A Linux release designed for the long haul

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) continues to evolve with the upcoming release of SLES 15 Service Pack 7 (SP7). This new service pack brings a host of enhancements and updates designed to bolster performance, security, and development capabilities. But what this release gives users is a solid foundation for the long run. Let’s delve into some of the key features you can expect in this release.

Under the Hood: Kernel 6.4 enhanced with Backports

At the core of SLES 15 SP7 are significant kernel backports from versions, ensuring a stable and robust foundation. These backports include:

• UEFI, keyring, and ACPI support uplifted to 6.11: This uplift improves hardware compatibility and system management, providing a more seamless integration with modern hardware configurations.
• In-kernel crypto support MSA 10 XTS, MSA 11 HMAC, MSA 12 SHA3: Enhanced cryptographic support strengthens security and ensures data integrity at the kernel level.
• Support for cgroupv2 CPU load balancing: This feature optimizes resource allocation and enhances performance by improving CPU load distribution.
• USB4 updated to latest upstream: The latest USB4 updates bring improved connectivity and performance for peripherals, ensuring compatibility with the newest hardware standards.

Empowering Developers: Updated Toolchains and Programming Languages

SLES 15 SP7 also focuses on providing developers with the latest and greatest tools to boost productivity and enable modern application development. 

Programming Language updates include:

• Python 3.13.x
• OpenJDK 21 as default (17 and 11 as legacy)
• Latest Go & Rust
• Node.js 22.x
• PHP 8.3.x

Tool chain updates:

• gcc 14
• binutils 2.43.10
• gdb 14.2

Post-Quantum Crypto Enabled by Default

With SLES 15 SP7 your systems are now more resilient against future quantum-era threats with post-quantum crypto enabled by default. Since SP6 OpenSSL has had post quantum crypto enabled by default. This uses hybrid algorithms (Kyber + classical) for forward capabilities. For most applications no changes are needed. These updates to the kernel and developer toolchains ensure that SLES 15 SP7 provides a powerful, secure, and modern platform for enterprise workloads. Whether you’re managing infrastructure or developing applications, SLES 15 SP7 is poised to deliver an enhanced experience.

Hardware Enablement

SLES 15 SP7 comes with updates to its hardware enablement. 

• Intel
  • Server:  Birch Stream Platforms
    • SRF, GNR-SP, GNR-AP additional support
    • CWF-AP
    • GNR-D (Kaseyville)
  • Client
    • Arrow / Lunar Lake platforms: 
    • ARL-S, ARL-H, ARL-U, ARL-HX / LNL-Mx
    • Granite Rapids-WS
  • Miscellaneous
    • Introduction of IPU
    • Ice driver for Connorsville, E825C, ETH56G
    • Ixgbe driver for Linkville
• AMD
  • Zen 5 Microarchitecture
    • AMD EPYC “Turin” continued enablement
  • Instinct™ Data Center Accelerators
    • AMD MI350
    • AMD MI300A
    • AMD MI300X
  • GPU
    • Navi 4x Series support
    • Linux Kernel DRM x.x
    • Mesa 24.2
• IBM Power

  • Userspace Live Patching (ULP)

  • Secure boot with dynamic key management

  • ibmvnic packet performance

  • Network bonding support with ipsec offload

  • IOMMU: hybrid DMA window for SR-IOV

  • DLPAR support with lockdown

• IBM Z

  • Support for IBM z17 and LinuxONE 5 family of systems

  • Crypto/Security enhancements

  • Kernel patches/backports

  • Driver updates

  • Refresh of s390-tools

Continued Support for Confidential Compute

Protecting data everywhere is critical for any enterprise. Securing data at rest and in transport has been table steaks for a few years now. Where confidential compute comes in is keeping the encryption while processing data, not decrypting it to process what you need then re-encryping it afterwards. SUSE introduced confidential compute a few years ago and with SLES 15SP7 we are continuing to support it. 

Longest-term Enterprise Linux support

This release has a lot of great features any enterprise should upgrade to. But the one thing this release does is that it sets the foundation for long term support for SLES. Of all major enterprise Linux distributions out there no other comes close to the length of support. SLES SP7 will have general support until June 2031. It will have LTSS support till June of 2034 and LTSS Core support until Dec 2037. This makes this release of SLES critical for any application or workload that needs a stable, secure Linux platform to run on for the long term.  You can download the latest version of SLES 15 SP7 here.