SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 Service Pack 1 Now Available

March 4, 2016


SUSE solutions based on SP1 feature new hardware and Docker support; will help customers increase uptime, improve operational efficiency and accelerate innovation

NUREMBERG, Germany

SUSE® today announced the availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 Service Pack 1, giving customers new capabilities for maintaining application uptime, improving the efficiency of data center development and operations, and bringing innovative solutions to market faster. In addition, SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 and Geo Clustering for SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 have been updated to simplify management of backup and disaster recovery systems.

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is the most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing across physical, virtual and cloud environments," said Nils Brauckmann, president and general manager of SUSE. "SUSE is committed to providing open source solutions for mixed IT environments without vendor lock-in, and that means listening to customers and supporting the latest Linux capabilities with features that simplify enterprise system deployment and lifecycle management."

Solutions based on SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 SP1 will feature new hardware and Docker support, along with increased availability and ease-of-use capabilities. Key benefits and features include:

  • Increased uptime through an updated SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension user interface (HAWK); network teaming which provides network redundancy while increasing throughput; and expanded system rollback capabilities that now include SUSE Linux Enterprise Server service pack upgrades.

  • Improved operational efficiency with full Docker support on three hardware architectures including IBM z Systems; Portus, an easy-to-use tool for faster and more secure delivery of business applications with Docker private registry; and subscription management tool (SMT) integration which centralizes reception of patches and updates. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 JeOS (Just enough Operating System) is a minimized configuration of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, introduced for creating customized cloud application configurations that are easy to deploy and maintain, consume fewer resources and improve security. Beyond OpenStack-based private cloud environments, JeOS is also available as a guest for KVM, Xen and VMware hypervisors.

  • Accelerated innovation through support for all recent hardware from IBM and Intel, including Intel Xeon and IBM z13. SUSE is the only distribution to currently offer full support for IBM z13. In addition, SP1 provides new modules to apply updates for Linux container features or security requirements without having to update and recertify the base operating system. SUSE also provides a Package Hub, enabling the latest technologies developed by the open source community to be compiled by SUSE for use with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

Matt Eastwood, senior vice president of IDC's Enterprise Infrastructure and Datacenter Group, said, "With SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 Service Pack 1, SUSE leverages its relationships with technology partners and delivers support for the most recent hardware generations on multiple architectures, which is meeting the needs of a growing set of enterprise customers. The modular approach - providing parts of the OS on a faster lifecycle than the base OS, yet with full support - bridges the traditional enterprise Linux business with the emerging workloads of the cloud era."

With SUSE Linux Enterprise, SUSE takes advantage of the latest Linux kernel, developing and contributing back to the community innovative features such as live patching, system rollback and a graphical user interface for high availability configurations, all of which reduce the need for planned downtime and the impact of unplanned downtime. SUSE's support for Linux containers with Docker includes a private container registry with built-in authentication to protect against unauthorized changes, eliminating the risks of public registries or the recurring cost of a third-party private registry. In addition, SUSE JeOS delivers a lightweight Linux OS with the same enterprise-grade, mission-critical performance as SUSE Linux Enterprise for fast deployment of high-density virtual and cloud images.

Availability, Information and Pricing
For more information about SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 Service Pack 1, visit suse.com/promo/sle. For details on pricing and availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1, the flagship SUSE Linux Enterprise offering, see suse.com/products/server/how-to-buy. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 images are also now available on Amazon Web Services, Google Compute Engine and Microsoft Azure.

About SUSE
SUSE, a pioneer in open source software, provides reliable, interoperable Linux, cloud infrastructure and storage solutions that give enterprises greater control and flexibility. More than 20 years of engineering excellence, exceptional service and an unrivaled partner ecosystem power the products and support that help our customers manage complexity, reduce cost, and confidently deliver mission-critical services. The lasting relationships we build allow us to adapt and deliver the smarter innovation they need to succeed—today and tomorrow. For more information, visit suse.com.

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