Red Hat Linux release names and possible explanations
Here is what I have gathered about Red Hat's Linux distribution naming scheme and various other release infos. Note that this page may not be 100% accurate... it may even be a lot less since the Red Hat's developers (yeah Erik, especially you! ;-)) seem to be wanting to keep their secret...
I hope you will find interesting infos though, and if you know anything that could complete this page, please tell me.
The "official" (non beta) releases are the ones that aren't grayed out. Those are the versions of Red Hat Linux you have probably seen the most.
I am ready now, show me the name explanations!
| Version | Name | Release date |
| 6 | Zod | Oct 24 2006 |
| 6 test 3 | FC6 Test 3 | Aug 24 2006 |
| 6 test 2 | FC6 Test 2 | Aug 07 2006 |
| 6 test 1 | FC6 Test 1 | Jun 21 2006 |
| 5 | Bordeaux | Mar 20 2006 |
| 5 test 3 | FC5 Test 3 | Feb 20 2006 |
| 5 test 2 | FC5 Test 2 | Jan 16 2006 |
| 5 test 1 | FC5 Test 1 | Nov 23 2005 |
| 4 | Stentz | Jun 13 2005 |
| 4 test 3 | FC4 Test 3 | May 10 2005 |
| 4 test 2 | FC4 Test 2 | Apr 11 2005 |
| 4 test 1 | FC4 Test 1 | Mar 15 2005 |
| 3 | Heidelberg | Nov 08 2004 |
| 3 test 3 | FC3 Test 3 | Oct 11 2004 |
| 3 test 2 | FC3 Test 2 | Sep 20 2004 |
| 3 test 1 | FC3 Test 1 | Jul 13 2004 |
| 2 | Tettnang | May 18 2004 |
| 2 test 3 | FC2 Test 3 | Apr 28 2004 |
| 2 test 2 | FC2 Test 2 | Mar 29 2004 |
| 2 test 1 | FC2 Test 1 | Feb 12 2004 |
| 1 | Yarrow | Nov 5 2003 |
| 9.0.95 | Severn | Oct 13 2003 |
| 9.0.94 | Severn | Sep 24 2003 |
| 9.0.93 | Severn | Jul 21 2003 |
| 9 | Shrike | Mar 31 2003 |
| 8.0.94 | Phoebe | Feb 19 2003 |
| 8.0.93 | Phoebe | Jan 20 2003 |
| 8.0.92 | Phoebe | Dec 23 2002 |
| 8.0 | Psyche | Sep 30 2002 |
| 7.3.94 | (null) | Aug 19 2002 |
| 7.3.93 | Limbo | Jul 29 2002 |
| 7.3.92 | Limbo | Jul 04 2002 |
| 7.3 | Valhalla | May 06 2002 |
| 7.2.92 | Skipjack | Mar ?? 2002 |
| 7.2.91 | Skipjack | Mar 22 2002 |
| 7.2 | Enigma | Oct 22 2001 |
| 7.1.94 | Roswell | Aug 21 2001 |
| 7.1.93 | Roswell | Aug 02 2001 |
| 7.1 | Seawolf | Apr 16 2001 |
| 7.0.91 | Wolverine | Feb 02 2001 |
| 7.0.90 | Fisher | Jan 31 2001 |
| 7.0 | Guinness | Sep 25 2000 |
| 6.9.5 | Pinstripe | Jul 31 2000 |
| 6.2 | Zoot | Mar 27 2000 |
| 6.1.92 | Piglet | Feb 09 2000 |
| 6.1 | Cartman | Oct 04 1999 |
| 6.0.50 | Lorax | Sep 06 1999 |
| 6.0 | Hedwig | Apr 19 1999 |
| 5.9 | Starbuck | Mar 17 1999 |
| 5.2 | Apollo | Oct 12 1998 |
| 5.1 | Manhattan | Jun 01 1998 |
| 5.0 | Hurricane | Dec 01 1997 |
| 4.9.1 | Mustang | Oct 16 1997 |
| 4.9 | Mustang | Oct 07 1997 |
| 4.8.1 | Thunderbird | Sep 16 1997 |
| 4.8 | Thunderbird | Aug 27 1997 |
| 4.2 | Biltmore | May 19 1997 |
| 4.1 | Vanderbilt | Feb 03 1997 |
| 4.0 | Colgate | Oct 03 1996 |
| 3.0.4 | Rembrandt II | Aug 09 1996 |
| 3.0.4 | Rembrandt | Jul 30 1996 |
| 3.0.3 | Picasso | Mar 15 1996 |
Thanks to Google and to all the folks of the various Red Hat mailing-lists.
Last updated : (see at the very bottom of the page)
Stephen John Smoogen, a former Red Hat, Inc. employee, has also got a similar page.
