It was only a matter of time before one of the major enterprise Linux players would jump onto the agentic AI bandwagon, and that player is SUSE.

Via the Cockpit web-based admin tool and the command line, users can enable automated monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance optimizations. SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) 16 will be able to work with the Model Context Protocol to provide host and server AI integration, enable AI to manage the operating system, connect to any large language model provider, and help with insights and automation.

SLES 16 will also have one of the longest support windows of any OS on the market, with 16 years, making it compliant until 2038. You'll also find SLES 16 is created with reproducible builds, so your organization can verify that the production binary perfectly matches the source.

A new installer, called Agama, replaces the aging YaST install and gives you a much more flexible setup. As well, SLES 16 is moving away from AppArmor to SELinux for improved security and compliance.

According to Rick Spencer, GM of Business-Critical Linux at SUSE, "Today, every CIO and CTO needs to leverage AI to get more out of existing infrastructure, and this cannot come at the cost of being locked into a single ecosystem." Spencer continues to say, "Using AI with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16, IT leaders can drive operational efficiency without having to hire new teams or build a custom toolchain. SUSE is the first to deliver a built-in, open, and extensible AI infrastructure directly within an enterprise Operating System (OS)." He finishes with, "This, combined with our historic commitment to security and compliance and an industry-leading 16-year lifecycle, makes SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16 the first enterprise Linux that solves for both immediate innovation and long-term stability."

You can read more about SLES 16 on the official blog post.