Red Hat Linux, commonly known as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), is a popular and widely used open-source Linux distribution. It is developed and maintained by Red Hat, Inc., a leading American software company. Red Hat Linux is designed for enterprise and business environments, offering a stable and secure platform for various applications and services.

Here are some key features and characteristics of Red Hat Linux (RHEL):

1. Commercial Distribution: Red Hat Linux is a commercial Linux distribution, which means it comes with a subscription-based support model. This support includes software updates, security patches, and technical assistance.

2. Stability and Security: RHEL is known for its stability and security features. It is widely used in mission-critical environments, such as data centers and servers, where system reliability and security are of utmost importance.

3. Long-Term Support (LTS): Red Hat provides long-term support for each major release of RHEL, typically around 10 years, ensuring that businesses can rely on a consistent and well-maintained platform.

4. Package Management: RHEL uses the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) system for package management. Administrators can use tools like YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) to install, update, and manage software packages.

5. Kernel and Filesystem: It uses a Linux kernel, and it supports various filesystems, including the Ext4 filesystem. Red Hat Enterprise Linux often includes advanced filesystem features like LVM (Logical Volume Management) and XFS.

6. Security Enhancements: RHEL includes various security enhancements, such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), which enforces mandatory access controls, and the use of firewalls (firewalld) to control network traffic.

7. Support for Virtualization and Containers: RHEL provides support for virtualization through technologies like KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and supports containerization using Docker and Kubernetes.

8. Red Hat Ecosystem: Red Hat has an extensive ecosystem of software, tools, and services that complement RHEL. This includes Red Hat Ansible for automation, Red Hat OpenShift for container orchestration, and more.

9. Certifications: RHEL is often a preferred choice in industries and organizations where certifications are crucial, such as government, healthcare, and finance. It is certified against various industry standards and security profiles.

10. Community Involvement: Red Hat has strong ties to the open-source community, and it sponsors the Fedora Project, an upstream, cutting-edge Linux distribution. Fedora serves as a testing ground for technologies that may eventually find their way into RHEL.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is designed to meet the needs of businesses and organizations that require a robust, well-supported operating system for their IT infrastructure. It’s used in a wide range of applications, from web servers and databases to virtualization and cloud computing.