SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5

Release Notes #

These release notes are generic for all SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5 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: https://documentation.suse.com/sled/12-SP5/

Publication Date: 2020-03-06, Version: 12.5.20200220

1 About the Release Notes

2 SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension

2.1 Interoperability and Hardware Support
2.2 Support and Life Cycle
2.3 What Is New?
2.4 Documentation and Other Information
2.5 How to Obtain Source Code
2.6 Support Statement for SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension
2.7 Technology Previews
2.8 Related Products

3 Installation and Upgrade

3.1 Installation
3.2 Update-Related Notes

4 Packages and Functionality Changes

4.1 Updated Packages

5 Legal Notices

1 About the Release Notes #

The most recent version of these Release Notes is always available online at https://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 Workstation Extension #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension is the market's only enterprise-quality Linux desktop ready for routine business use. Developed and backed by SUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 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 Workstation Extension also provides an environmentally friendly IT experience (Green IT) and an error-proof desktop. Finally, SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 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 Workstation Extension, your business can dramatically reduce costs, improve end user security and increase workforce productivity.

2.2 Support and Life Cycle #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 has a 10-year life cycle. The current version (SP5) will be fully maintained until the end of SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 life cycle.

2.3 What Is New? #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 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 Workstation Extension 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 ChangeLog file in the top level of the media for a chronological log of all changes made to the updated packages.
Find more information in the docu directory of the media of SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5. This directory includes PDF versions of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5 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 Workstation Extension 12 documentation, see https://documentation.suse.com/sled/12-SP5/, 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: SLE-WE 12 SP5 Installation Quick Start
sled-gnomeuser_en-pdf: SLE-WE 12 SP5 GNOME User Guide
sled-admin_en-pdf: SLE-WE 12 SP5 Administration Guide
sled-deployment_en-pdf: SLE-WE 12 SP5 Deployment Guide
sled-security_en-pdf: SLE-WE 12 SP5 Security Guide
sled-tuning_en-pdf: SLE-WE 12 SP5 Tuning Guide
sled-manuals_en: the set of all SLE-WE 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 https://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 https://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 Workstation Extension #

To learn how to obtain support, see https://www.suse.com/products/desktop/.

2.7 Technology Previews #

Technology previews are packages, stacks, or features delivered by SUSE. These features are not supported. They may be functionally incomplete, unstable or in other ways not suitable for production use. They are mainly included for customer convenience and give customers a chance to test new technologies within an enterprise environment.

Technology previews can be dropped at any time and SUSE does not commit to providing a supported version of such technologies in the future.

Give your SUSE representative feedback, including your experience and use case.

2.8 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 Installation and Upgrade #

3.1 Installation #

This section includes information related to the initial installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5. For information about installing, see Deployment Guide at https://documentation.suse.com/sled/12-SP5/html/SLED-all/book-sle-deployment.html.

3.2 Update-Related Notes #

This section includes update-related information for SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5. For information about general preparations and supported upgrade methods and paths, see the documentation at https://documentation.suse.com/sled/12-SP5/html/SLED-all/cha-update-sle.html.

4 Packages and Functionality Changes #

4.1 Updated Packages #

4.1.1 Kernel and Toolchain #

GCC 4.8
glibc 2.22
Linux kernel 4.12

4.1.2 Desktop #

GNOME 3.20
X.org 7.6

4.1.3 Other Changes and Version Updates #

Samba 4.6.16
UEFI Enablement on AMD64/Intel 64
SWAP over NFS
Python 2.7.13 and Python 3.4.6
Perl 5.18.2
Ruby 2.1

5 Legal Notices #

SUSE makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this documentation, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, SUSE reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes to its content, at any time, without the obligation to notify any person or entity of such revisions or changes.

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.

Any products or technical information provided under this Agreement may be subject to U.S. export controls and the trade laws of other countries. You agree to comply with all export control regulations and to obtain any required licenses or classifications to export, re-export, or import deliverables. You agree not to export or re-export to entities on the current U.S. export exclusion lists or to any embargoed or terrorist countries as specified in U.S. export laws. You agree to not use deliverables for prohibited nuclear, missile, or chemical/biological weaponry end uses. Refer to https://www.suse.com/company/legal/ for more information on exporting SUSE software. SUSE assumes no responsibility for your failure to obtain any necessary export approvals.

Copyright © 2010-2020 SUSE LLC. This release notes document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License (CC-BY-ND-3.0 US, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/.

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