Linux distributor Red Hat is to buy Netscape Security Solutions technologies from America Online.

Under the terms of the agreement Red Hat will obtain products derived from the Netscape Enterprise Suite, including Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Certificate Management System.

Red Hat said that it will start marketing the products as part of its own Open Source Architecture over the next six to 12 months.

Netscape Directory Server is an LDAP server designed to improve manageability by centralising application settings, user profiles, group data, policies and access control information into a network-based registry.

Netscape Certificate Management System provides a security framework designed to authenticate the identity of users and ensure privacy of communications.

Customers will benefit from enhanced security, manageability and office productivity as these technologies are optimised for devices and applications across the Open Source Architecture, the company claimed.

Red Hat chairman and chief executive Matthew Szulik said in a statement: "Directory Server and Certificate Management System have already been widely deployed in the enterprise and are mature pieces of infrastructure software.

"The technologies will provide a secure switchboard with certificates for all traffic in the Open Source Architecture."

Red Hat's acquisition of the Netscape Security Solutions assets is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the Linux firm's 2004 financial year.