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Open-source specialist SUSE has introduced new updates for its Suse Linux Enterprise OS and infrastructure management solution SUSE Manager.

According to SUSE, the updates provide both large and smaller companies with a complete open-source software stack. The newly introduced standard business operating system SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) 15 Service Pack 2 is based on the Linux 5.3 kernel.

This latest kernel release for the open-source operating system includes upstream capabilities such as utilization clamping support in the task scheduler and energy-efficient user space waiting. SLE 15 Service Pack 2 is available for x86-64, Arm, IBM POWER, IBM Z and LinuxONE based hardware.

Migrating from openSuse

SLE 15 Service Pack 2 includes support for migrating openSUSE Leap to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES). Customers can first try out the free openSUSE Linux distribution and later upgrade to the paid SLES. Extended package search has also been added, and the upgrade includes a SLES integrated SDl for SLE, Python 3 is supported and replaces 389 Directory Server OpenLDAp as the LDAP directory service.

Further functionality includes that the Repository Mirroring Tool (RMT) replaces the Subscription Management Tool (SMT). Better business continuity is realized with SLE Live Patching.

Better cloud support

In addition to the possibilities for the OS, SLE Service Pack 2 also bridges traditional and software-defined infrastructure solutions with new functionality. For example, the public cloud images for the public cloud environments Alibaba, AWS, Google, IBM, Microsoft Azure and Oracle have been improved. The version also supports FIPS 140-2 security and offline installation for air-gapped deployments.

In terms of hardware, the latest version supports SLE CPUs such as the Fujitsu A64FX and AMD EPYC processors and supports the NVIDIA hypervisor.

DevOps capabilities

For DevOps, SLE now supports automation, project builds and message-oriented middleware using RabbitMQ, Prometheus and Maven. Also, SLE Service Pack 2 now enables easier migrations from SAP HANA and SAP S/4HANA to cloud and hybrid environments. SUSE worked with Microsoft to develop a solution that collects and graphically presents both server and SAP specific data.

SUSE Manager 4.1

In addition to SUSE SLE SP2, SUSE also released an update, version 4.1, of its SUSE Manager solution. The SUSE Manager tool helps companies to automate and manage their infrastructure. Thanks to the updates, they can now reduce costs, reduce complexity, identify risks and increase the availability of edge, cloud and data center environments.