Red Hat looks to brand 500 VARs
Linux vendor Red Hat has launched its certified reseller programme for its partners, aiming to have at least 500 UK VARs trained by the middle of the year.
Linux vendor Red Hat has launched its certified reseller programme for its partners, aiming to have at least 500 UK VARs trained by the middle of the year.
The vendor, which opened its UK offices in August 1999, began offering Linux accreditation via specialist training centres at the beginning of this month.
Red Hat resellers will be encouraged to train at least one engineer at a cost of £1599. The engineer will undertake a four-day course and an exam. Resellers already adept at Linux or the Unix operating system will be allowed to take just the exam for £499.
In return for passing the training programme, VARs will receive Red Hat logos, access to an online reseller zone providing sales and marketing assistance, and a listing on the company's European website, which will be launched in a few weeks.
John Winters, owner of VAR Linux Emporium, said: "Certification is certainly one of the things people look for, especially the large corporates. Corporates are also more likely to go to Red Hat to find a list of suppliers. My only concern is the perception that anyone on the street can learn Linux within a few weeks."
According to Andy Dickens, European sales director at Red Hat, the exact number of VARs is hard to estimate, but at least 60 per cent of the channel selling Red Hat products are expected to join the scheme.
Dickens added that there would be two levels of Red Hat VARs. The lower level will continue to sell the Linux box and buy from one of Red Hat's four distributors. The higher level will have accreditation and be backed by the Red Hat brand.
"At present there is a shortage of Linux expertise and not enough VARs to satisfy the demand from the enterprise," said Dickens.
"The training will assure enterprise customers of a VAR's skills. Resellers have shown a huge amount of interest in Red Hat and Linux and this programme has been driven by their interest," he added.