Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

Basic Information

• Model: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
• Version: 6.x (initial release 6.0, latest stable 6.10)
• Release Date: November 10, 2010
• Minimum Requirements:
  • RAM: 1GB for 32-bit and 64-bit systems (512MB possible but not recommended due to excessive swapping)
  • Storage: 9GB for root partition, 12GB total recommended
  • Boot: Bootable CDROM drive or PXE boot
• Supported Operating Systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 itself is an operating system. It supports various hardware architectures.
• Supported Architectures: x86 (32-bit), x86-64 (64-bit), PowerPC (ppc64), IBM System z
• Latest Stable Version: 6.10
• End of Support Date:
  • Mainstream Support: November 30, 2020
  • Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) Add-on: June 30, 2024
• End of Life Date: Currently in Extended Life Phase (ELP), which is ongoing, but offers no new bug fixes, security fixes, hardware enablement, or root-cause analysis. For practical purposes, active support ended with ELS on June 30, 2024.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Updates ceased with the end of the ELS add-on on June 30, 2024.
• License Type: Commercial Linux distribution, typically acquired via a subscription model.
• Deployment Model: Supports deployment on physical hardware, as a virtual host, as a virtual guest, and in cloud environments.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Minimum 1GB (for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems); 512MB is technically possible but not recommended due to performance degradation from excessive swapping. RHEL 6.0 GA supported up to 8TB of physical memory.
• Processor: Compatible with x86 (32-bit), x86-64 (64-bit), PowerPC (ppc64), and IBM System z architectures. Supports up to 448 logical CPUs on x86_64 systems.
• Storage: A minimum of 9GB is required for the root partition, with 12GB recommended for a typical installation. Guest operating systems generally require at least 6GB.
• Display: Basic display capabilities are supported. Some specific hardware configurations have reported blurred display issues.
• Ports: Standard network interfaces are supported. Installation requires a bootable CDROM drive or PXE boot capability.
• Operating System: N/A (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is the operating system).

Analysis of Technical Requirements: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 was designed to be a robust and scalable operating system for its time, supporting a wide range of hardware from 32-bit to high-end 64-bit systems with significant memory and CPU capabilities. While these specifications were competitive at its release, they are modest compared to modern enterprise OS requirements. The support for various architectures allowed broad deployment across different enterprise infrastructures.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: 6.10
• OS Support: Supports x86, x86-64, PowerPC (ppc64), and IBM System z architectures.
• End of Support Date: The Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on for RHEL 6 ended on June 30, 2024. The product is now in an Extended Life Phase.
• Localization: Available in multiple languages.
• Available Drivers: At its release, RHEL 6 offered broad hardware support and drivers. However, no new drivers or hardware enablement have been provided since the end of active support.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is officially past its active support phases. While an Extended Life Phase is ongoing, it explicitly states that no new bug fixes, security fixes, or hardware enablement will be provided. This means RHEL 6 is not compatible with modern hardware and lacks critical security updates, making it unsuitable for new deployments or environments requiring active maintenance and security patching. Organizations still running RHEL 6 are strongly advised to upgrade to a currently supported version.

Security Status

• Security Features: Includes Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) for mandatory access control, a robust firewall (typically iptables), and a centralized certificate trust store (introduced in RHEL 6.5).
• Known Vulnerabilities: As an operating system past its active support lifecycle, RHEL 6 is susceptible to unpatched vulnerabilities discovered after June 30, 2024.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable for an operating system.
• Certifications: Certified by leading hardware and software vendors. During its active lifecycle, it achieved certifications such as FIPS and Common Criteria.
• Encryption Support: Natively supports LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) for full disk and partition encryption. A technology preview of eCryptfs was available for file-based encryption. It also supports encryption for data in motion, such as SSH and network traffic.
• Authentication Methods: Supports local system accounts, LDAP, NIS, Winbind, Kerberos, Smart Card authentication, and Fingerprint authentication.
• General Recommendations: Immediate upgrade to a currently supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux version is strongly recommended due to the cessation of security updates.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, at its release, provided a strong security foundation with features like SELinux, robust encryption options, and multiple authentication methods. It was designed to meet stringent enterprise security standards. However, its current status in the Extended Life Phase means it no longer receives critical security updates or bug fixes. This significantly degrades its overall security rating, making any system running RHEL 6 highly vulnerable to modern cyber threats unless it is completely isolated or protected by extensive compensating controls.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Achieved leading results on industry-standard benchmarks such as SpecWeb (web serving), TPC-H (large-scale data warehouses), and SpecVirt (server consolidation) at the time of its release.
• Real-World Performance Metrics: Designed for high performance, reliability, and scalability. It featured kernel improvements for resource management, performance, scalability, virtualization, and power saving.
• Power Consumption: Included features aimed at minimizing ecological impact and carbon footprint, reflecting an early focus on energy efficiency in data centers.
• Carbon Footprint: Designed with features to minimize the ecological impact of IT systems.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: Positioned as a compelling choice for organizations migrating from UNIX to Linux and a powerful alternative to Microsoft Windows Server for enterprise workloads.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status: At its launch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 was a highly performant and scalable operating system, optimized for demanding enterprise workloads across various hardware platforms. Its architectural enhancements and kernel improvements contributed to its stability and efficiency, making it a reliable choice for mission-critical applications. While its raw performance metrics are now surpassed by newer OS versions and hardware, it delivered excellent performance for the technology landscape of its era.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, particularly from its active lifecycle, consistently highlighted its strengths in stability, reliability, and security. It was praised as a long-term, predictable platform, certified by numerous hardware and software vendors, providing a consistent application environment across physical, virtual, and cloud deployments. Many considered it a robust foundation for mission-critical applications in enterprise environments.

However, as the operating system aged, common weaknesses emerged, primarily related to its older package versions and the eventual cessation of active support. The lack of modern features compared to newer RHEL versions became a point of concern. The most significant weakness in recent years has been the end of security updates and bug fixes, making continued use a significant risk.

Recommended use cases for RHEL 6 shifted over time. Initially, it was a general-purpose enterprise OS. In its later stages and current Extended Life Phase, its use is primarily confined to legacy systems, specific certified applications that cannot be easily migrated, or highly isolated environments where the risks of unpatched vulnerabilities can be managed through other means.

Summary

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (RHEL 6), released on November 10, 2010, served as a cornerstone enterprise operating system for over a decade. It offered a stable, reliable, and secure platform for a wide array of workloads, supporting diverse architectures including x86, x86-64, PowerPC, and IBM System z. Key strengths included its robust security features like SELinux and LUKS encryption, strong performance for its generation, and extensive hardware and software vendor certifications. It was a popular choice for mission-critical applications and facilitated transitions from UNIX environments.

However, RHEL 6 has officially reached the end of its active support lifecycle. Mainstream support concluded on November 30, 2020, and the Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on ended on June 30, 2024. While it is technically in an "Extended Life Phase," this phase provides no new bug fixes, security updates, or hardware enablement. This critical lack of ongoing security patching makes RHEL 6 highly vulnerable to modern threats and non-compliant with many security policies.

Recommendations: Organizations currently utilizing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 are strongly advised to plan and execute an upgrade to a fully supported RHEL version (e.g., RHEL 8 or RHEL 9). Continued use of RHEL 6 should be limited to isolated legacy systems where migration is not feasible, and only with comprehensive compensating security controls in place. New deployments should never use RHEL 6.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.