with these components to operate properly. When choosing non-certified hardware, there may be components which haven’t yet been, or may never be, supported by the operating system. As a result, parts of the computer may not function as intended. USB ports may not recognize peripheral devices when you plug them in. Or your computer monitor may not display your applications properly.

How Do You Certify Hardware for Red Hat?

The Red Hat hardware certification program utilizes a test suite of software to ensure compatibility of devices with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system. A server is imaged with the test suite and then utilized to scan the intended hardware according to a prescribed test plan, confirming proper performance in a number of tasks.

The common steps to certify new hardware are as follows:

1. The hardware vendor creates a certification request including the device specifications. 
2. The Red Hat certification team determines the test plan based on the submitted specifications.
3. The hardware vendor runs the test plan through the test suite software and submits the results to Red Hat.
4. The Red Hat certification team analyzes the test results and provides guidance to the hardware vendor if there is a need to re-test.
5. The hardware vendor provides Red Hat with a hardware sample for the purpose of ongoing support and troubleshooting.
6. Red Hat publishes the hardware on their Red Hat Certification Ecosystem Catalog.

The Certification Ecosystem Catalog allows customers to filter and find the most suitable Red Hat Certified hardware for their specific application. By choosing a certified system, companies can rest easy knowing that their hardware investment will work well in their Red Hat environment.

Choosing the Right Hardware for Certification

When choosing which hardware to certify for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, OnLogic collaborated with Red Hat to identify an ideal mix of form and function for our initial portfolio of RHEL Certified hardware. OnLogic’s experience in designing and building industrial PCs made our systems excellent options for deployment at the edge of the hybrid cloud.

Compact, Fanless, and Powerful 

Some applications call for desktop performance in a compact package, requiring careful design to manage the heat created by high-performance computing. 

We chose to certify the Helix 500 due to its available Intel Core i processors and fanless cooling, which reduces the ingress of dust and debris from its surroundings. Solid state thermal management and data storage options also reduce the number of potential failure points to increase long-term reliability. 

Ultra Small Form Factor

Edge applications can require mounting a device in a location with minimal physical space available, such as in a cabinet or a NEMA enclosure.

About the size of two decks of cards, the CL250 offers x86 processing in an uncommonly small package. With multiple mounting options and direct DC input, the CL250 can be a valuable solution in locations where a traditional computer does not fit. 

Rugged Touch Screen Panel PC

When you need to collect, monitor, and interact with your data right at the edge, a touch screen panel PC may be your best choice. Multiple screen sizes and touch options provide flexibility for many end applications. Capacitive touch screens are available for a modern consumer feel. Meanwhile, resistive touch screens allow for control even while wearing personal protective equipment.

Offering wide operating temperature and tested against standards for shock and vibration, the CV-P2102’s rugged features offer all of these features while enduring extreme environments. 

Flexible Certification Roadmap

We are continuously seeking feedback on the capabilities that are most valuable to our community of customers and integrators. As we identify new systems to certify for Red Hat, we’d love to hear from you about which OnLogic systems would be best suited for your application.

Looking for small and rugged systems? Concerned about wide power input requirements? Reach out to our team of solutions specialists and let us know how we can help you bring Red Hat Enterprise Linux to the edge.