Welcome RHEL 10! It Joins SUSE Linux in the Immutable OS Revolution

With the introduction of “image mode” in RHEL 10, Red Hat is now adopting an approach that SUSE put into practice years ago — delivering enterprise-grade immutable Linux that’s already proven in production.

At SUSE, this wasn’t a response to a trend — it was a deliberate move we made years ago to redefine how operating systems deliver consistency, security, and long-term resilience across modern environments.

Our approach — combining the immutable and transactional capabilities of SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 with fully supported container images based on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server — has already provided a robust foundation for production workloads across enterprise environments, particularly in edge, embedded, and cloud-native deployments.

The Immutable OS Revolution: SUSE’s Strategic Position

Why Immutability Matters

While some vendors are just beginning to experiment with image-based OS models, SUSE’s approach is already in wide use — refined over years of real-world deployment.

Immutable operating systems bring key benefits:

• Resiliency by design, enabled by atomic transactional updates and instant rollbacks
• Robust security and a foundation for compliance through controlled, read-only system states
• Unparalleled consistency across edge, cloud-native, and datacenter deployments
• Simplified operations, reducing maintenance complexity, cost, and risk across environments

SUSE’s Vision in Action

For years, SUSE has delivered on this vision with SUSE Linux Micro and its transactional update model — enabling reliable, reproducible, and secure infrastructure across mission-critical workloads. These capabilities weren’t built in response to market pressure or product gaps — they’ve been part of SUSE’s core strategy, aligned with long-term enterprise lifecycles from day one.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 deployment across cloud, data center, edge, and embedded environments using a unified image-based approach.

A Strategic Path Forward

Immutable OS capabilities are now being consolidated into the SUSE Linux 16 family. With SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, we’re integrating the core technologies of SUSE Linux Micro into a unified platform — extending transactional reliability to more general-purpose enterprise workloads.

Proven Today, Consolidated for Tomorrow

These capabilities are already available today with SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server based container images — both fully supported for production use in edge, embedded, and containerized workloads.

Rather than introducing a parallel OS model, SUSE’s approach unifies host and container technologies under a consistent lifecycle and support strategy — reducing operational complexity.

While Red Hat’s move toward an immutable model in RHEL introduces new tooling such as bootc and image mode, it can be disruptive for existing enterprise operations — especially when limited to container-centric use cases and requiring a separate toolchain. In contrast, SUSE’s strategy is to make the shift to immutability seamless. By extending well-established enterprise Linux technologies — like transactional updates and Btrfs — SUSE enables seamless adoption of an immutable operating model across all enterprise workloads — without disrupting existing IT operations or introducing specific tools that would confine it to niche use cases. This reduces operational friction, simplifies management using mature tools, and broadens applicability beyond containers to include virtualization hosts and general-purpose enterprise workloads.

With SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, we’re consolidating these proven technologies by merging SUSE Linux Micro into a unified platform. This makes adoption even easier for a broader range of enterprise use cases. This shared foundation will also power an immutable OS for Kubernetes-based platforms — ensuring consistency and resilience across the full SUSE stack.

A Broader Shift Across the Industry

As more vendors shift toward image-based infrastructure, the industry is steering in a direction SUSE has supported for years. SUSE continues to lead with experience and a strategic roadmap shaped by real-world enterprise needs.

Beyond the OS: Building Resilience into Enterprise IT

Immutability isn’t just a technical feature — it’s a foundation for resilient operations. With atomic updates, automated health checks, and instant rollbacks, it enables an “always ready to service” OS — reducing downtime and making recovery fast, safe, and predictable.

In an ecosystem where immutability often comes with operational tradeoffs or limited integration, SUSE delivers a cohesive and production-ready platform — from the host to the container layer.

Combined with features like SUSE’s evaluated supply chain, reproducible builds, and SBOMs, immutability makes deployments more secure and compliant over time — essential for large-scale environments and for implementing a proven Secure Software Supply Chain in regulated industries.

SUSE saw this coming early. That’s why we created SUSE Linux Micro 6.1, a lightweight, enterprise-ready immutable OS built for the edge and specialized appliances. Powered by transactional updates and Btrfs snapshots, it ensures system changes are always safe, consistent, and reversible.

Now, with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, we’re extending those benefits to more workloads and environments — helping enterprises modernize without sacrificing control, stability, or compliance.

What’s Next?

Want to learn more about how SUSE is enabling the future of enterprise Linux?

• Explore SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 →
• See what’s coming in SUSE Linux 16 →
• Explore SUSE Linux Enterprise Server →
• Learn about SUSE Linux Enterprise BCI →
• Read the SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 blog →

Final Thought

As others begin their journey into immutable infrastructure, SUSE continues to lead — delivering stability, repeatability, and control where it matters most.