SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4
Release Notes #
These release notes are generic for all SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 based products. Some parts may not apply to particular architectures or products. Where this is not the case, the respective architecture is listed explicitly. General documentation can be found at: http://www.suse.com/documentation/sled-12/
1 About the Release Notes #
The most recent version of these Release Notes is always available online at http://www.suse.com/releasenotes/.
Some entries may be listed twice, if they are important and belong to more than one section.
Release notes usually only list changes that happened between two subsequent releases. Always review all release notes documents that apply in your upgrade scenario.
2 SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop #
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is the market's only enterprise-quality Linux desktop ready for routine business use. Developed and backed by SUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop provides market-leading usability, seamless interoperability with existing IT systems, and dozens of essential applications—all at a fraction of the price of proprietary operating systems.
2.1 Interoperability and Hardware Support #
It comes bundled with the latest versions of leading applications such as LibreOffice office productivity suite, Mozilla Firefox web browser, and Evolution e-mail and calendar suite. In addition, it integrates with Microsoft SharePoint for group collaboration and supports a wide range of multimedia file formats, wireless and networking standards, and plug-and-play devices.
Through the latest enhancements in power management and security, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop also provides an environmentally friendly IT experience (Green IT) and an error-proof desktop. Finally, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop offers unparalleled flexibility. You can deploy it on a wide range of thick client devices (including desktops, notebooks, netbooks, and workstations), on thin client devices, or as a virtual desktop. By leveraging the power of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, your business can dramatically reduce costs, improve end user security and increase workforce productivity.
2.2 Support and Life Cycle #
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 has a 7 year life cycle. The current version (SP4) will be fully maintained and supported until 6 months after the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 SP4.
SUSE does not support skipping Service Packs of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop when upgrading.
2.3 What Is New? #
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 introduces a number of innovative changes. Here are some of the highlights:
Robustness on administrative errors and improved management capabilities with full system rollback based on Btrfs as the default file system for the operating system partition and snapper technology from SUSE.
An overhaul of the installer introduces a new workflow that allows you to register your system and receive all available maintenance updates as part of the installation.
New core technologies like systemd, replacing the time honored System V based init process.
GNOME 3.20 gives users a modern desktop environment with a choice of several different look and feel options, including a special SUSE Linux Enterprise Classic mode for easier migration from earlier SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop environments.
For users wishing to use the full range of productivity applications of a Desktop with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, we are now offering the SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension
Integration with the new SUSE Customer Center, the central web portal from SUSE to manage subscriptions, entitlements, and provide access to support.
2.4 Documentation and Other Information #
2.4.1 Available on the Product Media #
Read the READMEs on the media.
Get the detailed changelog information about a particular package from the RPM (FILENAME is the name of the RPM):
rpm --changelog -qp FILENAME.rpm
Check the
ChangeLogfile in the top level of the media for a chronological log of all changes made to the updated packages.Find more information in the
docudirectory of the media of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4. This directory includes PDF versions of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 Installation Quick Start and Deployment Guides. Documentation (if installed) is available below the/usr/share/doc/directory of an installed system.
2.4.2 Additional or Updated Documentation #
For SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 documentation, see http://www.suse.com/documentation/sled-12/, where you can download PDF documents. For installation with YaST software management or with zypper, packages are available on the product media. Some of these packages are installed by default. These are the package names:
sled-installquick_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 Installation Quick Startsled-gnomeuser_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 GNOME User Guidesled-admin_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 Administration Guidesled-deployment_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 Deployment Guidesled-security_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 Security Guidesled-tuning_en-pdf: SLED 12 SP4 Tuning Guidesled-manuals_en: the set of all SLED books in HTML format
2.5 How to Obtain Source Code #
This SUSE product includes materials licensed to SUSE under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The GPL requires SUSE to provide the source code that corresponds to the GPL-licensed material. The source code is available for download at http://www.suse.com/download-linux/source-code.html. Also, for up to three years after distribution of the SUSE product, upon request, SUSE will mail a copy of the source code. Requests should be sent by e-mail to mailto:sle_source_request@suse.com or as otherwise instructed at http://www.suse.com/download-linux/source-code.html. SUSE may charge a reasonable fee to recover distribution costs.
2.6 Support Statement for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop #
To learn how to obtain support, see http://www.suse.com/products/desktop/.
2.7 Related Products #
This sections lists related products. In many cases, these products have own release notes documents that are available from https://www.suse.com/releasenotes/.
SUSE Enterprise Storage: https://www.suse.com/products/suse-enterprise-storage
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: https://www.suse.com/products/server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications: https://www.suse.com/products/sles-for-sap
SUSE Manager: https://www.suse.com/products/suse-manager
SUSE OpenStack Cloud: https://www.suse.com/products/suse-openstack-cloud
Additionally, there are the following extensions which are not covered by SUSE support agreements, available at no additional cost and without an extra registration key:
SUSE Package Hub: https://packagehub.suse.com/
SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit
3 Security #
3.1 Support for YubiKey and Nitrokey using the U2F frameworks. #
Some applications require stronger authentication methods, including second factor authentication using physical tokens.
Support for YubiKey and Nitrokey is now shipped in the form of libraries, PAM modules and CLI and UI utilities.
4 Packages and Functionality Changes #
4.1 Updated Packages #
4.1.1 Kernel and Toolchain #
GCC 4.8
glibc 2.22
Linux kernel 4.4
4.1.2 Desktop #
GNOME 3.20
X.org 7.6
4.1.3 Other Changes and Version Updates #
Samba 4.4.2
UEFI Enablement on AMD64/Intel 64
SWAP over NFS
Python 2.7.9 and Python 3.4.1
Perl 5.18.2
Ruby 2.1
4.2 Deprecated Functionality #
4.2.1 Packages and Features to Be Removed in the Future #
The following packages are deprecated and will be removed with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15.
4.2.1.1 Planner Has Been Removed From the Default Installation #
The application Planner (package planner) will not
be installed on new SLED 12 SP4 installations by default. Planner
continues to be available for manual installation from an official
repository in SLED 12 SP4. However, Planner is not available in SLE 15
and later.
5 Legal Notices #
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Further, SUSE makes no representations or warranties with respect to any software, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, SUSE reserves the right to make changes to any and all parts of SUSE software, at any time, without any obligation to notify any person or entity of such changes.
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