Release Notes #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 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/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension also provides an environmentally friendly IT experience (Green IT) and an error-proof desktop. Finally, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/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 Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension, your business can dramatically reduce costs, improve end user security and increase workforce productivity.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 introduces many innovative changes compared to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12.

If you are upgrading from a previous SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension release, you should review at least the following sections:

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension is backed by award-winning support from SUSE, an established technology leader with a proven history of delivering enterprise-quality support services.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 has a 10-year life cycle. The current version (15 SP1) will be fully maintained and supported until 6 months after the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP2.

SUSE does not support skipping Service Packs of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension when upgrading.

For more information, see:

To receive support, you need an appropriate subscription with SUSE. For more information, see https://www.suse.com/support/programs/subscriptions/?id=SUSE_Linux_Enterprise_Desktop.

The following definitions apply:

For contracted customers and partners, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP1 is delivered with L3 support for all packages, except for the following:

SUSE will only support the usage of original packages. That is, packages that are unchanged and not recompiled.

Systemd allows for new ways of starting services, such as the so-called socket-based activation. Services which are configured to be started on demand will not run until it is needed, for example, when a new request comes in.

The YaST Services Manager has been extended to allow setting services to be started on-demand. Currently, only a subset of services supports this configuration. The current start mode is displayed in the column Start of the YaST Services Manager. In the drop-down box Start Mode of the YaST Services Manager, the mode On-demand will only be shown when it is available for the selected service.

Additionally, the table column Active has been adapted to show the correct value provided by Systemd.

Previously, it was hard to calculate the disk space consumption of an individual Btrfs snapshot when the qgroups (quota groups) feature was enabled.

Starting with SLE 15 SP1, Snapper shows the disk space used by individual snapshots when running snapper list even if Btrfs quotas are enabled.

Starting with SLE 15 SP1, both Wicked and NetworkManager will write the file resolv.conf into the /run directory instead of in /etc. /etc/resolv.conf will still exist as a symbolic link.

Starting with SLE 15 SP1, there are several improvements to HiDPI support. If the DPI of your display is greater than 144, GNOME will scale the Session to a 2:1 ratio automatically and deliver you a crisp and sharp user experience. You can adjust the scaling-factor value manually under GNOME Control Center's display panel.

However, there are limitations to this support:

SLED 15 SP1 now uses the upstream GNOME Initial Setup tool (gnome-initial-setup) the first time a user logs in. However, as many settings for user are already made by the system installation (that is by YaST or autoyast), GNOME Initial Setup will only configure keyboard layout/IBus input methods.

Other screens of the tool have been disabled. GNOME Initial Setup will also not run prior to the initial login of the first user.