Red Hat plans on being around for a long time

Implications: Microsoft has opened the door for Novell to coexist within the Window environment. This will allow Novell to prove itself (over the course of the next three years) while competition like Red Hat is at a major disadvantage.

In the past two weeks, Oracle and Microsoft have fired salvos across -- and some would say into -- Red Hat's bow.

Red Hat does not seem concerned

Analysis: I happen to believe that Red Hat will survive and the path that management has taken is correct despite battling a two front war.

Microsoft and Novell both perceive that Linux is an operating system and at least for three years Microsoft & Novell have become partners on this issue.  

Red Hat also now has the Oracle factor as well.  However initial pricing reductions from Oracle does have several gotcha's.
The price scheme from Oracle is less advantageous then first look/first discounts suggest.  An example is that you can mix and match Red Hat level of service however with Oracle the support has to be the same for all servers.  This will become an issue for customers who mix and match support levels for severs.

It should also be noted that Red Hat has a high customer satisfaction and at the end of day, this is what counts.

All of this is good news for Linux. Once an underground operating system, Linux is poised for prime time Red Hat can claim they they were the first and best in regards to Linux and customer satisfaction can prove this point.

Red Hat just needs to weather the current storm.