New SUSE Linux 8.1 Available on October 7th

September 17, 2002


10 years of Linux expertise result in comfort and maximum security for professional and private users

Oakland, California

Today, SUSE Linux, the international Open Source technology leader and solutions provider, announced the availability of the latest version of SUSE Linux for October 7th. SUSE Linux 8.1 extends an unprecedented level of user-friendliness and functionality for professional and private users, offering the stability and security of the Linux operating system on their PCs. Founded in 1992, SUSE has grown to be the leading provider of products and solutions based on the Open Source operating system Linux. This year, SuSE celebrates its 10th anniversary spearheading development of Linux and being a strategic and trustworthy partner of corporate business.

Blending operating system and applications, SUSEsystem assistant, YaST2 (Yet another Setup Tool), is the core element and administration center of this comprehensive package for first-time and experienced Linux users. With YaST2, even new Linux users can complete the installation in less than 30 minutes. The updated hardware detection automatically integrates even the latest USB2.0 devices and Firewire devices. Only a mouse click is necessary to set up printers, sound cards, and TV cards. YaST2 now provides a module for the configuration of special hardware components such as joysticks. Even output devices such as touch screens, vertical LCDs, 3D solutions, and multi-head systems can be configured easily with SaX2 (SUSE advanced X configuration). Linux professionals will appreciate the expanded YaST2 text mode.

Practical, Valuable Helpers for Everyday Tasks

The new system profile manager, SCPM (SUSE Configuration Profile Management), facilitates the easy management of multiple system configurations. SUSE Linux users who commute between different locations, can now use local peripherals such as printers or scanners with a single click. Laptop users will also value the improved wireless LAN support that can be easily configured with YaST2. Data encryption with WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) provides maximum security in wireless LANs. CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) is implemented as the default printing system, since its wide range of drivers enables the flexible and precise utilization of all common printers. The expanded SUSE Firewall 2, a crypto file system that protects laptop and hard disk data even in the event of theft, GNU Privacy Guard (GPG encryption) as well as proven security technologies such as OpenSSH, PAM, and IPsec are part of the standard equipment of SUSE Linux 8.1.

Office Package Without Surcharge

OpenOffice.org 1.0.1 offers TrueType support and improved import filters. Thus, mature utilities for text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations are available to users without any licensing fees. Once again, SUSE offers the latest version of the superb KDE desktop environment, KDE 3.0.3, that appears in the innovative "ceramics style". Users can customize the look and feel of the desktop environment according to their personal preferences. The new GNOME 2.0 desktop is also included. Major highlights for multimedia fans include GPhoto 2.1, an application that transfers images from the digital camera directly to the hard disk, where they can be comfortably edited with the image processing application Gimp. The Ogg Vorbis 1.0 encoder and player provides today's most advanced audio compression tool that even exceeds the quality of the common MP3 and MP3 Pro technology. In addition, simple, reliable and rapid CD burning is possible with the new tool K3b. The improved Windows emulator "wine" enables the utilization of countless Windows applications in Linux.

SUSE YOU - Always Up-to-Date, Always Secure

SUSE YOU (YaST Online Update) is the SUSE unique system maintenance and system optimization service. Users can download a list of all security updates from the SUSE server and decide which ones to install. Only the modifications will be transmitted, not the entire program.

State-of-the-Art Linux Technology

In addition to common media such as CD-ROM or DVD, SUSE new "Software Installer" allows installation based on ftp- and http-servers, local directories, or network drives. Software Installer checks and controls complex dependencies of different program packages before their installation, thus ensuring maximum system stability.

SUSE delivers the SUSE Linux 8.1 operating system with kernel 2.4.19 and gcc 3.2, representing the latest Linux technology. Optimized Linux kernels provide maximum performance for Pentium 4 processors and AMD processors. The powerful boot manager, GRUB (Grand Unified Boot Loader), substitutes the Linux-Loader, Lilo, as default boot manager. Powertweak allows Linux professionals to modify kernel parameters comfortably in order to maximize the performance of their systems. The latest versions of central Linux tools such as the web server Apache 2.0.40 and Samba 2.2.5, the file and print server for Windows networks, are also included. Moreover, with ReiserFS, JFS, XFS, and Ext3, four journaling file systems are available.

In Stores from October 7th on

SUSE Linux 8.1 includes revised manuals with new chapters about digital cameras, the printing system CUPS, and the GNOME desktop environment. SuSE Linux 8.1 will be available from software retailers beginning in October. The recommended retail price for SUSE Linux 8.1 Personal (3 CDs, User Guide, 60 days of installation support) is USD 39.95, SUSE Linux 8.1 Professional (7 CDs, 1 DVD, User Guide and Administration Guide, 90 days of installation support) is USD 79.95, and the price for SUSE Linux 8.1 Professional Update is USD 49.95.

Further information can be found here.


About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell is a registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nteprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.