Red Hat has released the latest beta of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4, adding improved virtualisation features to the open-source operating system.

The release adds a variety of new features and capabilities, as well as enhancements in Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) virtualisation, storage security and developer tools, according to Red Hat.

"As with any beta, our goal is to provide customers and partners with the opportunity to sample and test new features of the release before it's finalised," the company said.

"While KVM virtualisation is a major theme for this beta release, customers will also benefit from advances in performance, security and developer tools to benefit both virtual and physical environments."

For example, the beta release notes claim that the additions would allow both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of guest operating systems to run without any modification. Other new features include improved developer tools and hardware support, and better response times for graphics and screen rendering. The kernel itself features improved clock management when the software is deployed on a VMware platform.

The announcement is a continuation of Red Hat's virtualisation push. The company said last month that enterprise customers had expressed a great deal of interest in its virtualisation services.

"We are very pleased by the welcome we have received from enterprise companies all over the world who are looking to adopt virtualisation pervasively, and value the benefits of our open-source solutions. Our beta program is oversubscribed," said Scott Crenshaw, vice president of the platform business unit at Red Hat.

"We are excited to be in a position to deliver a flexible, comprehensive and cost-effective virtualisation portfolio in which products will share a consistent hardware and software certification portfolio.

"We are in a unique position to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of virtualisation solutions, ranging from a standalone hypervisor to a virtualised operating system to a comprehensive virtualisation management product suite."