Coming on the heels of Sun's recent decision to open-source its Solaris operating system, this latest version includes automatic software update notification, improved management and installation tools, and the Linux 2.2.12 kernel.

True to its open-source nature, the entire package is available for free on Red Hat's FTP servers, though the rush of first-on-the-block downloaders has made access next to impossible for most of the day. For those with a few bucks to burn, shrink-wrapped packages (we're talkin' CD's in boxes here, the real McCoy) are available at prices ranging from $29.95 to $140.95.

Details on the updates contained in this latest Linux release were a bit few-and-far-between, but here's what we know:

• Kernel 2.2.12
• Improved Installation Tools
• Red Hat Update Agent -- keeps software packages up-to-date
• PIII and Xeon Support and Optimization
• LDAP Integration
• StarOffice v5.1a Though these updates are considered significant by Red Hat -- at least enough so that it updated their version number from 6.0 to 6.1 -- some Linux users are already saying they'd rather wait for important core Linux updates coming soon, including the Linux 2.4 kernel and XFree86 4. Wall Street paid detractors no heed however, Red Hat's stock (RHAT) was 1 1/2 points to 88 15/16 in afternoon trading.