[Hwcert-announce-list] [Red Hat Partner Announcement] Red Hat Hardware Certification Policy Guide (6.0-1.0-6) Now Available

[Rob Landry]

Greetings Red Hat Worldwide Partners,

Red Hat is pleased to announce the availability of the Red Hat Hardware 
Certification Policy Guide 6.0-1.0-6 for official hardware certification 
purposes with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6. This version of the 
Hardware Certification Policy Guide (6.0-1.0-6) supersedes previous 
versions of the guide.

Please note that the policies outlined in the Red Hat Hardware 
Certification Policy Guide (6.0-1.0-6) will be applied to new hardware 
certifications starting with the GA release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 
6.1.

The Red Hat Hardware Certification Policy Guide (6.0-1.0-6) is available 
at the following location:

  https://hardware.redhat.com/doc/

Highlights of the Hardware Certification Policy Guide (6.0-1.0-6) include:

* As communicated to partners in December 2010, Red Hat will accept only 
those hardware test results that have been conducted on either Red Hat 
Enterprise Linux 5 or 6.  Red Hat is no longer certifying hardware for 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 2.1, 3, or 4.

* Please note that Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6(.x) requires kdump testing 
on an integrated storage and network adapter using the reboot test in 
the v7 test suite. Although kdump test results are required to 
demonstrate proper test execution,  kdump testing failures will *not* 
block Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6(.x)  certifications. Red Hat currently 
plans to require that systems successfully pass kdump tests as a 
condition for certification with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2. 
Accordingly, Red Hat requests that partners open bugs discovered during 
kdump certification testing as soon as possible for resolution in Red 
Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2. (Red Hat had originally provided guidance to 
partners in September 2010 that successful passing of kdump tests would 
be required for certification in Q1 CY2011.)

* The kdump testing requirement does not apply to the s390x architecture 
because the kdump feature is not available on this architecture.

* The CPUSCALING test is no longer required on 32-bit x86 systems where 
the system includes more than 32 cores.

* USB 3.0 ports may be excluded in RHEL 5 certification 
testing/submissions when working USB 2.0 ports are available. A 
knowledge base (KBase) entry will be added to these certifications to 
describe the situation. RHEL 6 certifications continue to require that 
all present USB ports function properly.

* Regular storage-controller-attached SSDs are treated as hard drives 
during system certification.

* RAID controller leveraging no longer tracks cache memory and battery 
backup features.

* Component listing no longer requires results from two systems.

* Floppy drives are no longer tested as part of hardware certification. 
Accordingly, the floppy drive tests have been removed from the v7 package.

If you encounter any problems or have any comments regarding the Red Hat 
Hardware Certification Policy Guide RC, please file bugs against the 
'Red Hat Hardware Certification Program' product in Red Hat Bugzilla 
(https://bugzilla.redhat.com).


Changelog between the previous Red Hat Hardware Certification Policy 
Guide 6.0-1.0-3 and 6.0-1.0-6:

Bug 703544 - 32bit x86 with greater than 32cores often fails cpuscaling
Bug 703541 - Policy guide needs to clarify that s390x kdump is not RHEL 
kdump
Bug 690294 - SSDs are not covered in the current policy.
Bug 690276 - Should support for the floppy test and related ...
Bug 558721 - Policy guide should suggest vendor to add a ...
Bug 690160 - The policy guide still describes RHEL4 policies
Bug 690222 - USB 3.0 on RHEL5 policy needs to be documented
Bug 690170 - Policy needs to describe updated kdump testing ...
Bug 690163 - The required FV tests are not listed in the test ...
Bug 681746 - "removable" requirement for leverage part is ...
Bug 688891 - Policy guide does not mention RHEL6 as available ...
Bug 688047 - Remove the Cache Backup Battery from Leverage ...
Bug 641218 - Update policy to cover RAM sizes on RAID controllers
Bug 670100 - Should the policy clarify this language ...
Bug 690680 - Which variations are to be used is not clear.
Bug 689940 - Why are 2 systems required for a component ...


Red Hat values your ongoing participation and testing in the Red Hat 
Enterprise Linux development, testing, and certification efforts. Thank 
you for your continued partnership. If you have any questions or 
comments, please do not hesitate to contact your Partner Manager or 
Technical Account Manager.

Regards,

The Red Hat Hardware Certification Team