Intel and Red Hat have unveiled a global programme designed to help customers plan for, accelerate and optimise Linux deployments. 

The firms said that the initiative will focus initially on developing and disseminating tools for platform virtualisation and grid computing.

"The Red Hat-Intel Solution Acceleration Programme will give customers real-time access to the critical information, tools and support they need to build and optimise high-value Linux solutions on Intel-based platforms," said Jon Bork, director of Intel's Open Source Programme Office.

Tim Yeaton, executive vice president of enterprise solutions at Red Hat, added: "We are responding to what customers have told us they really need to support their advanced deployments of Linux and open source.

"The programmes Intel and Red Hat have selected are aimed at equipping customers with in-depth domain knowledge, and providing hardcore data to make complex architectural decisions."

The Red Hat-Intel programme operates online and at hubs in the US, India and Germany, along with 14 international satellite locations.

All hubs will be equipped with Intel Itanium 2 and Xeon processor-based servers, Pentium 4 processor-based corporate desktops, Centrino laptops, and Intel-based storage devices, including "pre-production platforms". The centres will be located at existing Red Hat sites.

Services include training and proof-of-concept support to allow customers to test rollouts at the centres.

The sites will also provide details about reference deployments previously tested on Red Hat and Intel technology.

Red Hat has begun certifying a number of software solution stacks, and will work with Intel through the programme to expand the number of certified stacks available. It will also introduce a hardware component into certified solution stacks.

The provision of an application testing and porting initiative will make available hardware and software for customers to test recently ported Risc and other code, and test operating systems and application compatibility.

The programme will also concentrate on new technology initiatives including virtualisation and multi-core.