SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 Arrives

Mar 24, 2009

Novell announced today that SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is officially out in version 11. The SLES extensions for Mono and the desktop version SLED 11 should also concurrently hit the market. A high-availability extension is to follow.

A key factor of Enterprise Linux, according to project manager Gerald Pfeifer, is high-availability (HA) and the support of enterprise-critical applications, for which Novell together with Oracle developed the Oracle Cluster File System (OCFS). The HA extension supplemented the system with the Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) in version 8, together with Heartbeat and Pacemaker cluster management tools. Administration is through a command line interface, on the one hand, that allows for scripting and Novell's own GUI on the other. Novell now reports that the DRBD version is 8.2.7. The YaST module is Yast2-drbd version 2.13.1.

Another factor is Novell's interoperability with Microsoft technologies. SUSE Enterprise Desktop (SLED) version 11 includes next to the codex for MP3 and AAC support for the WMA and WMV Microsoft formats. According to Pfeifer this support satisfies a request from Windows customers who largely develop in these formats. Next to that is Moonlight, the Mono porting of MS Silverlight to Linux. Unfortunately the support for in-development Sharepoint for GNOME's Nautilus data browser is not yet part of the Enterprise product deal.

Desktop users, however, should be happy with enhancements in the GNOME Network Manager in the better support for UMTS cards, which Pfeifer says should provide a more comfortable notebook roaming.

Interoperability should become even better through extensions. The Mono extension brings .NET applications to Linux on an enterprise level, by company claims. Pfeifer: "The scalability in things processing and working memory are partly better than under Windows." Thus customer requests for Mono on the mainframe will become a reality.

Novell calls its virtualization solution a "perfect guest operating system for virtual computing." Thanks to the benefits of VMI used by its collaborator VMware, Novell claims a performance win under VMware ESX of 10% better than its predecessor. The cooperation with Microsoft brings support for Windows Server on SLES/Xen as well as guest on leading hypervisors.

SLES 11, SLED 11 and the Mono extension is available now. The HA extension should be ready the second quarter 2009. During the course of the year the SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 family hopes to have additional Real Time Extension, Thin Client and Point of Service offspring.

Gallery (10 images)

Related content

  • Novell Starts SUSE Studio Appliance Program

    Novell has announced its image building SUSE Studio to be ready for production and the Linux distributor has simultaneously started a partner-program aimed at software manufacturers who want to use SUSE Linux Enterprise as a base for software appliances.

  • Novell Alliance with VMware and Preview of SLES 11

    An alliance is forming between virtualization providers Novell and VMware with a strategy for teamwork. At the same time Novell is providing a glimpse of its upcoming SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) version 11.

  • Microsoft: Working Well with Novell

    The current technical and financial collaboration with Novell seems to be pleasing Microsoft. Virtualization, file management and license sales are part of the success stories.

  • Open Sesame

    It's been a rough couple of years laced with uncertainty for the German-based SUSE and its flagship open source project, openSUSE. Linux Magazine talks to Dr. Gerald Pfeifer about where openSUSE is going and its relationship to SUSE.

  • Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9

    Suse has taken the lead on competitors Red Hat and Mandrake by releasing an enterprise Linux product that comes with the 2.6 kernel. What do you get with the new Suse Enterprise Linux? We’ll give you a look at the best of what’s inside Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News